One of the sweetest parts of being a photographer is getting to be behind the scenes (at times-- literally) to the goings-on of my family's life. I became an aunt very young in life (at age 14!) to the dude in this pic... and after he was born, a cascade of nieces & nephews continue to flood my life every year after. This meant that I got to capture moments from birth onwards, a special milestone always being graduating senior pictures.

But getting to hide in the bushes and capture a love story unfolding in real time before my very eyes? That might take the cake.

Noah & Javon's story is SO special and I was honored to get to photograph their engagement. Javon literally stepped off the plane and within an hour, was taking place in a beautiful & magical backyard proposal. Her genuine surprise & amazement, Noah's charm & leadership, and Hadley's darling presence & toddler detective work (she had me spotted & knew EXACTLY where to find me 😉) are so evident in these pictures.