Chopin Proposes to Jessica on Oahu! (She said, YES!)

Chopin and Jessica are such a sweet couple! They have been doing a long distance relationship for a couple of years and Hawaii is the middle point between Jessica’s home in Shanghai and Chopin’s job in Arizona. But this trip was the end of them ever having to say goodbye again. Not only was Chopin heading back to China with Jessica permanently, but he had a secret proposal planned for her!

Want to know how to pull off the perfect proposal in Hawaii? Read on!

Proposals are one of my favorite things to shoot! I’ve had a lot of fiances-to-be ask me, “how can it be a surprise if there is a photographer there?” I have shot proposals many ways. For some I literally hide in some bushes and paparazzi the “down on one knee” moment. For proposals like this one, Chopin told Jessica he hired a photographer to commemorate their trip, so there wasn’t any sneaking around necessary.

Chopin and I chatted over the phone a few days before to game plan. Communicate with your photographer so they are prepared with the right light and lens for the BIG MOMENT. For the actual proposal, we chose the Lanai Lookout as it has some seriously beautiful views. After Jessica said, “YES!” we drove down the road to Makapu’u Beach Park for some celebratory portraits.

Our proposal packages include a Sam Day Edit, so as soon as I got home I turned these images around to Chopin and Jessica. Who wants to wait to post on social media, right!? Also, if you book your proposal with me, you also get a $250 studio credit towards your wedding photography. We love being there for all of our clients’ big life moments!