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Gurney's Wedding Proposal Album. Shot on location in Montauk, NY with analog and DSLR.
The edge of the Atlantic ocean seen with real film.
The edge of the film frame meets the edge of the ocean.
Dear Readers,
I have a romantic tale to share. I’m not a highly sentimental fool for things, but I am for people and their stories. This is one I’ll keep close to my heart for a long time. Allow me to explain.
Toes in the sand.
I got the call in January. He was looking for a singular thing, documentary-style photography of his proposal with film. He was proposing to his college sweetheart after ten years together in the place where they had their first getaway as a couple.
The ocean shot on film takes on a rich, cinematic quality.
The hug of a lifetime.
The orange engagement ring box was a nice detail.
Those famous Gurney’s umbrellas.
The new Dolce and Gabbana deck at Gurney’s
When a professional dancer dancer jumps for joy, she jumps for joy.
Montauk. The very edge of our continent. Powerful, intense and wrapped in honey-colored cerulean that the beach only knows in July. As the water jumped and wrapped itself around the surfers I thought, “This is perfect for marrying a dancer.” You see, dance is her profession.
How did he find me? Funnily enough, a Redditor sent him a list of photographers who do exactly the kind of storytelling I do. Hand to God, a Redditor. He took it from there.
After a Jitney ride that made me question all of my life choices, I checked into my very expensive hotel room. I won’t go into details, but it was such a dump I had to flush the toilet with a bucket. All of this and more can be yours for nearly a thousand dollars a night. I’ll put it all in my Google review of the place. But more on that later.
There is nothing like the color of morning light on analog film.
Popping corks.
Chilled glasses.
Holding hands shot with film and a Leica.
They both got engaged—with a ring and a Rolex.
FaceTiming fam.
Sparkling in the morning sun.
Clink.
A stunning custom design.
He had her favorite snack standing by. Cheez Its were waiting for her on the deck.
She makes jumping for joy look easy.
Details everywhere.
Her tattoo says it all. “Amor y besos.”
I grabbed a lobster roll at a beach shack, charged all my gear, then went to bed. I suited up in the morning - the Gurney’s event planner picked me up and we headed out to the location. After six months of organizing with the resort, it was showtime. As they walked, their feet left impressions the shore line. I held back ready to bounce into action, hidden in plain sight. He held her hand and dropped to his knees. With the pounding blue ocean behind them, it made this quiet, moment resplendent. Tears, ring, she said yes.
We retired to the deck after. Recently renovated by Dolce and Gabbana, it was a gorgeous profusion of white and primary blue. He had it tricked out full of her favorite snack, Cheez-its. The red and orange bags popped with against the fresh blue.
They popped corks and enjoyed the afterglow. It seemed very normal for these two—how their relationship brought them to this point. It reminded me of my own proposal, just feeling like it’s the two of you and no one else. The making of a forever homie.
It is through storytelling that I approach these commissions. I bring my experience and strengths to any shoot. A beach may look easy, but you’re fighting mother nature and free radicals—MN only gives you so much before she gets fed up and sends you on your way. I shoot a lot. My hit rate is high, which makes my own work a lot of fun to edit.
I hope you enjoy their proposal story as much as I enjoyed shooting it.
First engaged coffee.
