Traveling has been a passion of mine since I got my first passport at 6 months old (no joke!) I sat on my moms lap and made gaga sounds at the photographer. I started traveling alone at age 6 to visit my Aunt in Missouri every Summer. I haven't stopped since. Where I go, my camera follows. I love experiencing new places and capturing each one in my own way.
*I’m blogging a little out of order, but I figure it’s my blog – I call the shots! 😉 Lots of new shoots coming up, but first…*
This past Friday I had the honor of photographing a marriage proposal! I was super nervous, this is a one-time shot thing! I had shot one marriage proposal before, which was equally as stressful! haha
Aalap contacted me off a referral from the awesome Karen Morrison. I was so excited to play a role in this. Aalap lives in New York City and wanted to surprise his girlfriend Ami all the way from the east coast (she lives in New Jersey). So Aalap made up a healthcare conference. You read that right…he MADE ONE UP! Talk about planning and scheming! He had to create a website, get Ami’s professor on board as well as her family and some friends! Want to see this awesome website? Soon it will be changing and a photo of the two lovebirds will go up, but for now… OHMP Symposium.
Ami was told that she was chosen by her school to attend this conference, so it was all covered by the school. Aalap recounted the numerous emails Ami sent to the website, asking different questions and how excited she was to go to San Diego and attend! When she arrived to San Diego on Friday morning, a car and driver was waiting for her and even the driver played along, recounting the amount of students he had already dropped off that morning! Everyone was in on it…except Ami!
She got ready in her room and came down for an opening cocktail reception at the W Hotel (the hotel was also extemely instrumental in helping Aalap with the planning!) She was fashionably late (which is what we had wanted) and her expression was priceless when she saw Aalap there! And even more priceless when he told her there was no conference and no cocktail reception!
She called him just before heading down to the “cocktail reception”. It was perfect, we had good warning! See the black frame around the top of the photo? That was the tree I was hiding behind!
Still wondering what the deal was…there was no one there for the reception!
Love this one!
The happy couple!
The next day, we shot their engagement session! I’ll be sharing those soon! Aalap planned the rest of the weekend for them too…with dinner at Mr A’s, dessert at Extraordinary Desserts and a spa afternoon! What a catch!
xo, M
A little slideshow I put together so they could send to family and friends back on the east coast!
That was so awesome! I’ve been waiting to see this! Such an elaborate plan… best wishes to the couple. Great photos!
Wow! That is so cool! What an amazing moment to catch!
OMG! I love it!
Way to go, M! These are FAB!
That’s so romantic!!!
I LOOOOVVVVEEEEEE IT!!!! : )
I love it, the video was such a nice touch. Your photo’s are always amazing. Dang if you ever come to the Washington (Seattle) area let me know would love for you to do photo’s of my family.
The expressions on her face are priceless! So beautiful! I wish we would have had our engagement photographed!
What a great proposal! You captured the moment and their emotions perfectly. I started tearing up just looking at the photos and seeing her reaction. Love the photos Melissa.
That’s so crazy cool! Talk about a planner
I’m a sniffling mess over here right now. I’ve looked at these photos about 5 times already and, just now, watched the slide show. The tears just started flowing. The emotion, the excitement, the confusion, the overwhelming joy… you caught it all. What truly special photos these are for Aalap and Ami. I’m… I’m… just blown away. Melissa… you are out of this world amazing!
This is so cool! What a special couple. Best wishes to the happy couple. And the photographer is pretty awesome!
What a great guy! I love this story! And what a fantabulous memento to have photos from such an amazing photographer!
Wow! What an amazing story! You did an awesome job, Melissa! 🙂
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That is SO RAD!!!!! Great story too. The photos do a fantastic job of recounting those moments and the look on her face is priceless! I’m impressed with the planning that went into that! Great stuff, Mel!!
Mellisa,
Thanks for “recording” this important event for Aalap and Ami. What a wonderful keepsake for both of them and their families!
We very much enjoyed the photos and it is difficult to pick one best. So many to choose from!
Jayesh
[Aalap’s Dad]