When Ryan first reached out to us about photographing his proposal to Kristin, we were genuinely excited. We had met him earlier in June when he was the Man of Honor for his sister Bethany’s wedding at the York Harbor Reading Room in York, Maine. Throughout the day, he and Kristin were focused on making sure Bethany and Mike had everything they needed. It was clear how much he cares about the people closest to him, so being asked to document such an important moment in his own life meant a lot to us.
A few weeks after the wedding, Ryan contacted us to see if we were available when they returned to the area. We found a date that worked and began putting a plan in place. His family has a property near Long Sands Beach in York, and it was important to him that the proposal happen there. He had spent many summers on that beach and later introduced Kristin to the area, so the location already held a lot of meaning and felt like the right setting for the moment.
On the evening of the proposal, Ryan and Kristin had dinner at a nearby restaurant while Matt and I made our way onto the beach and blended in as casual beachgoers. Before long, we saw them walking back along the shoreline together. When they reached the spot Ryan had chosen, he dropped to one knee and asked Kristin to marry him. She said yes, and the excitement between them was a privilege to witness and photograph.
After giving them a few minutes to take it all in, we walked over to congratulate them and spent some time creating portraits along the beach. From there, we headed to Nubble Lighthouse in Cape Neddick to finish their session.
Being part of this moment for Ryan and Kristin was truly an honor. Photographing such an important milestone in a place that has meant so much to Ryan and his family over the years made the evening feel even more personal. We’re grateful he trusted us to capture it all and wish them every happiness in the years ahead.
