Cody & Shelby | Sedona Proposal
Cody reached out to me a few months before he and his long-term girlfriend traveled to Sedona together, looking to book a shoot for the two them. He was an absolute sweetheart from the first phone call I had with him, it felt like an instant friendship connection and I had a feeling that we’d click well on the day-of. Having never visited Sedona before, Cody put a lot of faith in me right off the bat in terms of choosing a location and knowing that the scenery there would be what he had been envisioning.
After dating Shelby for 8 years, Cody felt that the proposal was overdue but that the right moment was finally upon them and he was determined to make it a special one. I met them at the trailhead the day of the shoot, playing it cool because Shelby obviously had no idea about the surprise that lay ahead. We hit the trail and I showed them one of my absolute favorite spots in Sedona: a beautiful plateau that is surrounded by 360 degrees of red rock views. Mainly, though, it offers privacy and enough room for me to take a step back and capture everything while still allowing the couple to experience their moment.
We took a while to get to know each other and the more we talked the more I felt that these young 20-something and I really had a lot in common, and I felt validated in my prediction that we would really make a friendship connection. Meeting Shelby for the first time, it made so much sense that such a fun, kindhearted person would be the one that arrived alongside Cody.
The plan I had arranged with Cody for the moment of the proposal was that I would prompt them to stand back to back, and tell them to turn around and hug each other on the count of three. While they were back to back he was going to get down on one knee, and when I counted down from three she would turn around and see him!
To say Shelby was surprised would absolutely be an understatement. She told me after the fact that she and Cody had gone to pick out rings quite some time ago, so she hadn’t been sure when the proposal was finally going to happen. She said that she truly didn’t expect it to be done so beautifully, or to be captured so well! Once she said yes, we celebrated- laughing, spraying champagne- and it was so sweet to see the way the couple was immediately so giddy and so obviously in love. It was heartwarming to see the way they were able to experience this intimate, life-changing moment together and didn’t seem to feel as though I was much of an intrusion. Very much elated, the couple took the classic engagement ring selfies and I was sure to give them space and time to really just soak in the moment.
The couple then did a quick outfit change into a more relaxed, fun look. Now that the couple was in a very content and celebratory mood we were able to get some more intimate shots of them just giggling and being very much in love.
Not only did Shelby and Cody become fast friends of mine, but I truly felt as though the universe put these two people in front of me to remind me of the purpose of why I do this and of all the amazing souls I get to come across while doing this job. I’m very grateful that they trusted me to help make this day as beautiful as it was for them!
One more story about Cody and Shelby… Because I witness a lot of love stories in my work, I’m constantly looking for signs or symbols from the universe that really differentiate these people and places, and add to the love stories that these couples have already begun to build. While we were hiking to the location that I had picked for this couple, before the shoot had begun, I was telling Shelby and Cody my story of being in a 10 year relationship with my high school sweetheart. I told them that the best part about it was that I was married to my best friend. They both agreed wholeheartedly that that was definitely the goal, and that they felt that they had found that in eachother.
Fast forward to the end of the photoshoot, we had taken our photos, the sun had set, and we were heading back down toward the parking lot. On our way, we walked past an older man walking a dog. I just happen to capture a photo of him, and he says to Shelby and Cody, “You two look so beautiful tonight. Congratulations, I assume you’re celebrating something!” They thank him and tell him that they just got engaged, and he says, “Congratulations! From someone who’s been married for 36 years, my best advice is to marry your best friend.”
It was a really heartfelt moment where I think that this couple really felt that message- both from me, from the old man, and maybe just from the universe.
