Wait?!? You don’t know the plan????

This was our first surprise engagement session and one of the most stressful for Carley, well because you know, I was in charge of planning… 

C reached out to us stating that he was planning a date weekend in Drumheller for his girlfriend. First of all, I must say, what a great pick for a date weekend! Drumheller has so many fun things to do. But that wasn’t even the best part… He was planning to include a surprise proposal and he needed a photographer to capture the moment. After some chatting back and forth the date was set. 

During the late afternoon/early evening the day before the session, Carley says to me “so are you ready for tomorrow?” I go “yup got all the gear ready and batteries charged”. Then she says, “so what’s the plan?” I paused from scrolling my phone and replied with “a plan for what?” 

The facial expression I was graced with next, well lets just say, I know all too well… “Is this not a surprise engagement????  Like what is your back story?? Where are you posing them??? Wait, do you even know the plan!?” 

I calmly responded with “Yes, Honey I pretty much know the plan. The plan is C and I are figuring out the plan tonight”. Carley and I have very different personalities when it comes to this kind of stuff. One look at Carley and I knew that planning was going to have to start right then and there. So I fired off a quick text to C and within 20 minutes and a few google map screenshots, with doodles all over it, later and we had a solid plan. 

I arrived an hour early out of pure excitement. Plus I wanted to plan out how I was going to be a super sneaky spy and capture the most wonderful photos. Que the panic.. “Wait what type of vehicle am I looking for?? Wait… what are they wearing, like who am I actually looking for??” Okay, I am not telling Carley she was right. In typical Ryan fashion I didn't know the full plan.  So I fired off a few more text’s to C, last minute, and at the eleventh hour us guys had a really good plan. 

I sat and I waited. Oh man, the butterflies in my stomach were so bad. If I was in this bad of shape I wondered how C was doing. Then they arrived and it was my time to shine! CLICK, CLICK, CLICK. HECK YES! Got it. 

I walk up to the happy couple and say “Hey my name is Ryan, Congratulations and welcome to your engagement photography session”. We proceeded to capture the most amazing photos! The happy couple was all smiles.

During the early part of the session I asked C why he picked Drumheller for the location. He replied that he had been binge watching Yellowstone while up at camp for work so he wanted to find a location with a Yellowstone/Western vibe. Not to toot my own horn or anything but I think we were able to capture the vibe he wanted.

Now please don’t let this story deter you from booking me as your photographer. Just take this as a lesson on why Carley and I run this business together. LOL. She is the plan and I am the action. Same goals, different roles!

We are so excited to capture their wedding this summer! This time the planning will remain ahead of schedule as the girls are in charge.