The search is over!
I met Lukas a few years ago when he hired me to photograph him for his online dating profile. He was ready to find "The One" and settle down. So when I asked him to come over and look at our air conditioner, (He's an electrician who owns Artizan Electric) he showed me the ring he had purchased, and I was thrilled for him. Full disclosure, he didn't meet her through online dating he met her at his church. Which is perfect because his faith is one of the main parts of his life. The following day he was going to ask her father for "her hand" (I love this)!
We got to work...
After he was given the green light to ask Charae, Lukas called me and we got to work on the plan. Stealth mode was activated!
We were to meet at the U of I Arboretum. (They frequently went there so it wasn't out of the ordinary). He would "run" into me there, introduce me and tell her how we know each other. Pretending to be scouting locations for an upcoming shoot I would ask if I could borrow them. I would start photographing with a couple of them together and then ask to photograph her alone. While I was doing this, the plan was that he would get down on one knee and "pop" the question.
It's go time!
While driving to the Arboretum I had butterflies in my stomach! See, I have this thing about love, it just gets to me. The promise of lives being intertwined, stories being created. Families start and the world is changed. How joy and happiness pour from one person to another making our existence so much better. Love is amazing and to be a part of it fills me with well, "all the feels".
The sun was beginning to set and the gorgeous warm light that all photographers live for was ever-present. I knew that tonight was going to be beautiful. I arrived and got to work on finding a place I could easily "run" into them. And as luck would have it that's what happened.
Lukas introduced me and told her how I had photographed him for his online dating profile years before. After that, the ball was in my court. So this is actually easy for me since I studied acting in my younger years (in fact that's what led me to do photography).
I asked her about the origin of her name and how she spelled it I talked to her about my sister, Charlene, and we commented on the similar family names. I asked her about the dinner date that they just came from and if the food was good, ECT. Now it was time to get the ball rolling I can only imagine how Lukas was feeling at this moment.
I asked them both if they minded if I photographed them so I could try out an area for a "shoot" that I would be doing in a couple of days.
Being all for it, I asked if they could follow me to the spot I was considering. I did as we had discussed. I took a couple of images of them together and then I asked if she minded if I did a couple of her by herself. Lukas backed away and I showed her how I would like her to stand (making her body facing his direction) I. then gave him the signal.
He stepped up, got down on one knee, and pulled out the ring! The look on her face was pure disbelief! It was priceless!
She said YES!
After the initial shock of what was happening, there was a very distinct "yes" and a smile of joy that couldn't be mistaken, I myself was grinning from ear to ear! In fact, I'm doing it right now as I write this. I probably look like a weirdo, smiling like a goof at my computer. Who wouldn't though? "He's her lobster".
Lukas was smiling I'm sure with more joy than he has ever felt before. He doesn't smile a whole bunch on average but man, he couldn't stop during the rest of the session. (We did a mini shoot right after the proposal). Not to worry though, they will get a full engagement shoot at a later date. So stay tuned!
Laughter abounds.
Throughout the session that followed Charae and Lukas laughed and told me their story. How various different people kept saying he needed to meet her, that she would be perfect for him, and how their first date almost didn't turn into more. "Dinner dates aren't my ideal date". he confessed to me. "They feel like a job interview". But after they came to the Arboretum and were able to chat in a more relaxed atmosphere the sparks started to fly.
The look of love!
There is no mistaking the look they give each other. It's definitely a look of love. I couldn't get over how Lukas had adoration in his eyes every time he met her gaze. Most of the time people have a hard time with this seemingly simple act. So it's actually remarkable to witness it when love is behind it. In movies, we often hear characters talk about wishing to be looked at in this way. Charae doesn't have to wish for this level of care and connection, she has found it. They both have.
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