Photographing a proposal at Empire Bluff Trail will always be one of my favorites. Gorgeous Lake Michigan, a beautiful overlook, and a ridiculously happy couple. There’s nothing better. And I can’t believe it’s taken me so long to get this amazing evening up on the blog!

So last year, J had gotten a hold of me to photograph his proposal to his girlfriend at Empire Bluff Trail. They had been to the trail before and it was a spot that was special to them. Which let’s be real, I always love this. When you choose locations that matter to you and mean something to you as a couple, it makes the whole experience just that much more special. So pro tip for all you lookin to propose to your honey, pick a place that has meaning to you!

So my husband Aaron and I actually got to the trailhead about half an hour before J and M and made our way up to the location that J had wanted to propose. I got into position, acting like I was a sweet nature photographer, and Aaron posted up down on the other end where J and M would be walking up. Neither of them had seen photos of Aaron, so they had no idea what he looked like, but I had texted J to let him know that Aaron was in place to help with crowd control! And once I saw them on the boardwalk, it was showtime!

One thing that I always love hearing is that every couple I have ever photographed proposing, the one being proposed to usually doesn’t notice me if they haven’t already approached me. So after J proposed and had slipped the ring on her finger and they were hugging and kissing, she looked up and noticed her little paparazzi on both sides, she was even more excited, which just made the session even more fun!

After Aaron and I had a chance to chat with J and M and everyone else on the trail congratulated them, we walked further down the trail to another overlook and had the best sunset for an engagement shoot. M was just over the moon to be engaged to J and to be making this next move in their life and relationship. Photographing them was just so stinkin easy. Another pro tip: doing your engagement session after the proposal is always a fun way to get those intimate, romantic and giddy photos that you might be looking for. You’re on cloud nine, so excited to be spending the rest of your life with your person. You really can’t go wrong.

So needless to say, this proposal at Empire Bluff Trail was one for the books! Keep scrolling to see the amazing photos we captured. And if you’re wanting to have someone photograph your proposal, Click Here to head to my contact page and let’s chat about it!