Daniel is what some would call a hopeless romantic. I received an email from him several months ago detailing an ultra discreet engagement idea. He was going to surprise his fiancee, Kelly, on the waterfront in Alexandria and he wanted me to capture the moment like paparazzi (but without getting all in their faces and the making them scared for their lives part of it). Normally, that would be quite a stunt. Well I guess we needed more pizzazz because it started POURING. We’re not talking about a light mist or the soft rain kissing your face as you look skyward. We’re talking about look up in the sky and you’ll feel like someone opened up a garden hose withtheattachmentthatmakesthewatercomeoutevenharder in your face! So my hiding spot ended up being some rich guy’s boat and it ended up providing some decent shelter when Daniel had to take Kelly away from the proposal spot for an impromptu tour of the Torpedo Factory (which they later told me is not quite as exciting as the name would lead one to believe). Kelly did remark that it seemed like Daniel was being slightly rude by texting while out on their romantic date for her birthday. Kelly – It’s ok. Daniel wasn’t texting another girl…he was texting a MAN…the photographer that is. So eventually, Daniel texted me that they were coming back and I hid and pretended like I was taking a nap on the boat like I was a rich man who owned a boat and vs a squatter taking refuge in a boat for weather and photography reasons.
I’m sure Daniel gave a huge sigh of relief when he got down on one knee and the skies didn’t start pouring. Come to think of it, I’m sure he gave a huge sigh of relief when Kelly said “Yes” as well. So in the end, it all worked out and I was able to snag some TOP SECRET photos of the proposal from my some guy’s boat. Everything was going smoothly until some pimply faced teenager decided to have a power trip and kick me out of the boat. I tried to shush him and snap my neck toward Daniel and Kelly’s special moment but he just kept saying, “Is this your boat?!?!? Ok then, you need to get out of it.” Ok ok, I understand, it’s not my boat, but it’s not like I was doing anything in the boat like driving it, partying, etc. I was just being paparazzi…(again – without the craziness like the getting in the faces, etc. You know what I mean).
So Kelly is now engaged to marry a future preacher and Daniel has his sweetheart for the rest of his life. It was a truly happy ending despite the torrential downpour and overzealous pimple laden teenager. Congratulations Kelly and Daniel!
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