When Colin and I first began planning his vineyard proposal photoshoot, the logistics seemed straightforward: lunch at Newport Vineyards, a stroll through the vines, and a surprise proposal. It sounded simple enough, but as is often the case with a high-stakes vineyard proposal photoshoot, the plan required some quick thinking and professional pivoting.

Newport Vineyards typically uses an online booking system that only opens seven days in advance. Since Colin wanted to secure his plans earlier, he reached out directly. Thanks to Trisha, a wonderful five-year employee at the vineyard, he was able to secure a 3:00 PM slot for Saturday, June 19th.

We were all set for the perfect vineyard proposal photoshoot, until a scheduling conflict arose. On the Wednesday before the big day, Colin texted me: Kate had surprised him with a noon reservation for his birthday weekend! The vineyard merged the two bookings, moving our start time up to 12:00 PM.

As the saying goes, “the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.” I adjusted my personal schedule, started my morning early, and prepared all my equipment on Friday night to ensure I was ready for this mid-day vineyard proposal photoshoot.

By 10:30 AM on Saturday, Colin was sending me photos of their outfits to ensure I could identify them easily. I arrived at the vineyard at 12:35 PM and met with Trisha, who showed me exactly where the couple would be seated. Because the mid-day sun was searing, I waited in my truck to stay cool and out of sight. During this time, I actually ran into Colin at his vehicle while he was retrieving the ring! This gave us a rare opportunity to have a quick, final strategy session before the vineyard proposal photoshoot officially began.

At 1:50 PM, I received the “10-minute warning.” I gathered my gear and took my position. As I began to shadow the couple, a group of nearby guests asked me in very loud voices what I was doing. I quickly whispered for them to be quiet, explaining that a proposal was about to happen. They immediately hushed and lined up on a stone wall to watch the magic unfold.

At the perfect moment, Colin dropped to his knee. I dropped to mine to get the best angle for the shot, capturing the beautiful proposal just as the “peanut gallery” of strangers broke into cheers! It was a highlight of the vineyard proposal photoshoot.

After the “Yes,” we transitioned into a mini-engagement session. Just as we were wrapping up, Trisha appeared on a golf cart with two flutes of champagne and a complimentary bottle of wine—a testament to why this is such a premier location for a vineyard proposal photoshoot.

I hope you enjoy these images. If you are planning your own vineyard proposal photoshoot, one piece of professional advice: try to avoid high noon in the summer. Harsh vertical shadows are tricky, though we certainly made the magic happen for Colin and Kate!