December 28, 2016 ~ Leu Gardens, Orlando, FL ~ Engagement Session: Ben & Kimberly
On December 28th, 2016, just 3 days after Christmas Day, I shot THE most stressful, anxious,
joyful, emotional, beautiful, wonderful, prayer-filled session of my photography career.
My Sister & Her Love, Ben, got engaged. Ben planned the whole thing, and I photographed it!
I knew about the proposal and my parents knew about everything,
and 3 of my friends that I texted every so often to say things like:
“WHAT IF I CAN’T NAIL THIS.” & “WHAT IF I DON’T HAVE A SHOT.”
and incomplete grammatical sentences like: “SOOO NERVOUS. CANNOT HANDLE.”
and “I’m so excited but I’m also dying. I’m dying. I’m dead. Help.”
and “HOW DO I DO THIS IN JUST A FEW MINUTES
WITHOUT ANYONE SEEING OR HEARING ME.” and “WHAT IF SHE SEES ME.”
Thankfully two photographer friends backed me up and told me that I COULD do it.
Even though it was SO stressful and full of challenges, it was one of the sweetest moments of my life,
and such an honor to photograph their surprise proposal and engagement photos.
A dream come true for me! Normally I wouldn’t write up the whole story, especially in such dramatic detail,
but this is my sister and a once in a lifetime session and story, and I’d love to share it with you!!
So here’s how it all came about:
It was the Monday after Christmas, and Ben had driven to Orlando to rent/pick up a black BMW
for their special date, because it’s Kimberly’s favorite kind of car.
And that was the last time anything went according to schedule. Hahahaha.
Ben was a little late getting back with the BMW from Orlando, but it wasn’t pushing the timeline too much.
I walked them out the door, as Kimberly and Ben came out dressed to the nines for their special date night.
Kimberly’s jaw dropped. Ben: “I wonder whose car that is?” Kimberly: “Ben.What did you DO.”
It was so fantastic. Ben grinned and tucked her into the BMW and they roared down our street.
Perfect. I had like…30 mins to get ready and drive 1 hour to Leu Gardens and sneak to the proposal spot
that I’d shot a week earlier and sent pics to Ben to see where he wanted to propose.
About 15 minutes later, the phone rings.
It’s Kim on the call and Ben’s phone is about to die, so they are coming back for the charger,
because it’s the only way they could have directions (and he could secretly text me about when and where).
I throw on some grungy clothes and hope Kim doesn’t see I’ve been putting on makeup to go out.
I hand Ben the charger and turn around to whisper:
“You have to bump up the timeline now because we won’t have enough time.”.
They leave again. I have like 10 minutes to get on the road again. Help me, Lord Jesus. Hahahaha.
I am not kidding you when I say I broke every speed limit there was, getting there.
Last admission to Leu Gardens was at 4:30, and they closed at 5.
At 4:08, I get a text from Ben saying they arrived and are paying admission.
4:11 *I text Ben* “Wander around past it so I can sneak in”
At 4:19, I receive this comforting text from Ben: “Someone is on the bench”
4:23: With the patient diplomacy of a seasoned photographer, I text back: “MOVE THEM.”
4:24: Me: “I’m here”
I SPRINT up to admissions, gasping out:
“I know I have 5 minutes before last admission. I know I have 30 minutes before you close!
I am here to photograph an engagement and I don’t need a map!“
I thrust a $20 bill over and seriously considered running out at that moment.
The sweet little old lady says:
“Well my cash register is closed and we’ll have to go into the gift shop.”
I’m normally very laid back and easy going. But not at that moment.
I cut through a line of about 9 people apologizing and explaining
and was like “Please. Just keep the $20, I have to go“.
She FINALLY gives me my change and I sprint out of there like my tail is on fire.
I’m running down this path, and suddenly I see a flash of red. My sister’s dress.
I stop short so fast I almost go flat down on my back. If she sees me….all bets are off.
I have no lines to fall back on like:
“Oh hey. Just broke every speed limit to come take pics of your date.”
and she knows ALL OF MY CLOTHING, even though I dressed in green to blend in.
If she saw me…..it was over. Like, NO PRESSURE OR ANYTHING.
Never have I ever been so glad that as a kid, we spent so many hours walking/running/pretending
we were Indians and learned how to stealthily move through crunchy leaves and hide in bushes.
Because that’s what I spent the next 9 minutes doing. It was absolutely terrifying.
Here’s a shot of them meandering around while Ben waited for those people to move off the bench….
and while I figured out my strategy to move AROUND them without them seeing me.
Right after I took this picture, Kimberly looked back, and I dove behind a tree. “Be the tree. Be the tree.”
while visitors stared at me in concern and asked if I was crashing a wedding. Pretty sure they were on
the verge of telling security, because I was the craziest person you’ve seen.
I’d be walking and all of a sudden I’d drop flat down onto my knees in the bushes or I’d jerk back to hide
behind some vines. It was so intense, y’all, I get nervous just thinking about it!!
This accurately displays how much freaking out was going on as I waited for the big moment. Hahahaha.
SO many prayers and SO much planning had gone into these next few minutes.
Finally at 4:32, I was in place and texted Ben I was “Ready”.
I prayed for the millionth time that she wouldn’t look through the foliage and see me.
I prayed for the millionth time that she wouldn’t hear me and no one would mess this up.
I prayed for the millionth time that I could get the shot.
I took the deepest of breaths and tried to calm down. I was shaking so hard the whole time from
pure adrenaline, emotion, lack of air!, nerves, and the hugeness of the moment and the story.
Meanwhile, 20′ away, they swung in relaxed peace. In lovey peace. In non-proposal peace.
4:34, I texted Ben again: “GO”
She was totally unaware, just taking in the gardens and smiling at Ben. She had no idea.
At 2:37pm, on December 28, 2015, in the beautiful Leu Gardens on a warm & breezy Florida evening,
at the perfect time on the perfect day, with the perfect blessing of God and our families,
my sister’s love got down on one knee and asked her to be his wife.
……. and she said” Oh Ben! Yes.”
And then it was all PURE JOY.
Then came the moment I stepped out into the courtyard, and she saw me. Sooo surprised.
After the tightest of happy hugs, the spilling of secrets, and admiring her ring, I was like: “FINALLY.”.
I took a few huuuge breaths as I let the pressure roll off my shoulders. She’d said YES and I’d gotten the shot!
Ben & I were SOOO glad that was finally over. Haha. Every guy and every photographer can relate right now!!
We had a very quick and very happy engagement session in the next 15 minutes before the gardens closed!
In the vegetable garden that I um…led them into…even though it was closed for the night,
because I’d dreamed of taking this photo of them there. Worth it.
My favorites on the happiest of days.
In front of the beautiful Leu Gardens Main House.
The gorgeous ring Ben picked out, diamonds and sapphires. I knew about it, and I was still floored.
Calling our parents….sharing the news!
My sister is engaged!!! JOY and EXCITEMENT!!! Aaaaahhhhh. So.happy.and.overjoyed.
I couldn’t be happier for my sister!!! I love Ben and love how perfectly designed for Kimberly he is.
I’m so glad to gain him as a brother in law, and to know Kimberly will be loved so sweetly for her lifetime.
Roaring out of the parking lot to their dinner reservations. Haha.
I peeled off my camera equipment and saw I’d pretty much soaked through my shirt in adrenaline,
and got in my car and took the deepest breath as I let it all sink in. So much happiness!!!
I couldn’t imagine a more beautiful and astounding end to 2015. We stand in wonder and peace over
how God has shown us His love and grace and the fulfillment of years of dreams and prayers.
“Immeasurably more than we could ask or imagine….”
Ben, thank you for making me the happiest sister in law/photographer ever for allowing me to shoot your proposal and engagement session. You probably won’t ever know how much it meant, and I think you’re the best. Especially when you wear your penguin socks to church.
Kimberly, I’ve loved every moment of watching you fall in love with Ben, and even though it was really hard keeping secrets from you, I loved watching the surprise and pure joy burst across your face when he asked you.
You are beautiful, radiant and I will love you always and forever.
Congratulations, Ben & Kimberly!!!
– JM
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