Two is Always Better Than One....Terald and Tamara....@ Two Urban Licks

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It was so much fun to shoot the engagement of Terald and Tamara. Terald (whom I refer to as Mr. Real Estate) and Tamara (Ms. Nutrition Awareness) got engaged at Two Urban Licks on October 19th. For Tamara, this was all a grand surprise! The restaurant was the location of the couple's first date.

When Terald first contacted me I could hear the excitement in his voice. He wanted to do something special and had the plan already in motion. I knew that I could bring that vision to reality and add a few special touches of my own.

Two weeks before the shoot, I did about 3 hours of research to get the lighting on this job just right. I was metering and positioning tables (restaurants are used to me completely changing the layout of their space by now), questioning management, making friends with the bar tenders, and even giving the valets an extra tips so that they would remember me come two weeks later (this paid off on the date of the shoot big time). Its always nice to be able to pick where your subjects will be positioned, so I made sure to reserve a two-seater right under a light. The table was a bit secluded from the general restaurant crowd but still open enough to cause no suspicion from Tamara.

Problem: The night of the shoot timing was a bit off and because of the chance for rain the restaurant management decided to close the sky lights...?? O.K.

Solution: So I had to improvise. I asked for a few extra candles, moved the table once again before T & T arrived, and downed two glasses of water to hydrate after running in and outside about 122 times. Yes 122.

All this for nothing. No flash....no light...no problem....the extra light that I needed came directly from Terald and Tamara. They were both beaming from the moment they walked through the restaurant door. Tamara had no idea I was there of course and my assistant (Brandi) posed as she was shooting a birthday party (shout out to Kacie - 18 at last!). In the end, the proposal went just as planned and Tamara was really caught by surprise. Her smile and his sincerity made this occasion one to remember.

Behind the scenes info: Since Tamara happens to know me, I had on a worn Polo cap for disguise! Once I even had my camera shooting remotely from on top of the bar. Now how's that? It was a hoot shooting since most people in the restaurant figured something special was about to happen and kept ordering appetizers while watching me plan the shoot two hours before T & T arrived. Once Terald got down on bended knee half the place held their breath and then started clapping uncontrollably!

Congratulations to Terald and Tamara! I can't wait for the wedding.

- KNIGHT

Two is Always Better Than One....Terald and Tamara....@ Two Urban Licks