What do I love about my job? Is it the fact that I edit pictures at 2 AM or is it that sometimes I lose sleep because I am dreaming about the next shoot? No really though, the reason why I love my job is because of the beautiful people that I meet and how so many of my clients allow me to be witness to the most intimate moments of their lives.
Here's an example:
Shawn called me one evening last year and told me that it was time for him to pop the most important question of his life to his girlfriend Roni. Since I'm getting pretty good at the interview stuff, after a couple of questions I knew that Shawn was truly ready to pledge his life to Roni forever.
Over the next few months, Shawn and
Tempest Bleu (my trusted planners!) brought the plan togehter. I arrived in New York a day early so that we could do a dry run of the proposal. We had more funny moments than one can imagine. For now on when I visit New York, Shawn and I will have a check list:
Wallet - check
Money - check
Keys - check
Parking Space - check
Metro Card - check
Cell Phone - check
Manual on how to walk in New York Subway - double check (inside joke)
Anyways, we made it through the day and made sure that all of our helpers would be in place for the proposal.
The day started at
The London NYC where we enlisted the help of
Gordon Ramsay's (
Hell's Kitchen - Fox TV) Restaurant to enact the plan. Roni thought she was coming to meet a photographer (me) to pick up a few cook books from the restaurant. Little did she know her boss was all in on the plan and convinced Roni to wear decent shoes for the short walk from her office. Shawn had reserved an intimate dining area in Ramsay's place for the actual proposal. As soon as Roni walked into The London NYC, she was pretty puzzled and kept asking for the cook books...even though Shawn was standing right in front of her! It was hilarious!! Trust me.
The upcoming slide show will tell the story much better than I can but I will try my best. Remember, I tell stories with my camera.
So after their lunch Shawn had an entire day planned for he and Roni to visit some of their favorite places around the city. I told Shawn before the day started to act like I was not there and not to worry about me getting the shots - that's why he hired me, right? Well, I think both of them were running (literally) on pure adrenaline. Roni is no stranger to physical challenges since she was part of Road Rules on
MTV - Season Five. But I wasn't thinking of running through New York in 20 degree weather! These two took off running into Grand Central Station and I looked like a deranged paparazzi photographer running after them. Another hilarious moment but great fun.
After they recorded their story for the Library of Congress (talk about make it last forever) at
StoryCorps, we were off to Toys R Us to ride the Ferris Wheel. Once I took the elevator just at the right moment as the two were reaching the top of the wheel and I snapped a few shots though the clear windows of the elevator shaft. Next we visited the Old Navy Flagship Store where they both worked when it first opened. The day ended with a gathering of family and friends at
Billie's Black in Harlem.
I could teach a week long workshop on this one shoot, but most importantly I am so happy for this couple. The look of love is awe inspiring. When these two even catch a glimpse of one another, the love shows.
Congratulations Shawn and Roni. Thank you for allowing me to share my gift with you and I look forward to hearing about the wedding plans that Roni will put together (Shawn, I was witness to that statement!).
- KNIGHT
Shawn + Roni - NYC Proposal and the Real Deal
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