Brianna is ENGAGED.
Okay… so is Garrett.
But really, Garrett and Bri are engaged, and I still get emotional every time I think about it.

As an Idaho Engagement Photographer and a Salmon Idaho Photographer, I’ve had the honor of documenting so many proposals and love stories but this one hit completely different. This one was personal. Brianna is my niece, and being able to photograph such a defining moment in her life was something I’ll never forget.

The whole plan came together with the kind of teamwork that only happens when you have good friends and family who love you. Garrett kept the secret beautifully, even though every part of him was buzzing with nerves. He told Brianna he had booked a photo session for their anniversary, and that’s when she started questioning everything. In true Bri style, she asked everyone she could how this mysterious session came to be. But eventually, she shrugged it off and let it go, not knowing what was waiting for her.

While she got ready, Garrett made the drive home from work, and their friends and family quietly headed to the Sacajawea Center to set up the spot. The weather wasn’t exactly warm, and the light was fading fast, classic late fall in Salmon. But thank goodness for good friends who hustled through the cold, setting candles, arranging balloons, adding music, and placing the big MARRY ME sign just right.

I met Garrett and Bri for what she believed was a regular couple’s session. As we walked toward the river, the sun sank lower, the temperature dropped, and we tried not to speed-walk or look suspicious. I took a few quick photos on the way to keep everything feeling natural. Then I handed the ring box to Garrett just before the path opened up.

And there it was, magic.

The trees parted to reveal the mountains, the river rushing by, the soft glow of candles, the sign, the setup, the love behind every detail. Brianna froze. Tears came instantly. Garrett got down on one knee, voice shaking but spoke words full of love, and said the words no one forgets:

“I know I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?”

She said yes. Of course she said yes.

Within a few moments, their moms stepped out from hiding, followed by friends, and Bri cried all over again. The cold didn’t matter. The dark didn’t matter. What mattered was the love, the surprise, the planning, and the fact that Garrett absolutely nailed it.

I’m so excited for these two.
We’re planning a wedding, whatever that looks like for them, and I’m grateful I get to be part of it from both behind the camera and inside the family circle. Moments like this remind me exactly why I do what I do.