A Surprise Proposal on the Family Farm | Crae + Hannah

Some sessions hit differently — this one had my heart wrapped around it from the very beginning.

Crae and Hannah got engaged on their family farm in Stone Mills, Ontario, during golden hour in the middle of the most peaceful, love-soaked field. And the best part? Hannah had no idea it was coming. She planned her own proposal without even knowing it — and it was perfect.

We had been secretly working on this moment for months. The night before, Crae came over and we practiced again and again how it would all go down — every movement, every step, every cue. I told Hannah I wanted to take some photos of her at sunset, and she (so sweetly) agreed. Classic Hannah — always all in!!!

When the moment came, I had them sit on the blanket, and then casually asked Crae to hand Dustin (my boyfriend + Craes brother) the blanket. That’s when Dustin slipped him the ring box — quiet, smooth, and exactly how we rehearsed it. Then we played “Nothin’ On You” by Cody Johnson and told them to dance.

And that’s when it happened.

He twirled her. Dropped to one knee. And asked the biggest question of their lives.

She cried. He cried. Everyone cried.

It was short and sweet, and somehow so full of feeling it didn’t need anything more. We took a few photos after — popped some bubbly — but honestly, none of us could really focus. We were all just in it. Then we headed back to the house, where her sister was waiting to surprise her again.

This session meant more to me than I can explain. Even though I’m still new to this family, Crae and Hannah were the first ones to truly welcome me in. They made me feel like I belonged before I believed I did — and I will never forget that. Photographing this proposal for them was one of the biggest honours of my year, and of my life, really.

I can’t wait to watch them build their life together. Always in their corner. Always cheering them on.

Planning a proposal?
There’s nothing more powerful than having this kind of moment preserved forever. Whether you're planning something simple or sentimental, I’ll help you make sure it all goes off beautifully — and capture it with honesty and care. Get in touch here to start dreaming up your perfect proposal session.

Photographers: if you’re loving the tones in these images, I edited them using my signature preset collection designed for golden hour and emotional storytelling. You can check them out right here.