Arcadia Beach is a fantastic spot for a romantic sunset beach proposal, especially with its beautiful sea stacks and stunning ocean views. For J and A, celebrating A’s birthday on a road trip through Oregon, it was the perfect place. When the sun started to set, the beach was bathed in a warm, golden light, laying the basis for a perfect proposal. It was a moment they would always remember.
Phase 1: Keeping the Secret
To plan the perfect moment, J surprised A with a “birthday photoshoot” an hour before sunset, cleverly disguising the proposal as just one of the many surprises A had received on their roadtrip. For the best timing, we aimed for the golden hour, just before sunset, to capture the perfect light. Traveling in a rented van with their fun-loving dogs, added to the adventure and the many surprises along the way kept A from suspecting the grand finale.
Phase 2: Completing a Successful Sunset Beach Proposal
During the dreamiest golden hour, we started with some simple photo prompts before setting up one where A had her back turned, giving J time to prepare for the proposal. When A turned around, J read her proposal speech and got down on one knee. The joy on their faces was undeniable—they couldn’t stop smiling. Afterward, they celebrated with a “champagne pop” (using sparkling water to respect Leave No Trace principles) and enjoyed a real bottle of champagne at sunset, using custom-made enamel camp mugs. We captured some beautiful photos of J and A with their pups by the van and later took more portraits on the beach during the blue hour.
“Mattie was wonderful! I hired her for a surprise proposal photoshoot on the beach and she was amazing. She was perfect at keeping the surprise and setting everything up for us. She prompted us while doing the photoshoot so we never felt awkward! We had our two dogs during this shoot and she was great with them. She even sent us a few sneak peak photos and we were obsessed! She was also on time and great at communicating and working with our schedule. Overall we loved our session with Mattie and couldn’t recommend her more to capture your special moment.”
Oregon Elopement Photographer
Hey there, it’s Mattie, your photographer specializing in outdoor love stories! Based in Portland, Oregon, I focus on making your engagement and elopement dreams a reality.
With a passion for the outdoors, I love adventurous engagements and elopements. Whether you’re dreaming of a forest hike, mountain vows, or a beachside dance at dusk, I’m here to make it happen.
As a couples photographer, I aim to capture your unique love story authentically. Your photos should reflect the adventure and authenticity that define your relationship.
Want to learn more about me? Click HERE to discover my story and passion. Ready to start this journey together? Click HERE to inquire about availability and packages. I can’t wait to work with you and capture these special memories.
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