Stu + Sarah’s Beach Proposal in Union Pier, Michigan

Some evenings just feel a little bit magical from the very beginning, and Stu + Sarah’s proposal in Union Pier was absolutely one of them. Stu reached out ahead of time with plans to propose to Sarah on the beach, and he was so thoughtful throughout the entire process. He had clearly put so much care into making the moment special for her, while also being incredibly helpful when it came to coordinating all of the little details with me. Proposal photography takes a little bit of teamwork behind the scenes, and Stu made that part so easy.

We planned everything out so Sarah could walk onto the beach without suspecting a thing, and then I got to hang back and document it all as it happened. And her reaction was SO sweet.

There was this immediate mix of surprise, excitement, happy tears, laughter, and that slightly stunned wait… is this actually happening?! feeling that makes photographing proposals so much fun. You could genuinely feel how happy they were. There are moments during sessions where I almost forget I’m there to take photos because I’m just watching everything unfold, and this was definitely one of them. After she said yes, we spent some time wandering along the shoreline together for a little impromptu engagement session. They ran around barefoot, laughed basically nonstop, danced around the beach, and soaked in the fact that they had just gotten engaged.

The evening could not have been prettier either. Union Pier gave us the softest Lake Michigan light, calm water, sandy shoreline, and the kind of subtle sunset that made everything feel peaceful and intimate. It was the perfect backdrop without ever taking away from the two of them.

One thing I love about photographing proposals is that there really are two completely different parts of the story. First, I get to photograph the actual moment exactly as it happens — the nerves, the reaction, the hug afterward, the realization that you’re officially engaged. Then once everyone has had a minute to process what just happened, we get to slow things down and create a few photos together while you’re still riding that just-engaged high.

Those first photos as fiancés always end up having a completely different energy. Nothing feels forced because you are quite literally too happy to stop smiling. Stu + Sarah were exactly that. These two were so easy together, and looking through their photos afterward, you can just feel how much fun they have with each other. Sarah’s reaction was incredibly sweet, Stu absolutely nailed the planning, and the whole night felt like the kind of memory they’re going to want to come back to over and over again.

I’m so happy I got to be a tiny part of it. Congratulations, Stu + Sarah. 🤍

Planning a Proposal in Union Pier or Along Lake Michigan?

If you’re planning to propose and wondering whether you should hire a photographer to capture it: do it.



I photograph surprise proposals and engagement sessions throughout Union Pier, New Buffalo, Southwest Michigan, Grand Rapids, and along the Lake Michigan shoreline, and I’m happy to help with more than just showing up with my camera. We can talk through timing, lighting, where I should hide, where you should stand, how to get your partner to the location without making them suspicious, and all of those tiny logistics that make the moment feel effortless when it actually happens.

Whether you’re planning a Union Pier beach proposal, a sunset proposal on Lake Michigan, or something completely different, my goal is to document it in a way that feels natural, emotional, and true to the two of you.

Planning to pop the question? Reach out through my contact page and tell me what you’re thinking. We’ll make a plan together — and I’ll be there to capture everything from the big question to those first few holy crap, we’re engaged moments afterward.