She said “YES!”
Cue the happy tears, the glow of the New Mexico desert, and the sparkle of new jewelry—this one’s a proposal story for the books…
Brody and Hannah were visiting New Mexico from Alabama to spend time with family, but Brody had a very different kind of itinerary in mind. Instead of just a nice vacation and some casual family photos in the foothills, he secretly reached out to me with the sweetest plan: propose to Hannah mid-“family photo session” and turn the whole thing into a surprise engagement shoot.
Side note: Brody almost got his bag flagged at the airport on the way to Albuquerque. When TSA started to pull it aside, he panicked—because hidden in there was the ring. He quietly told the agent he was carrying a surprise engagement ring, and thankfully they let him through without ruining the plan. He told me later he was sweating bullets.
We set up the “decoy” family session in the Sandia Foothills—one of my favorite photo spots near Albuquerque for dreamy golden hour light and iconic New Mexico views. Brody let me know that he wanted to get down on one knee at the beginning of their session, so I positioned them for “just a few couples photos” against the gorgeous backdrop of the Sandia Mountains and gave him the cue… Brody got down on one knee and I pretended I wasn’t holding my breath, grabbing every angle possible of this once-in-a-lifetime moment. Hannah’s reaction? Instant happy tears, a joyful “YES,” and the sweetest, most overwhelmed smile.
Right after, she told us she kind of had a feeling it might happen on the trip—but she was still completely surprised, overwhelmed, and just so so SO happy to be engaged.
After lots of hugs, a few more tears, and the most wholesome family celebration, we rolled straight into their engagement photos. And let me tell you—these two were glowing. Golden hour was at its absolute peak, and the light could not have been more perfect.
They laughed, twirled, danced in the desert, and soaked in the moment—truly just enjoying each other and the magic of it all. Right before we wrapped up, they popped champagne in the middle of the foothills and toasted to this new season. It was the perfect end to a proposal day that was full of love, intention, and a whole lot of happy tears.
From beginning to end, this proposal session was such an honor to be part of. It’s always a gift to witness the exact moment someone says “yes” to forever—but when it also includes a scenic hike, a hidden ring, a family reaction, and bubbly at sunset? Total win.
Here’s what Brody had to say after the session:
“Erika was fantastic to work with and really knew what she was doing. She made it so easy and stress free. She does her homework and knew the time and place to take the best photos. Truly a professional and the pictures were everything we hoped for and more.”
I seriously get to work with the best people.
If you’re planning your own surprise proposal or engagement session in New Mexico—whether you’re local or just visiting—I’d love to help you bring the vision to life. I’m based in Albuquerque, and I know all the best spots (plus, I’ve got plenty of ideas for pulling off the perfect surprise without sweating through TSA).
Ready to start planning your own dreamy New Mexico proposal?
Let’s make it happen! Reach out today and I’ll help you cultivate a surprise proposal plan that’s tailored to you and your partner!