In March of 2012 I attended the last of three Genesis photography workshops in Las Vegas, Nevada. I spent my time in Vegas learning from and working with some of the top photographers around the world. These people were amazing photographers, and even more incredible, they were outstanding human beings. Although I was a bit intimidated by these giants, they took the time to push me creatively and technically. The knowledge I gained was immeasurable, but the Genesis experience wasn’t isolated to just learning. I began fostering friendships with people in a way that is hard to come by in this busy life. And I wasn’t the only one that felt this way. Something incredibly special and dynamic was happening between members of this group, and so started the Genereunions. I was unable to attend the first reunion in the Outer Banks. I promised myself that I would not miss the next one.

Fast forward to Tuesday the 14th of January 2014. The sun was showing off it’s spectacular golden hues as it hung low in the sky slowly giving way to darkness. I had been in Huatulco, Mexico for the second Genereunion for a few days and I had only taken a few quick snapshots of the resort where the Genesis crew was staying. I decided it was time to start making a record of my journey, so I grabbed my camera bag and descended the dusty gravel ridge from Las Palmas to Playa Violin beach. I had no idea that in a moment when I reached the secluded beach that I would have the most epic, serendipitous experience of my professional career, not to mention the best possible start to 2014. As I climbed down the rock face onto the beach, there in the sunset stood a young couple who had just gotten engaged. They had no idea a wedding photographer had just stumbled upon their proposal when they asked me to take a photo with their iPhone. I pointed to my bag full of photography equipment and told them I was a wedding photographer and we did an impromptu shoot right there on the beach. We exchanged contact information and I invited them to the 80’s party we were having at the resort that night. Sam and Dan attended the party where we shared drinks and a new friendship blossomed, regardless of the fact that I was dressed in my underwear as Tom Cruise in Risky Business. A few days later we shot their engagement session in town and enjoyed a fantastic dinner.  It was perfect.

I started shooting professionally as a means to scratch a creative itch and provide for my beautiful family. What I didn’t realize was how many stories would touch me so deeply, and I certainly had no idea that so many new and wonderful friendships would be fostered as a result of picking up a camera. Please enjoy these very special selections from Dan and Sam’s beach proposal and engagement shoot, and don’t forget to look for their wedding photos in 2015!