Louis reached out with a clear goal: plan an Ottawa surprise proposal that felt natural, emotional, and unforgettable for Divine. Before the big day, Louis and I met to talk through the vision, get excited about the plan, and map out the details — timing, positioning, light, foot traffic, and how we’d keep everything discreet while still capturing the story beautifully.
Planning the perfect Ottawa surprise proposal
A surprise proposal only happens once — so the planning matters. We chose Major’s Hill Park at Kìwekì Point for its view, its atmosphere, and the way the light falls across Parliament Hill at sunset. The goal was to keep it authentic and personal, not staged.
- We chose the exact spot for clean framing toward Parliament Hill.
- We timed it for golden hour so the light would be soft and cinematic.
- I stayed discreet so Divine wouldn’t suspect a photographer was there.
The moment Louis popped the question
On the day of the proposal, I arrived early and waited until everything lined up. As Louis and Divine walked into place, I snuck a few frames during the build-up — the anticipation, the nerves, the smiles — before Louis turned to Divine and asked the question.
The reaction was instant and emotional — a beautiful, overwhelming yes. That kind of moment is why I love proposal photography: it’s real, it’s unrepeatable, and it deserves to be preserved exactly as it happened.
Behind the scenes (Instagram embed)
This behind-the-scenes reel shows the full story — planning, the proposal, and the engagement photos afterward.
Engagement photos at Major’s Hill Park (sunset portraits)
After the proposal, we stayed right nearby and moved into engagement photos immediately — while the emotions were still fresh. With the sun dropping behind the city and Parliament Hill in the background, everything felt calm, warm, and incredibly personal.
Major’s Hill Park is one of my favourite spots for this exact reason: you can go from proposal to portraits in minutes — and the light and views deliver every single time.
From proposal to wedding
What made this story even more special is that I had the honour of photographing and filming Louis and Divine’s wedding in the months that followed. Being trusted to document both the beginning of the story and the celebration after is something I never take lightly.