When Derek contacted me about coming up to the Blue Ridge Parkway and hiking to Crabtree Falls to capture his YEAR LONG planned proposal to his girlfriend, Maya, I was 100%…no 1000000000% down for it. Like no questions asked. Like better yet, PLEASE hire me, Derek!

Those who know me, know I’m a mountain girl all day. Like I live for them, I breathe them, I hike them, I’ve even got them tattooed on my arm. So, I take EVERY SINGLE opportunity to head out west towards the apexes of the most beautiful part of our state.

Derek and I finalized plans and I did just that…headed out west…towards the beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway. I went a day early, hiked to the falls to count time and figure out which lenses I would need, then checked into a nice, but affordable room in Black Mountain, NC. The next morning, I got up super early, fueled up…both the Jeep and the tummy…and headed back up the loop de loop of roads that led to the parkway’s entrance of the hike to Crabtree Falls.

I always arrive early (future clients, if you’re looking for someone who’ll never be late to your event, you’ve found her)…because I am wise enough to account for anything happening…so I got a chance to enjoy the falls without a single soul around. I found my desired location to capture the event, got my settings just right on both cameras…and waited.

It didn’t take too long…I heard the dogs first…and next thing you know, all of the following amazingness ensued.