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EJ + CON: Proposal in the Clouds of Austrian Alps

Inspiration Story 

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Innsbruck, Austria

October, 2019

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EJ and Con are one of the most beautiful human beings I've had the pleasure meeting while working as a wedding photographer. Their love, kindness and joy seeps through every interaction and it touched me on a deeply personal level. Originally from the Netherlands, they have been traveling the world together along with their black Labrador Joep, recently settling in Austria. They enjoy life to the fullest, but never forget to give back to their communities. 

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Netherlands legalized same-sex marriage in 2001, leading the world with the most progressive LGBTQ rights, which gave EJ and Con the opportunity to get married a few years ago. They had an intimate wedding, but started talking about throwing a big celebration to honor their love for each other in the near future. Unexpectedly, EJ prepared a surprise "big wedding proposal" for Con in the clouds over Innsbruck.

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We took a cable car to the top of the mountain in the morning, but the weather didn't exactly cooperate. Fog covered the peaks of the mountains and the view of the city, but that's the beauty of outdoors photo sessions. We adapt and work with what we have, which can create beautifully moody atmosphere and unexpected imagery. When EJ pulled out the card covered in hearts, Con was visibly touched by emotions (and I secretly teared up behind my camera).  The peaks of Austrian Alps were divinely unveiled towards the end of our shoot and exposed the dramatic silhouettes of the ancient mountains. In John Muir's words, "mountains are calling and I must go."

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