Session Spotlight-Proposal with Pups-Bedford NH

A Fall Session Full of Fur, Foliage, and a Perfectly Timed Surprise

Fall sessions are always a little magical with golden light, peak foliage, crisp air; but every now and then, a session surprises me too.

Alyssa booked a late afternoon session at a local park in Bedford, NH, right at peak foliage season. She came with her three small dogs and her boyfriend Connor. Since this was their very first professional photo session, there were a few nerves all around. Alyssa’s biggest concern? Getting all three pups to cooperate long enough for a photo or two. (A very reasonable concern when you’re outnumbered by dogs.)

From the start, Connor was right there with helping manage the dogs, jumping into family photos, and even posing solo with the pups. It felt like a relaxed, fun session focused on capturing Alyssa, Connor, and the dogs just as they are.

What Alyssa didn’t know was that Connor had reached out to me ahead of time with a plan.

He wanted to propose at the end of the session.

We coordinated everything in advance, including the exact spot. The plan was simple and sneaky: once we wrapped up, the dogs would be safely put in the car, and Connor would pretend he’d lost his keys somewhere in the park. I’d casually walk Alyssa back toward a spot we had already photographed earlier.

What actually happened? As I turned around, Connor was already down on one knee.

Alyssa was completely taken by surprise. This session had been her idea, and her focus the entire time had been on the dogs behaving; not on a proposal coming her way. Her reaction was shock, joy, and emotion, and I was able to capture it all as it unfolded naturally.

Of course, because this was a session with three dogs, not everything went perfectly and that’s part of what made it so memorable.

At one point, one of the dogs slipped loose, leading to a brief (and admittedly heart-pounding) chase. With a busy road nearby, there was a moment of panic—but teamwork, calm energy, and quick reactions meant the pup was safely scooped up without harm. Crisis averted.

And then there was the ring.

It didn’t fit.

Which led to laughter, reassurances, and one more reminder that real life doesn’t stop for photo sessions—and that’s okay. Some of the best moments come from the unexpected ones.

Despite the nerves, the chase, the proposal, and the slightly-too-small ring, the session ended on a joyful, celebratory note. I captured beautiful images of Alyssa, Connor, their three dogs, and a once-in-a-lifetime moment they’ll never forget.

Sessions like this are a great reminder that photography is about so much more than perfect poses. It’s about adjusting on the fly, keeping everyone safe and comfortable, and embracing the unexpected moments as they happen. From nervous pups to surprise proposals, this session had it all. Those real, imperfect moments are often the ones that matter most. Want to see more multiple dog sessions, take a look at my blog post on working with multiple dogs. 

Take a look at a sample of the images captured below. 

Location: Bedford NH

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