There are some sessions where everything just clicks, and this proposal at Esch Beach was one of them. Bri and Brenden drove up from Ohio right after Brenden finished a night shift as a firefighter. He was running on caffeine and pure excitement, and somehow still showed up with the best energy. 

They camp in their van all the time and spend their weekends exploring different parts of Northern Michigan, so choosing Esch Beach for the proposal made total sense. They had never been there before, which made it feel like a brand-new memory they were creating together.

The Big Moment at Esch Beach

When Brenden got down on one knee, Bri was completely caught off guard. And then, even more shocked when she realized I was there, photographing the whole thing. She was so happy he planned that part, especially since she’s a photographer too. (Her work is beautiful — @annawhitephotography if you want to see!)

The moment was quick, sweet, and very them. There wasn’t a big setup, no audience, just the sound of the waves and a really happy “yes.”

Afterward, the nerves left and they immediately fell into laughing, teasing each other, and exploring the beach like they always do. It never once felt posed or forced. They made it so easy to document because they were just themselves.

A Session at Esch Beach That Felt Like a Hang Out

Spending the evening with them genuinely felt like meeting up with two friends for a hangout. They’re both super easygoing and outdoorsy, and our personalities clicked right away. We walked along the shoreline, took photos by their van (because that’s basically their second home), and soaked up the last bit of light over Lake Michigan.

Nothing about the evening felt rushed or put together, just a really sweet moment in a new place they got to explore together.