Atlantic Beach Proposal | Charl and Cierra | Jacksonville, Florida Proposal Photographer

Charl and Cierra’s surprise proposal in Atlantic Beach, Florida was one of those moments that reminded me why I love being a Jacksonville proposal photographer.

Charl found me through Cierra’s brother, who referred me to photograph the special moment while the couple was visiting Jacksonville from Ft Lauderdale for the Jaguars game. Jacksonville holds a special place in Cierra’s heart, as she grew up here, so I found it very intentional that Charl chose this spot to propose.

Before the proposal, Charl and Cierra grabbed lunch at North Beach Fish Camp in Neptune Beach, Florida, while Charl and I stayed in toich throughout the day via text to make sure the proposal went to plan.

As a proposal photographer, I always scout out the location ahead of time, especially with new ones that I haven’t been to. Thankfully, I was very familiar with this spot, and had photographed a proposal there at this same spot last year. On this particular day, it happened to be quite warm for January. With 80 degree temperatures, the beach was flooded with bright light and lots of people.

To ensure that they had a private moment that was distraction free, I helped Charl choose a quieter spot that still included the beach and coastal scenery, minus the crowds. When it came time for them to walk down to the beach, I hid behind a palm tree, and snuck up behind them. He turned and looked for me, and I gave him a thumbs up, and from there, the proposal went perfectly. She had no idea!

Afterward, we captured some photos at the proposal spot, went down to the beach, and ended their session with romantic portraits surrounding the Neptune Beach Town Center. The mix of beach views, charming streets, and relaxed coastal beach town vibes was the perfect backdrop for their engagement session to follow, and it could not have gone any better.

If you’re planning a surprise proposal in the Jacksonville, Atlantic Beach, Ponte Vedra Beach, St. Augustine, Amelia Island, or anywhere in the North Florida region, I would love to document the moment! From location scouting to timeline coordination, I would be honored to help capture this special moment for you.