I have photographed proposals. I have photographed maternity sessions. But I have never done both in the same morning until this one.

We met at 8 in the morning along a river in Arashiyama that most people never find — a small, tucked-away spot where the water runs quietly and the trees hold most of the sound. Because we had started early, there was no one else around at all. Just the water, the birds calling in the trees above us, and the two of them stepping into what turned out to be the most magical morning.

They arrived right on time. As we had planned together beforehand, the surprise proposal unfolded exactly the way we had hoped. When he asked, she was completely overwhelmed. She started crying almost immediately, in the softest, happiest way. I photographed the whole moment feeling deeply lucky to be there for it.

And then, just as we started transitioning into the rest of the couple session, they shared something with me I had not known — she was expecting. So we naturally added maternity photos into the session too, right there by the river. Some of my favourite frames of the entire morning are the quiet ones with her hand on her belly, the two of them standing together in the soft morning light. Getting to photograph their proposal and the beginning of their family life in one continuous session is an experience I will carry with me for a long time.

We shot in a few different spots along the river and beyond, and every single one worked. They loved every photo I showed them on the back of the camera, and the whole morning had this quiet, beautiful, complete feeling to it — a family photoshoot before the family even fully arrived, in a way.

Thank you both so much for choosing me to be behind the camera for such a big morning. It really did mean a lot. Congratulations to the two of you, and to your growing family — I wish all three of you every ounce of happiness in the days ahead. I really hope to see you all again the next time you visit Japan.

If you are dreaming up a sunrise proposal in Arashiyama, a maternity session in Kyoto, or something that combines a few beautiful moments into one, the details are at my Kyoto packages page.