A Winter Proposal in Manotick
Over the Christmas holidays in snowy Manotick, Ontario, I was invited to photograph a proposal that had been in the works for weeks. The couple was staying at her parents’ home, a familiar place that suddenly carried the weight of a big surprise. While she was out with family for the afternoon, the backyard was quietly transformed — flowers, candles, and winter greenery coming together under a crisp December sky.
When she arrived back at the house, the backyard was fully staged for the proposal. She was brought outside, where he waited and proposed. As they moved inside afterwards, the two families celebrated, shared a toast, and and shared the details — who knew, who didn’t, how it all came to pass. Parents shared new family traditions while siblings snapped phone photos, and the winter space — became the scene of a memory they’ll tell for years.
The whole thing was photographed in a documentary style, allowing the moments to unfold without interruption. No staging, no direction, just real reactions and real connection — the heart of the Slate + Flash approach.
If you’re planning a proposal or thinking about creating something special for the moment you ask, I’d love to help you document it. These little pockets of life — full of anticipation, surprise, and family — are where the magic lives.
