New River Gorge Proposal, Cortney & Chris, Fayetteville, WV. West Virginia Wedding Photographer.

A couple of weeks ago Chris Stanton called me out of the blue looking for a local photographer to document his proposal to his girlfriend Cortney. I was like yeah, I do “ninja proposals.” After a couple of weeks of hashing out details and strategies we settled on a date, location and time. 

Chris and Cortney have been together for 4-years and met while at Fairmont State University in Fairmont, W.Va. Now residing in Clarksburg, Chris wanted to propose to Cortney some place that screams West Virginia with a nice view – what better place than Fayetteville, W.Va., in the New River Gorge?

The plan was for me to be at Long Point before them and act like I was just enjoying the view and taking some scenic photos – as not to blow my cover. I told Chris that I would hang back, being unobtrusive and wait for him to drop down on his knee and start shooting.  Cortney had no idea this was coming, but did wonder why Chris asked her to get her nails done recently.

Given that it is Long Point and on a Sunday, Chris was worried there would be a crowd there. I told them not to worry as most folks will come, linger, take some photos then depart in several minutes and to wait it out. Some how despite a full trail-head parking lot they got to the overlook just as several groups were leaving and it was just me and them. After we met and laughed and she cried about this, I told them to enjoy the quiet time and seclusion here and that I was done. They thanked me repeatedly and I left with a smile. What a great moment in two peoples lives to have a window into. I looked back before the turn off of the overhead and captured the two frames below from an indelible moment.