Rain or shine, a surprise engagement will always be an event that will give me kilig feelings. Especially when the couple in front of me has a seriously strong hug game!

I photographed one of the kindest couples that have come my way. With a phone call weeks before the photo session and careful planning, the surprise was kept long enough until the right moment.

Pro tip: get the proposal done at the beginning of the photo session so the person proposing is not anxious throughout the entire shoot. Trust me, it’s one of the most compassionate steps anyone can take, as the photographer or as the person proposing. This not only releases any nerves that can creep into the pictures, but it will lift the mood of the photo session…just as long as the proposee agrees, but we can tackle what to do then in another blog post (maybe). 

Want to learn more tips on how we kept a planned surprise engagement photo session (with roses) a secret? Let’s chat! 

I can help you set up your own surprise engagement while receiving heartfelt photos you, your family, and your friends will gush over.

Welcome! 

Thanks so much for taking a peek at my blog. I’m so grateful for your interest in my photography and I hope this entry can give you a better idea of what it’s like to work with me. So if something here speaks to you, don’t be a stranger and contact me (: 

Photography for me is not only a form of personal expression - it is a way to be of service to others. At Rochester Institute of Technology, I majored in advertising photography. I focused on what I believed to be fashion photography: models in fairytale settings dressed in whatever fantastical clothing I can come with. I told visual stories like cotton candy spun from my head, plucking out inspiration from one of my favorite books or even from religious stories (I grew up Catholic). 

In addition to a degree, I accumulated some debt and a loving husband, both of which I’m stuck with…the first one I’m actively trying to shed. After graduating, I worked in photography productions and the editorial publication industry in New York City. Later, I moved to the Bay Area to begin married life. It was there that I began my portrait photography business. 

Now I’ve settled down in the Austin area and I’m so excited to meet more amazing people who call this part of Texas home. I photograph people: professional portraits (for LinkedIn, artist/actor/author headshots) and personal pictures (social media, dating profiles, holiday cards, or just because why not?!). I also photograph families, pets, families with their pets and toddlers. Whimsy and fun are my specialties. I have an eye for candid smiles and natural expressions.

If any of this resonates with you, don’t hesitate to reach out through this form or emailing me directly at joi@joiong.com.