“Believe in a love that is being stored up for you like an inheritance, and have faith that in this love there is a strength and a blessing so large that you can travel as far as you wish without having to step outside it.”

-Rainer Maria Rilke

I spent an evening with Tarpan and Janhvi one evening in Lincoln Park for their engagement session. The love between them spoke so deeply to me. They are a true example of faith in love. They had met through mutual friends and instantly hit it off. Through talking about what made them feel alive, what they valued, and what they envisioned for the future, a love began to blossom. Within weeks, they knew they wanted to spend their lives together.

When they decided to fly out to California so Tarpan could meet Janhvi’s family, he immediately began implementing a plan for a surprise proposal. The weekend was spent in laughter and conversation as they all got to know each other and share family stories. Tarpan had done some behind the scenes prep with both his sister and Janhvi’s.

On a quintessential sunny California day, the couple headed to Newport Beach with the family for a day of fun and relaxation. That evening, Tarpan asked Janhvi to go for a walk around the marina. He was acting strange, but when her best friend, Marcee, from college showed up near a boat rental place, Janhvi dismissed his apprehension. Clearly he had just been nervous at giving away the very special surprise visit. The three of them went out on the boat to enjoy the perfect evening on the water.

As the sun neared the horizon, a beautiful light fell across the water. Tarpan looked into Janhvi’s eyes and began telling her how much he loved her. Before she realized what was happening, he dropped to one knee and asked her if she would be his forever. With tears in her eyes, she said yes. And Marcee snapped a photo of the moment.

They came to shore and joined the family, who had known what was happening all along and had planned a beautiful dinner to celebrate.

When they reached out to me to tell me their story and ask if I’d photograph their engagement session in Chicago, I was overjoyed. I’m so grateful to have gotten to know them while they were in town, and I wish them many years of happiness together!