Styled Shoot: Surprise Proposal at Big Four Ice Caves

When this styled shoot turned into a surprise proposal, Julia Hermes had no idea what her sister and her boyfriend had planned all along!

“As a photographer, I’m always looking for interesting sessions to add to my portfolio. This is what I told my sister when I came to visit my family in Washington,” explained Alyssa Smirnov, who owns Smirnova Photography. “I just told her that I need her and her boyfriend to model for my styled shoot and this was for my business.”

“We spent the morning driving through the mountain and hiking to the caves. Finally, we were taking pictures and when Julia was almost too cold to continue Vitalii gave me the signal and I knew to just keep clicking the shutter. She was so surprised and excited! I love that we could turn this styled shoot into something meaningful that will really live on forever.”

Alyssa’s dreamlike images are beautifully composed. Julia was stunning in a gown by Xiaolin Design. Makeup by LiSun Goh completed her look. Paper flowers designed by 622 press were the perfect florals to withstand the cold at Big Four Ice Caves in Granite Falls, Washington. Cool blue invitations were provided by DCo Lovenotes.

Congratulations on your engagement, Julia Hermes and Vitalii Kolomiiets! And kudos to Alyssa and Vitalii for orchestrating the perfect surprise proposal.