Why do we have to go

vote on a rainy day?

Patrick & Melissa

It was in the heart of

campaign season back in 2020,

and it was pouring on a cold October day. There was no rain delay or rain check for this proposal. Patrick didn’t have any other time to do it, and he knew he wanted to ask Melissa to marry him in the courtyard at the elementary school they went to together.

I was so juiced that it was raining. My cameras can handle the rain and I love how the lights reflect off the concrete and asphalt. Patrick didn’t have time to meet me on site a couple hours before hand but his mother came out and acted as my muse for a little while. I knew what the plan was, relayed it back to Patrick and got into position.

I was given fair warning from him that Melissa gets incredibly emotional. I thought I’ve heard that before but I guess I wasn’t

paying attention enough. When Patrick finally decided to get his knee wet she couldn’t believe it, and she couldn’t handle it either. As I got closer I could hear her cries and Patrick was just laughing the whole time, looking at her with a sense of concern that if she isn’t contained Melissa would somehow get hurt.

At one point I couldn’t contain my laughter as she yelled out, “Oh my god, this is so f***ed up!” It wasn’t the response you expect but it made Patrick’s day for sure. I told her we had a little photoshoot in the rain planned and she immediately responded, “Don’t even ask me to pose at all. I can’t handle that right now.”

So we made our way briefly around the grounds and she stood there, smiling right alongside Patrick.