Phil and Katie: A Jaws Proposal
Martha’s Vineyard is a very popular place to get engaged - whether you’ve only visited once or whether you are generational visitors, it’s an easy place to fall in love with and then to want to make permanent your own love.
When Phil reached out to me about doing a Jaws-related proposal, I knew his reason for choosing Martha’s Vineyard as the engagement spot was a little different. I consider it an important part of what I do when I photograph proposals to help the proposer craft their moment to fit both the vibe of their relationship, and the meaning and significance of the occasion.
For Phil (who had never been to MV, but had a deep passion for Jaws), that meant scouting spots of possibility. When his first choice of the Menemsha Galley window view didn’t seem like a good idea, I spent time comparing screen captures from the movie to their current iterations. Some spots have changed; some are largely the same. I learned that the jetty near the bridge, for example, used to be much shorter - and there is a clear mark between the original tan rocks and the new gray rocks where the beach was extended.
We decided on the jetty near American Legion Memorial Bridge, colloquially and primarily known as “Jaws Bridge” because it would probably be the most scenic, least distracting, and easily accessible spot.
After some last minute messages to make sure we were talking about the same rock (I always give final advice on wind direction and so on), we were ready to go.
One of the questions that I always ask is whether the soon-to-be-betrothed has any idea that the proposal is imminent. Typically it’s somewhere on the continuum of total surprise to absolute giveaway, but more often than not it’s closer to the surprise side of things - which is why having a photographer there to capture reactions is so important.
After the surprise is over, I always like to stay to celebrate the moment and take some couple portraits.
If you’re thinking about getting engaged on Martha’s Vineyard, I’d love to talk to you about how to make the moment perfect!