This was such a fun idea for a surprise marriage proposal in Myrtle Beach. Geoff contacted me a few weeks before his proposal. He wanted to surprise his girlfriend but he wanted to do it during a horseback ride down the beach. He got in touch with Inlet Point Plantation stables that is up in the North Myrtle Beach / Little River area. They actually have a special sunset horseback riding package that was perfect for what he wanted to do.
While I’ve never been to Inlet Point Plantation stables before, I was familiar with the general area. It’s close to the Tilghman Boyce cottage where I’ve shot weddings in the past. When you arrive at the location on Google Maps, you just have to keep driving for a few miles down a dirt road until you see signs to the stables. I was a little worried, because Inlet Point Plantation offers their own basic photography packages, during the horseback rides. I don’t want any uncomfortable issues with conflicting with another photographer. However, it wasn’t like that at all. They were super helpful and great through the whole process.
When I arrived at the stables, I actually took the signs off my car to not mess up the surprise. We were going out with another couple on the sunset ride. I talked to them while we waited for the soon to be engaged couple to arrive. So everyone knew what I was there for, except for Geoff’s girlfriend. I was able to hop right in the van with everyone, even with all my equipment. She was just told I was the photographer, going to get some normal shots, of the sunset horseback ride. She really had no idea I was actually there for just the two of them.
It’s a beautiful location where they do the beach horseback rides. Just past the very tip of the Ocean Isle beach area, there is a completely undeveloped stretch of beach, that can only be accessed with a private dirt road. If you have ever seen Hog Island up in Cherry Grove, it’s just north of the island and marshy area. Geoff and his girlfriend went out on their slightly abbreviated sunset horseback ride down the beach while I waited. On their way back, I began to take some shots of them riding down the beach. Also some of them sitting on the horses together holding hands and even petting them.
After they got off the horses, they began to walk down the beach together, where Geoff got down on one knee and proposed. After she said yes and they had some hugs and kisses together, I went over to introduce myself and get the real pictures started. I also switched from my zoom lens to my 85mm prime at this time. I asked if she had any idea he was about to propose and she said she really didn’t. She was just wondering if they had to pay extra for all the pictures I was taking!
This was my first engagement session using the new Nikon Z6 II and Z mount 85mm f1.8 prime lens. You can check out this recent post for some of my thoughts on this new camera. You will notice how crisp and sharp the eyes always are in the pictures. Also the lack of any kind of chromatic aberration or purple fringing in strong backlighting. I used to get a lot of this with my older F mount 85mm f1.4 lens. We started out with some really cute pictures with the two of them standing between the horses. Then we went up around the dunes for pictures. The only problem by the dunes, being such a natural undeveloped area, we were swarmed by gnats. So we couldn’t last long in this area. I actually had to photoshop some out for the pictures.
Next, we did some shots of them sitting by the beautiful natural dunes. It’s so nice to get in an area where Myrtle Beach’s development hasn’t ruined the dunes. Huntington Beach State Park is about the only other area you can get natural dunes like this. The sand was very wet and with such a large beach area, I got some really cool silhouette shots of the couple standing in front of the sunset, with the light reflecting on the wet sand. We also got some beautiful sunset pictures by the ocean. The warm light from the sunset was making the water look really blue and the sky almost purple in contrast.
I hope you enjoy the pictures below. I like to think I specialize in surprise engagement proposals. I’m going to add Inlet Point Plantation stables as one of my main suggestions for clients wanting to do this. The staff was very helpful and made everyone go extremely smoothly. Thanks to their help, we are able to keep the surprise as well. If you want to plan something like this let me know, I would be happy to help.
Romantic horseback ride down the beach - Inlet Point Plantation - Little River
Holding hands on horseback - Inlet Point Plantation - Little River
Girl sitting on a horse - Inlet Point Plantation - Little River
Girl sitting on a horse - Inlet Point Plantation - Little River
Surprise proposal on the beach - Inlet Point Plantation - Little River
First kiss after saying yes - Inlet Point Plantation - Little River
Looking into each other's eyes after proposal - Inlet Point Plantation - Little River
Holding hands walking horses to the dunes - Inlet Point Plantation - Little River
Embracing between the horses - Inlet Point Plantation - Little River
Kiss after private horseback ride on the beach - Inlet Point Plantation - Little River
Just engaged couple sitting together by the dunes - Inlet Point Plantation - Little River
Just engaged couple sitting together by the dunes - Inlet Point Plantation - Little River
Just engaged couple sitting together by the dunes - Inlet Point Plantation - Little River
Just engaged couple sitting together by the dunes - Inlet Point Plantation - Little River
Finance hugging her guy from behind - Inlet Point Plantation - Little River
Sitting beside each other holding hands by the dunes - Inlet Point Plantation - Little River
Couple standing in the dunes - Inlet Point Plantation - Little River
Using Nikon Z6 II live view focusing to hold the camera up for a high angle - Inlet Point Plantation - Little River
Girlfriend laying her head on finance's shoulder - Inlet Point Plantation - Little River
Leaning heads together with hand on his chest - Inlet Point Plantation - Little River
Kiss on the cheek - Inlet Point Plantation - Little River
Sunset silhouette with just engaged couple on the beach - Inlet Point Plantation - Little River
Kiss in the sunset - Inlet Point Plantation - Little River
Holding hands walking down the beach - Inlet Point Plantation - Little River
Spin while walking down the beach - Inlet Point Plantation - Little River
Reflection in the water - Inlet Point Plantation - Little River
Dip back for the kiss by the ocean - Inlet Point Plantation - Little River
Prom pose by the ocean - Inlet Point Plantation - Little River
Piggyback ride down the beach - Inlet Point Plantation - Little River
Looking out at the ocean together - Inlet Point Plantation - Little River
Looking off into the distance - Inlet Point Plantation - Little River
Girl showing off the ring pulling fiance in for a kiss - Inlet Point Plantation - Little River
Looking into each other's eyes - Inlet Point Plantation - Little River
Touching noses - Inlet Point Plantation - Little River
Kiss by the ocean - Inlet Point Plantation - Little River
Embracing with a beautiful sunset - Inlet Point Plantation - Little River
Kiss on the forehead - Inlet Point Plantation - Little River
Holding hands by the ocean - Inlet Point Plantation - Little River
Leaning together for the kiss - Inlet Point Plantation - Little River
Closeup of girl looking into fiance's eyes - Inlet Point Plantation - Little River
Lifting foot in the air for a kiss - Inlet Point Plantation - Little River
Just engaged couple laying in the sand together - Inlet Point Plantation - Little River
Just engaged couple laying in the sand together - Inlet Point Plantation - Little River
Just engaged couple laying in the sand together - Inlet Point Plantation - Little River
Just engaged couple laying in the sand together - Inlet Point Plantation - Little River