RAF Man
Plights his Troth at The Sharp Project
A creative marriage proposal in a creative space and a very content couple
Story behind the marriage proposal
For the late great Errol Brown, lead singer of 80’s group Hot Chocolate, it started with a kiss. Forward wind 30 years and Errol may need to pen some new lyrics as it seems these days romance starts with a text or in this case an email. Yes that’s right the marriage proposal at The Sharp Project, home of all things digital, started with this email sent to me out of the blue by fellow romantic Cpl Phillip Payne, RAF driver.
Military Planning made sure the proposal was a complete surprise
Cpl Phil is right in his email, this isn’t type of photography we normally do, but being a sucker for all things romantic and a great believer in fate, destiny and the law of attraction, I had to be involved. With the help of my amazing media makeup artist, Rebecca Tupman, we put the commercial photography side of business on hold and created a bespoke photography experience for Cpl Phil, Adele and their 7 year old son, Tyler.
To coincide with Adele’s 30th and planned visit to Manchester Cpl Phil requested April 1st. So after checking this wasn’t an April fool and Cpl Phil was merely a fool in love, we planned the shoot to start with makeup and hair for Adele followed by shooting a portrait of each of them alone. Another twist of fate mean’t I was looking after my granddaughter that weekend and she made the perfect play mate for young Tyler who she kept entertained all day until it was time to shoot the family portrait.
How we got the Proposal shot
The last part of the shoot was to photograph Cpl Phil and Adele as a couple. We had planned to leave the proposal until the end as we agreed the overwhelming nature of such a seismic event and the potential for panda eyes, could have prevented us getting shots of them as a couple.
Following some romantic shots outside in some beautiful Manchester light, another twist of positive fate, we came back into The Sharp Project and I sat Adele on a stool and told her I wanted some close up romantic shots of Cpl Phil nuzzling her neck. Little did she know that as I put them into this romantic clinch I passed Cpl Phil the ring as it would have budged out of his pocket. I then stepped back, coughed and we both dropped to our knees, me to shoot the pictures him to pop the question.
About Corporal Phillip Payne and Adele Cross
Adele Cross works for an online primary school resource company. Cpl Phillip Payne, a driver in the Royal Air Force for nearly 10yrs. They met 3 years ago Dec 2013 in Manchester city centre. Their first date Cpl Phil took Adele to a country pub near Buxton for lunch. After a few more dates they finally called it official on New Years Eve/Day. Unfortunately for them it was a tough start as a month later as Cpl Phil was sent away for a 4 month OOA (Out of Area). When he returned it was still a long distance relationship living 400miles apart and only seeing each other once a month. Then they made the big decision when Cpl Phil was posted to another camp to move in together with Tyler. Adele had to risk a lot by giving up family/friends and her job for a new one and changing Tyler’s school, but luckily it all payed off and they are hopefully about to purchase our first home together.
Cpl Phil decided on the shoot as her Birthday gift as she feels we never have enough pictures together as a couple and family. Cpl Phil took this to it’s romantic conclusion and thought there was no better opportunity than to propose during the shoot so the whole thing would be caught on camera.
Summary
Article Name
RAF man's surprise Marriage Proposal at The Sharp Project
Description
See photography taken during a surprise marriage proposal at The Sharp Project Manchester. RAF serviceman proposes to the love of his life and it's all captured professionally
Author
Neilson Reeves Photography
