There is something I really value as a photographer: when people come back.
Not just to have another photoshoot, but because they liked the experience enough to trust me with another important moment in their lives.
I first photographed Sophia and Yannik when he planned a secret proposal in the Rijksmuseum Gardens. About a year later, they got back in touch and asked me to photograph their wedding in Bonn.
And honestly, I didn't see that coming.
A Secret Proposal in the Rijksmuseum Gardens
The plan was actually quite simple.
He told her they were going for a walk through the Rijksmuseum Gardens. And that was a perfectly believable idea. The gardens are beautiful, central, and popular for a walk in Amsterdam, so there was nothing suspicious about it.
My job was to make sure the real plan stayed a secret.
I was waiting at the beginning of one of the arches, on the other side from them. I had my camera with me and was pretending to photograph details of the Rijksmuseum building.
They walked towards me and through the arch.
She didn't suspect anything.
Closer to the other end, he stopped.
And then he proposed.
She Had No Idea
Her reaction was wonderfully emotional.
There were tears, laughter and very big hugs. The kind of reaction where you can see that, for a few moments, the rest of the world has disappeared.
This is one of the things I love about photographing secret proposals. Before the proposal, I'm constantly thinking about logistics — where to stand, when to move, whether they can see me, what happens if someone walks through the frame.
And then the actual moment comes, and all of that disappears.
It's just the two of them.
Afterwards, we stayed in the Rijksmuseum Gardens for a while and continued taking photographs together. Then we walked into the surrounding streets and photographed around the canals and bridges of Amsterdam.
The city centre is only about ten minutes' walk from the gardens, which makes this a really nice combination: you can have the proposal in a quieter green setting and then continue with a more urban Amsterdam feel afterwards.
If you're considering the Rijksmuseum Gardens for a proposal, I wrote more about this location, along with Vondelpark, Amsterdamse Bos and other parks, in my guide to proposing in Amsterdam's parks.
Then Came a Message I Didn't Expect
After the photoshoot, I knew they had enjoyed the experience. The session had felt easy and relaxed, and they were happy with the photographs.
But then they contacted me and told me how much they had liked the way I worked. They said the atmosphere had felt comfortable and not stressful, and that they were really happy with the result.
Then they asked if I would photograph their wedding.
I remember being genuinely surprised.
A secret proposal is already a very personal thing to photograph. Someone is trusting you with a moment they have planned carefully and often kept secret from the person standing next to them.
But being invited back to photograph the wedding felt different.
It meant that they hadn't only liked the photographs. They had liked having me there.
From Amsterdam to a Castle Wedding in Bonn
Their wedding took place in May 2026 at Schlosshotel Kommende Ramersdorf in Bonn.
And it was such a lovely day.
The weather was beautiful, the atmosphere was relaxed, and the people around them were simply great. The couple themselves are wonderful — warm, fun and very easy to be around. Their friends had the same kind of energy, and their parents were lovely too.
Nobody seemed stressed about making the day look perfect.
People were just enjoying being there.
And that makes such a difference when you're photographing a wedding.
There was no need to force anything. I could simply observe what was happening, move around, talk to people when it felt natural, and photograph the day as it unfolded.
The first time I photographed them, they were walking through the Rijksmuseum Gardens, and he was about to propose.
This time, they were already married.
Why I Love When People Come Back
This is actually not the first time something like this has happened in my photography career.
Back in Ukraine, I had couples who came to me for one photoshoot, then their wedding, then a pregnancy session, and later family photographs.
And I have always found that incredibly meaningful.
There is something special about becoming a photographer for people, rather than simply a photographer for one particular occasion.
You meet someone at one point in their life, photograph something important, and then — sometimes months or years later — they come back with another chapter.
You get to see how their lives change.
The relationship changes. The family grows. The occasions are different. And somehow, they still want you to be the person behind the camera.
That is a kind of trust that can't really be created through a website or a beautiful portfolio.
It happens because of the experience people have when they work with you.
And this couple reminded me of that in the best possible way.
Their story started with a secret proposal in the Rijksmuseum Gardens.
And a little later, I was photographing their wedding in Bonn.
I have no idea what the next chapter will be.
But if they call me again, I'll be very happy to find out.
Planning a Secret Proposal in Amsterdam?
If you're planning a secret proposal and you're not sure where to start, tell me a little about your idea. I'll help you find the right place, plan the details and quietly disappear into the background when it's time to ask the question.