Happy Valentines Day!
Love is in the air..can you feel it? I can! Today is Valentines day and every year (many of us) do something nice, romantic or special for our girlfriends, boyfriends, wife or husband. Others go over the top and do something really special like my friend Bradley Graupner. Bradley has been a reader of this site for a while and we did the Chicago workshop together a few months back. He hosted the workshop and did a great job helping with everything – the organization, the food, the routes, etc. Even with the rainy weather it was a great day overall and all of us there were able to meet his girlfriend Carola who ended up judging the photo contest we held that day.
Love is still alive
The day before the workshop Bradley and I took a walk and he told me about how he found the love of his life (Carola). We chatted about life, love, and even my experiences since my divorce a year and a half ago. It’s funny because I have now been “officially” engaged for just over a week to a woman I was in Kindergarten with and never thought I would find REAL love again, at age 42. I think I had almost given up and was going through the motions of dating…just trying to be happy. But there was something missing … I did not really notice it though as that “something” had been missing from my life for so many years I did not even realize what I was missing, but when I met Debby something clicked, and I knew. It was magical. After my divorce I swore I would never marry again, but meeting that right person has a way of changing your mind as you want nothing more than to spend your life with them. When it is right, it is right and I am super happy these days.
Yep, that is me and to my right is Debby – from kindergarten. Who knew we would end up engaged and together? Not me!
Romance is also still alive!
I think that Bradley had sort of the same experience as me..he knew when he met Carola and it just clicked. While talking with him I knew that this was a man in love and I also knew he would be marrying Carola one day, and I was right!
I am happy to say that Bradley and Carola are now engaged but what makes this extra special (and appropriate for this blog) is the way in which he proposed. He started out by planning ahead of time and came up with the idea about 6 months ago. They are both fans of the movie Amelie in which photo booths appear as well as both passionate photographers so what did Bradley come up with? He had a photo booth transported from Torino Italy to Bergamo and had it all set up and installed in a Cafe. A sign was attached that read “free for valentines couples to use”. He started the night by taking her to a romantic dinner and then afterwards they headed to the cafe for coffee.
The photo booth was already there and ready so when they entered to take the series of snapshots he proposed as the cameras fired…pretty cool huh? He told me that the camera broke down before they were able to use it but guys were there to install a backup camera, and after they shot their photos it broke down again! Happy it all went smooth for them and I congratulate them on their engagement!
Seeing that this is Valentines day I found this to be a great post to share. Thanks Bradley and Carola!
No related posts.
Happy Valentines Day…
Steve….what a nice head of hair there! Happy Valentine’s Day to you and to all. Looking forward to some fun write-ups on the upcoming cameras. I am so torn between a Fuji X-Pro 1 and NEX 7. I have considered the NEX 7 with some adapters and Voigtlander…or the Fuji X-Pro 1 with the same adapter and lenses. The MF on the Fuji does concern me a bit…but I guess we can just wait and see.
Thanks for all you do!
Brandon
Awesome! Happy V Day!
Auguri a Carola e Bradley.
Un abbraccio,
Ernesto
make EVERYDAY Valentine’s Day.. don’t be a douche and think that hearts day only happens once a year.. I’m sick of hearing people doing “nice & sweet” things on this date.. when truthfully it should be a daily occassion..
that being said, love, love, love to all.. let’s make the world a nicer & happier place to live in..
No need to be grumpy and hating…of course love is every day but that doesn’t mean things can’t be special on certain days. Not sure who you are calling a “douche” but no need for that here…
No douches around here, except maybe people who call other people douches.
What a great post and reminder this day, to all the lovers of Love and all the lovers of Life! Thanks for sharing Steve & Bradley, all my best!
Wow what a sweet note! Thanks Steve and commenters. Congratulations again on your engagement-you two have such a great story!
Happy Valentine’s Day and tanti auguri to you and Debby!
-Bradley + Carola
Thanks for sharing that an excellent post enjoy
Lets face it, Steve, you are a big softie on the quiet. Seriously, though , best wishes to all you lovebirds on this Valentines Day.
Getting back to the photography I am looking forward to your review of the Fuji X-Pro 1, although I hope they improve the quality control this time – the X-100 with sticky shutters and the X-10 with sensor problems (white orbs). I have bought the X-10, which is a beautiful little camera, and have not experienced this problem, but the evidence seems to be overwhelming from other users of this camera, although I do not shoot at night with street lights so fingers crossed on this one.
Happy Hearts Day, Steve! Love has conquered you once more.
Steve,
Two very nice Valentines stories ! Love & luck to both couples !!
This brings a smile to my face. Thanks for sharing Steve.
Congrats! Very nice!
Congrats to you, Steve and Bradley also. Great post and thank you for sharing!
Yesss!!! Love is alive! Such a heartwarming story!
Thank you for sharing, and congratulations!
All the best to both couples!