PROPOSAL BETWEEN SNOW AND SEA - THAO-MY & DAVE
I have to say, this was one of the most breathtaking shoots I’ve ever done in Hokkaido.
The night before, Dave told me he was planning to propose during their couple shoot. We opened Google Maps, found a quiet stretch of coastline, and thought, this could work. What we didn’t realise was that we were about to walk into something unreal. Snow drifting all the way down to the sea. A silent, untouched beach. No footprints but ours. It felt like the world had paused just for them.
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HOKKAIDO JINGU IN WHITE
The day before had brought heavy snowfall, so everything was wrapped in fresh, weightless white. We began at Hokkaido Jingu, just outside Sapporo, quiet and sacred beneath layers of snow. A few wild squirrels darted between the trees. Thao my is usually terrified of them, but even she had to admit these ones were kind of adorable. We jumped into the snow and made angels, laughing until the cold started sneaking into their boots and sleeves. Nearby, we found a tiny Japanese sweet shop tucked inside a traditional straw hut, warmed our hands around little treats, and fuelled up for the adventure ahead.
WHERE THE SNOW MET THE SEA
From there we drove toward the coast to Otaru Dream Beach, only to find parts of the road blocked. So we parked and walked the rest. Honestly, it made it better. Earned moments always feel different. Snow drifted all the way down to the sea. No footprints but ours. We wandered slowly, shooting candid frames as the cold turned their cheeks pink. Then he proposed. No big production. Just the ocean breathing beside them and her breath catching in the quiet. It was simple. It was magic. The beginning of a thousand more dreams.
REFLECTIONS ALONG THE OTARU CANAL
Later we made our way into Otaru and wandered along the Otaru Canal at sunset. The water reflected the fading light like glass. We grabbed ice cream from LeTAO, because ice cream in the freezing cold somehow makes perfect sense, then warmed up in a small café before driving back to Sapporo feeling like we had just witnessed something rare.
Some days you shoot beautiful images.
Some days you walk into a story you will never forget.
