Despite my love for art, history, and all things beautiful, I happen to also be a bit of a gym rat. When we first moved to Augusta, Georgia, and I couldn't find a job in a creative field, I went back to doing what I'd done in college:  working the front desk at a gym. I can honestly say that the gym changed my life. Not only has it helped me live a more physically active and healthy lifestyle, but I love being surrounded by people who are passionate about what they do. Maybe its all the endorphins, but it's just generally a positive environment. I worked the mid-day shift at the gym which meant there was a lot of down time to talk to patrons and if you know me, you know I love to talk.

And so, it happened that I got to know Jesse, a regular who always came in with a positive attitude happy to see whoever was there. In fact, Jesse liked being there so much, he decided to get a job there. Somewhere in the interim, he met Erin, someone who I also saw on a regular basis and always admired her strong work ethic. The rest is history...

​Jesse asked me to photograph his proposal to Erin and I was so honored! I shoot mainly film but he (understandably) wanted some digital photos as well so I got a few of both. The photos here are all from a quick roll of film I shot intermittently throughout the proposal but also staged some great photos with the two of them after all the happy tears stopped flowing! She obviously said yes and I cannot wait to see what they will conquer together in the many years to come!

​Jesse:

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How did you meet Erin?

"We met at the gym."

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What do you love most about Erin?

"What I love most about Erin is her positivity. She is always smiling and laughing and even during a bad day she stays so optimistic. She brightens any room she walks into with her amazing personality."

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When did you first know that Erin was "the one"?

"I knew Erin was the one when I began going to church with her and holding her hand during prayer. I would look over while sitting in the pew and she'd just be smiling."

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What do y'all like to do together for fun?

"Erin and I enjoy the gym. Walking around the park and anything that keeps us from sitting around the house."

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Who is the better cook?

"Erin is but I can cook really well. I hide it so she can enjoy it because it's one of her many passions."

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What makes you the most proud?

"When it truly comes down to it it's hard to say one thing about Erin that makes me proud. When we are in the gym and bench presses a new max I am so proud. When she gets home and tells me she is getting trained for a new and higher position at work I'm proud. When she conquered one of her fears with me I was proud. When she stood beside me as I conquered one of my fears I was proud. Everyday I am proud of Erin because she always amazes me and always does something more astonishing than the last."

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Erin:

How did you meet Jesse?

"I always saw him walking around the gym while I ran on the treadmill. He seemed very friendly with everyone and I always wanted to have a friend in the gym, or at least with the desk people. One afternoon in the locker room, someone must have dropped toilet paper and it rolled all the way out of the poor person's stall and over to me in the locker area. It was so funny I took a video and posted it to Facebook. Robbie, the only employee I knew at the desk, and also a mutual friend, tagged Jesse in it since he was maintenance and so good at fixing any problem in the gym. Jesse replied and I friend requested him, happy to have another person in the gym that I knew! (I wanted to learn all the worker's names since I had been going for 3 years. Finally my wishes were being granted!)"

What do you love most about Jesse?

"This wonderful man is the epitome of old-fashioned gentleman. He hand writes love notes, uses the best manners in every situation, he doesn't ask if I need help carrying something, he just does it, he takes pride in his appearance, and has so much steadfast patience. His gift is being able to understand and read situations, intelligently knowing when to speak and knowing when to give wisdom. Plus, I've grown up with a left-handed twin as a partner all my life, I naturally got used to someone always being my opposite, and I love so much that he's left-handed. (Even if the bread twisties are twisted the wrong way)."

When did you first know that Jesse was "the one"?

"We had been together for a little over a year when I seriously started thinking everything in the future about us together instead of individually. I think I realized how strongly I felt this after I couldn't fit any more love notes in my huge box, and after he pushed me as hard as I pushed him in the gym, and most especially when he communicates with me gently through the good and bad. I knew I didn't want to live without him after so many situations of doing things by myself and realizing this strong-independent-woman would rather be with him."

What do y'all like to do together for fun?

"We love going to the park, laying out a blanket, and talking for hours, we also have so much fun in the gym. I especially love practicing my hugging during arm day, and cheering him on as he easily presses 60s. He also makes an amazing partner in the kitchen, we never bump elbows and he's very talented!!"

Who is the better cook?

"We both cook different styles. He makes amazing burritos! I love doing huge multi-course meals with multiple sides. But he helps out right along with me."

What makes you most proud?

"Jesse James is the hardest worker I have ever met. He truly does the workload of at least three employees at once. And it's not because he has to, the amazing thing is that he wants to. He loves to work just like I do, and he does an amazing job and he's efficient and clean, and he takes a lot of pride in his work."

Cheers to the future my dear friends and fellow gym rats!