Sunrise Ski Proposal on Alpe di Siusi

There is something transformative about the Dolomites in early March. The air is crisp, the peaks are draped in winter white, and if you’re lucky, you get that perfect “blue hour” glow just before the sun hits the Sciliar.

When Abdel reached out to me a few months ago, he was looking for more than just a photographer. He and Lauren are committed vegans, and it was deeply important to him to find a photographer who shared those same values. So we both matched well from the beginning, and luckily I’ve spent a lot of time at the Paradiso Pure Living Hotel (the first 100% vegan hotel in the heart of the Dolomites), so it was a match made in heaven.

The “Sunrise Ski Tour” Ruse

How do you convince someone to head out into the freezing morning air before the lifts officially open? You invent a tour. With a little help from the amazing team at Paradiso Pure Living, we “marketed” a special sunrise ski tour to the couple. To Lauren, it was just a perk of staying at such a forward-thinking hotel. Little did she know, it was the only way to ensure we’d be standing on the mountain in total solitude as the light began to change.

Chasing the Light (and Ignoring the Forecast)

The night before, we were nervous. The forecast was calling for heavy clouds—which, in the Dolomites, can mean a total white-out. We debated moving the plan, but mountain weather is notoriously fickle. My gut told me to stick with it.

Luckily, the gamble paid off. There were hardly any clouds and we got a clear morning that took our breath away.

The Big Moment

We reached the viewpoint, the vast plateau of Alpe di Siusi stretching out beneath us. Abdel caught my eye as he pulled Lauren into a hug, and I gave him a subtle thumbs up, so he transitioned down to one knee.

She said yes! There were tears of joy, a few muffled laughs against the cold, and a beautiful moment of silence where they just took it all in. After the initial shock wore off, I was “officially” introduced to Lauren, and we jumped straight into their engagement session.

From Slopes to Plant-Based Breakfast

We spent the morning capturing the best of both worlds:

• The Portraits: Epic, wide-angle shots against the jagged peaks.
• The Action: Since they both love skiing, we captured them carving through the fresh morning corduroy.
• The Cozy End: We finished back at the hotel, warming up with an incredible plant-based breakfast and steaming oat macchiatos.

The energy was incredible. Seeing two people so genuinely happy and “in the bubble” of their new engagement is exactly why I love what I do.

Abdel & Lauren, thank you for trusting my “fake tour,” my weather instincts, and for allowing me to capture this milestone for a fellow vegan couple. It was an honor!

Check out more of their photos below. And if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out!