My one and only - Shauntia Veney

So, on Jan 25th, 2013, I took Shantia to my favourite local sushi place to eat and meet a couple of my friends. Honestly, there was no other purpose to this evening than that...we just wanted to have a fun night out.

But the longer I sat there with her, and talked to her, and experienced her...the more I fell.

Hard.

About 4-5 hours into this evening, I made another trip to the restroom...but this time, when I came back, she was stretched-out in the booth. I asked, "can I sit down?". She replied with, "not unless you get down on your knee and ask me to marry you". I replied with, "do you want me to marry you?". She said, "you are the man...you have to ask me".

I don't remember it taking me more than a few seconds to do exactly that.

So I asked her, and in as little time as it took me to get to my knee, she said yes

We sat there, smiling, and several people asked us "did you just get engaged?". I remember saying something like "it would seem so" Our waitress asked the same question, and then asked, "where is the ring?". I said, "well, to be honest, I didn't come here tonight with plans to ask her to marry me...I only came out to have some fun and eat". She said, "oh no, you need a ring...I'll make you one. Hang on a minute", and she disappeared to the kitchen.

A few minutes later, she appears with a rather impressive ring she made from soy paper. It was agreed I should propose again...but properly, with the ring. This time, the staff got involved. The manager alerted the bar. The DJ asked me to write our names down so he could announce it over the PA

So, with the soy paper ring in-hand, I got down on my knee again...this time in full-view of everyone in the place...and asked her again. She answered the same as the first time. We even got applause...it was pretty awesome

On a personal note, I have to say, it was only through photography that I found myself, and further found myself through my work with different muses over the years. It has been the most satisfying endeavour of my life...but I've had a deep longing to have a muse who was also the love of my life. Someone to grow with, to inspire with, to produce art with...to live and love with. But wishful thoughts never stopped the thunder that drove my head back to the ground...until Shantia entered my life, that is.

Her obvious beauty aside, she is funny, intelligent, talented, a chef, a photographer, and is easily the most amazing model I've worked with. The possibilities with her are unfathomable, to me.

Up to the next plateau we go together

I love you, baby <3

Oh, we have actual (proper) rings on the way...really cool custom ones that will be completed in a few weeks

More of this photographer/muse/love story:


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