Jon & Forou // Bay Area Engagement Photography

I have known Jon since he was a baby, our families basically grew up together, so you can imagine the joy I felt as I was photographing him with the love of his life, Forouzan. Forou is one of the sweetest, honest, and selfless human beings you will ever meet and together, they ooze creativity and joy. Their love is straight out of a fairy tale and all of us who know them will agree…they belong in a disney movie. I knew we had to do something fun and playful for their session, so it was only fitting to dream up a shoot that reflected their love for child-like adventure! We teamed up with the ever so talented, Amanda, from One True Love Vintage to bring their adventure to life. Collaborating on inspiration boards and being wowed by Jon’s version of their engagement story…we all had the best time! I couldn’t be happier that Jon found the woman of his dreams in Forou. Love you both dearly, can’t wait for May 17.

Their engagement story, written by Jon:
“It was our 2 year anniversary of our courtship and I told her to meet me at her house at 4am! She said yes and didn’t question why 4am or where we were going. Then we drove up near napa for a balloon ride. The balloon ride got cancelled because of high winds and I was a little bummed but she was so positive and fun. So I told her I had a few things I wanted to tell her through out the day about how she makes me feel. The balloon ride was going to be “You make me feel like i’m floating on air just you and me, nearer to God.” Afterwards, I took her for a hike up to the santa cruz mountains. When we got to the top, we stopped to paint. I had brought a mysterious bag, opened it up and brought out painting supplies. I painted a picture we took on the SF bridge and she painted a photo of the surroundings. I told her “I want to go on the journey of life together. It is going to be hard but when we get to the end we can paint the view together.” After that we got lost! We tried to hike back down but we went in circles. She never complained, even though it was 6 miles and she had to hold her painting the entire time! We got back and I had prepared a picnic basket, with wine, grilled cheese, and oranges (her favorite), we also carved our names into a tree. I told her “You give me rest, when I am with you I always feel rejuvenated and peaceful.” Then I pulled out water guns and started a water fight. After I said “You aab me!” which means “You melt me” but in farsi “aab” is water. Then I took her home to change (paint and sweat, what was I thinking?!) and I changed too, and while she was changing me and her mom talked and I showed her pictures of the ring. Then I took her to our favorite pizza place which was tradition. Followed by a trip to a park by my old house to catch bugs. When we got there my friend had planted the jewelry box along the trail that I made her with our initials and a grasshopper carved on it. I used my net and “caught the box” and much to her surprise,(after her thinking it was someones random box hahah) she opened it with the key I gave her the year before on our 1 year anniversary. Inside was a bunch of cut up cards, business cards I had gotten a while back with “Jonathan Shariat, Forouzan’s Boyfriend” on them and I would use to write her notes. So I told her I didnt want to be her boyfriend anymore, grabbed the ring box hidden under them and said “I want to be your husband”, then I got on one knee and said the last part.”