An Edinburgh photographer has captured the romantic moment an American couple became engaged on top of Calton Hill.
Snapper Ryan Walls was contacted by the head concierge at plush Kimpton Charlotte Square after a guest devised a plan to surprise his girlfriend.
Gavin Stirling was told by Rick Anderson, a Pittsburg-born IT worker, he was planning to propose to Alessia Ripani in Edinburgh during their festive stay.
Gavin then put Ryan and Rick in contact with one another, who devised a cunning plan to conduct the perfect surprise proposal on Christmas Eve.
Speaking to Edinburgh Live, Ryan said: "We had originally planned to get together on Thursday (December 23) in order to carry out our plan, but with the compulsory Covid tests that Rick and Alessia had to undertake, it was postponed until Christmas Eve on the Friday.
"This ended up turning out perfectly as it was the first day of nice weather Edinburgh had had in a few days, meaning the photos would turn out much better.
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"So Rick and myself had been discussing how we would get me to use my camera without alerting Alessia to what we had planned. We ended up working out that I would be casually walking around up Calton Hill when Rick would stop me - by coincidence of course - and ask me to take a photo of them both on his phone.
"I would then suggest that I had a much better camera, and could take it on that instead. This went without a hitch, and Rick got down on one knee, much to Alessia's complete surprise!
"It was a really special moment for them, and myself as well, watching such a happy and natural moment happen, especially in these troubling times for us all."
Ryan then took Rick and his now-fiancee on a tour of Edinburgh, snapping photos at iconic landmarks around the city, such as Edinburgh Castle, St Stephen's Church in New Town, and St Gile's Cathedral in the Old Town area.
Ryan added: "We talked security up at Edinburgh Castle into letting us past the red tape to take some really candid photos of the two of them, and got some more down Princes Street Gardens, and next to the famous Portuguese Cannon on Calton Hill, near to where Rick popped the all-important question.
"It was amazing for me to get back out doing what I love again, as the coronavirus pandemic has put a halt to a lot of what I had planned for 2021; with weddings and special occasions all being cancelled because of Covid.
"It was lovely to feel some festive joy with everything going on at the moment, and I am grateful for these amazing opportunities that come my way."
Alessia and Rick had been together for eight years, and couldn't wait to break the exciting news to their family back in the states; but due to the timezones, many of their relatives were still asleep when the proposal took place.
Alessia said: "I called my family in Tortoreto Lido, Abruzzo Italy as they were one of the few people I could call since my parents weren't awake back in the States.
"I called my Aunt Zia who was overjoyed to hear the news, and I couldn't be happier!"
Rick and Alessia now plan to get married in Italy sometime in 2022, when restrictions will hopefully ease up as the pandemic loosens its grip on the world.
Check out Ryan's Instagram here for more beautiful photos of the engagement, and his snaps of the city in all its glory.
