A couple years ago at the Plano Balloon festival I met Loren and Luc Goethals, a couple who runs a hot air balloon ride. They'd offered to take me on a ride and expressed interest in me doing some photography for them. We kept in touch and tried to arrange flights over the past couple years, but no luck. 

Then a couple months ago in a conversation with my friend Brittney, she said one of her "life goals" was to go up in a hot air balloon ride. Well, I knew I had to make that happen.  With great luck, Loren messaged me and said they had a flight open on Sunday. As lucky also had it, it was Brittney's birthday weekend!

Well, it was an early morning getting up at 5:30 to pick her up at 6:15 to be on site at 6:30. My excuse to get her there for the big surprise was that we were going to do a sunrise photoshoot, not entirely false, I just left out the fact that it'd be at 3000 feet of altitude. 

Everything went off with a hitch; her face when she found out was priceless - I think she was in shock. 

We arrived to an empty field in McKinney and got to setting up!

Entire Air balloon fits in this little bag. 

Perfect 72 degrees with no wind for our lift off. 

Had to make the portrait session happen: 

And away we went! 

Two other pilots flew alongside us. 

Upon landing, we were treated to snacks and mimosas by Loren & Luc to celebrate a great flight! They were so kind and took such great care of us!

So happy to have been blessed to bless my friend!