The couple are in the center of the photo—and at the center of our attention. But at this moment of choosing an engagement ring, they do not look “engaged” with each other. Kayla looks excited but uncertain, as if she knows that Ian feels doubts, but she hopes he will change his mind. She is looking right at him, with her body leaning toward him but her head leaning away: she looks very tentative. Ian is looking away from Kayla, and the expression on his face suggests that he’s already having second thoughts about the expense of the ring (we see his wallet on the counter by his elbow) and perhaps even about asking Kayla to marry him. The accompanying caption helps us interpret the image, telling us about the couple’s brief history together and noting that the engagement will last less than two months after this moment. But the message comes through pretty clearly without words.

Ian and Kayla look as if they’re trying on roles in this photograph. She looks ready to take the plunge, and he is resisting. These attitudes conform to stereotypical gender roles for a man and woman considering marriage (or going shopping, for that matter). The woman is expected to want the marriage and the ring; the man knows that he shouldn’t show too much enthusiasm about weddings and shopping. It’s hard for the reader to tell whether Ian and Kayla really feel that they are making good or careful choices for their situation at this moment or whether they’re just doing what they think they’re supposed to do under the circumstances.

The reader also can’t tell how the presence of the photographer, Craig F. Walker, affected the couple’s actions. The photo is part of a series of images documenting Ian Fisher’s life after joining the military, so Walker had probably spent a lot of time with Ian before this photo was taken. Did Ian want to give a particular impression of himself on this day? Were he and Kayla trying on “adult” roles in this situation? Were they feeling pressure to produce a memorable moment for the camera? And what was Walker thinking when he accompanied them to the mall and took this photograph? Did he foresee the end of their engagement when he captured this revealing moment? What was his agenda?