Hiring a Photographer for Your Proposal
Why should you hire a photographer to photograph your proposal?
Because it’s a once-in-a-lifetime moment, full of happiness and emotion, and a good photographer will unobtrusively capture the unfolding of the event with grace, discretion, and accuracy. An experienced photographer will be able to anticipate any challenges as your proposal date approaches. There’s no recreating the moment as a posed photo; your images will document and show your true emotions, reactions, and joy.
I’m here to help and guide you!
Some of my clients have every last detail of their proposal planned, but most only have a vague idea about the location. I’m here to help guide you navigate the days prior. Read on for detailed information on how to make your surprise proposal go smoothly, and what to expect when hiring a photographer for your proposal. You can view my proposal rates on this page.
Communicating with Your Photographer as You Plan Your Surprise Proposal
I keep all communication via email until the day of - unless you request otherwise. I certainly don’t want to send unnecessary texts to your photo that risk getting seen and spoiling the surprise!
Once you’ve made the decision to hire a photographer, and you’ve reached out to me - first of all, THANK YOU! I’m honored and thrilled to help you document your surprise proposal. This is one of my favorite types of photography because other than choosing the location, there is nothing posed, intrusive, or pretend about it. It’s YOUR real, raw emotions, loving words, and joyful expressions. Candid photography at its finest!
To Confirm Your Date, Time, Location with Your Photographer
This can be done entirely via email to keep it extra discreet and underwraps, or when you have about 30 free minutes, we’ll set up a call. I always send a summary and notes about our call via email afterward so we both stay on the same page.
The Day of Your Proposal :: Communicating with Your Photographer
This is when the secret texting begins! A few hours prior to your planned proposal time, please text me letting me know everything is all set and on time. It can be as simple as “good to go”, “all set for tonight, 6pm”, etc. We’ll have coordinated everything in advance via email and phone, so there’s no need to reconfirm. This text simply lets me know that no major wrenches have been thrown in your plans - an unexpected work meeting, wardrobe malfunction, emergency, etc.
I will arrive about 10-15 minutes before you. I like to send a “good to go!” text so you know I’m ready whenever you are.
Last, please send me a ~5 minutes heads-up text so I know to be on the lookout for you. This also lets me know that you haven’t had any parking or traffic issues, etc. If you are proposing in a public space with potentially lots of crowds (think, Jefferson Memorial, Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool), I can start searching for you amongst the people once I know you’re about to arrive. This gives me the opportunity to take more photos of you arriving, strolling along together, holding hands, etc.
Choosing a Location for your Surprise Proposal
The best time of day to take photos is an hour before sunset, and since your proposal will not last a whole hour, I always recommend Googling the sunset time on your desired date and planning about 30 minutes in advance. This way, you’ll have nice “golden hour” dreamy sunlight for your photos. If you’re proposing in an area with a lot of trees, there will be a lot of shade and blocked sunlight, so in this case, you might want to plan for 1.5 - 2 hours prior to sunset to ensure enough light. I come prepared for changes in light, but the goal is for you to have the best possible setting for your special moment.
For proposal location inspiration and to learn more about Washington DC proposal spots away from crowds, read this.
What should you wear for your surprise proposal photos?
You really, really should dress up! Think about what you’d wear to a very nice dinner. I have an extremely thorough Attire Guide I’ll email you once all the other details are confirmed, but in the meantime, for men, I recommend a navy blue or deep gray cotton suit, polished shoes, crisp white cotton button-down. If you show up in tennis shoes, make sure they’re brand new, clean, and an unobtrusive color (neon orange will not do). For women, if you’re proposing to your girlfriend, the same ideas apply. Think nice pants, a blazer, button-down, or conservative dresses (not bodycon), and try to avoid tiny patterns as they don’t photograph well and can be distracting. Included in my Attire Guide are tips on how to get your girlfriend to dress up without giving away the surprise, and what you should plan to wear if you’re unable to nudge her toward my suggested attire to make sure everything looks its best in your photos.
What if the weather is bad when I am planning to propose?
If it happens to become overcast and we have enough time to move your proposal up 30 minutes to an hour, I can usually accommodate that change in plans since I do not schedule sessions back to back. This allows me to be flexible and help you capture the best memories possible for your proposal. We’ll coordinate this via text the day of (or the day prior), if that’s alright with you.
If the forecast the day prior shows rain, we can either reschedule or wait until noon the day-of to make the call. I never charge a rescheduling fee if bad weather is the culprit.
Keeping Your Marriage Proposal Plans a Secret
What not to do a few days prior to your surprise proposal:
Tell your girlfriend to go get a manicure. This is always the dead giveaway.
I don’t want my girlfriend to know about the proposal photos
I’ve had a few clients in the past request to keep the proposal photos a secret so they can be a fun wedding day surprise. This is definitely possible and must be meticulously planned out location-wise and exactly the angle at which you’ll position yourselves before you kneel. Ideally, we’ll be in a more public spot, or a spot with plenty of bushes or a few cars for me to hide behind. In the past, I’ve successfully hidden so well that my client became worried I wasn’t there since he didn’t see me, even though I’d just sent the “ready to go” text. That was in a quiet neighborhood and I was able to hide across the street behind a short brick wall and shrubs!
What happens after I propose?
After she’s (hopefully!) said an enthusiastic YES!, you’ll stand up and share the moment together - I won’t approach you until you wave me over. I’ll take photos the whole time as you hug, kiss, and she tries on and admires her engagement ring. When you’re ready, we’ll take a few formal portraits of you together. If you’ve added on the engagement session (I offer a discount for same-day engagement sessions), we’ll get started whenever you’re ready. The session can take place in that location, or somewhere nearby. I’ll give you a minute to talk it over with your fiancé(e).
We are a gay couple. Do you photograph same-sex engagements?
I can’t believe I still get this question, but here we are. And the answer is, YES! Yes, yes, yes! I’ve photographed same-sex weddings, engagements, surprise proposals, and surprise reverse proposals during the engagement session. Whatever your background, wherever you’re from, you’re welcome here.
I can’t wait to help you plan your proposal!
Your proposal should be nothing short of romantic, intimate, and thoughtful.
As your photographer, I’ll help you make sure each of these comes true as you plan your special day.
We’ll work together in advance to plan for the perfect proposal location that fits your personalities and interests.
Proposal photography is probably one of my absolute favorite types of photography.
Every couple is unique, each experience is fun and emotional (yes, I’ll cry too). For some couples, the proposal will be a complete surprise (for one person!). For others, the ring has already been picked out and plans have been made. The marriage proposal is just as special no matter what your situation.
Looking for an intimate place in DC to propose that doesn’t have crowds? Check this out!
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