Featured Engagement & Weddings, DC, Nashville, Paris

Surprise proposal photography and engagement portraits at the cherry blossom festival are among my favorite ways to help you celebrate your engagement.

The cherry blossoms - sakura - reach peak bloom every spring in Washington DC, and after more than a decade of experience photographing couples and taking fine art photos here, I’m a photographer who knows all the best spots for beautiful lighting and iconic views to help you create meaningful portraits.

The best time to plan your surprise proposal and capture the moment you propose is sunrise or sunset. There are over 400 kwanzan trees around the Tidal Basin, and the west edge is where the magic happens! Wide-open spaces, low hanging branches, and fewer people.

Proposal and a Surprise at the Spanish Steps

Surprise proposals are one of the most emotional forms of documentary photography. They are wholly candid, and I love every second of it. If you’re thinking of booking a photographer at your proposal, read my post on my approach and aspects to consider when working with a photographer to take the best photos possible.

When Nihar called me a few weeks ago about his proposal to his girlfriend, Esha, he had every last detail planned; they would “meet some friends” at the Spanish Steps (a quaint, tree-lined space tucked away in northwest DC), where a bottle of Veuve Clicquot and a bouquet waited for their arrival. Esha beamed with happiness, and I was honored to have photographed those precious moments of the next stage in their life together. I was taking photos from far enough away that I couldn’t hear the words, but the expression on her face and how they held each other close said everything (and I didn’t wear waterproof mascara that day so …).

Romantic Castle Proposal

Surprise proposals must be meticulously planned. If you’re interested in hiring a photographer for your surprise proposal, you will need to work with an expert for everything to run smoothly and ensure you remember your special, once-in-a-lifetime moment with happiness.

A few weeks ago, Yoni called me, overflowing with excitement to propose to his girlfriend Elle. He had everything planned; he’d tell her they were attending a friend’s small wedding downtown as an excuse for her to get dressed up. Since coronavirus so drastically changed our lives nearly one year ago to the week, they had been staying safe and distant from friends and family in an effort to make a contribution to the return to normalcy. For them, this meant foregoing date night dinners out, so he needed an important reason for her dress up for portraits, without spilling the beans. A few days prior, a virtual work function came up that she needed to attend.

Lincoln Destination Wedding & Engagement Photography