Best proposal photography ideas

There is no other kind of shoot I love more than a proposal session. Having photographed so many of these over the years, I’ve become learned what works and what doesn’t work to get the most amazing proposal photos and today I’m going to share some of my secrets!

• The Execution. There are a number of ways to set up your session but they aren’t all equal. I offer my clients three options for capturing this special moment depending on their specific needs. Here are the ideas:-
  • Make her think a photo session was her idea, then pop the question sometime after you begin. This involves quite a bit of scheming between the photographer and the person who will propose but I’ve absolutely perfected this technique. The wonderful thing about this option is that she knows she’s going to be photographed so she can prepare accordingly and be 100% camera ready. Often in this situation my clients have hair and makeup done by one of my trusted colleagues so that she fees extra pretty. You are guaranteed to get an amazing shot because the photographer can provide a bit of direction in terms of lighting, positioning, etc.  Want to hear more? Send me an email and let me know about your proposal plans!
  • “Run” into a “tourist” at a pre-designated location and ask them to take a photo for you. The “tourist” is really a photographer and so kindly offers to take a photo with her professional camera to send to you afterwards. Once you’ve received the go-ahead, you propose! You will need to convince her that  you are off somewhere special so that she has an excuse to dress up, but you are still able to receive a bit of direction to ensure you get an awesome shot.
  • Keep it intimate. This option involves the photographer keeping their distance and not interfering with the process at all. The downside of this option is that it’s up to the’ ‘proposer’ to make the decisions about positioning and light (since there is no direction from photographer, so you might not always end up with a masterpiece. You will be able to share an intimate moment with your soon-to-be fiance though, which might be worth it if that is important to you!
• Make it special. Hire a musician, a flash mob, or enlist the help of your friends to really make this special. The options you can take are limitless!
• Location Location. Choose a location that means something special to you! When deciding where to propose take into consideration the time of day and how that is likely to affect light and whether there will be any crowds. Let me know if you need help with this–am happy to help!