Planning The Perfect Proposal With a Photographer

If you're here, you're probably thinking about proposing soon, and I'm excited for you! Proposing can bring a mix of emotions—excitement, nervousness, anxiety, and even fear. But the great news is that you don’t have to go through it alone. I proposed to my wife nine years ago in downtown Chicago, in front of the Bean, and I can still remember all the feels!

In this blog, I’ll help you plan the perfect proposal with a photographer to capture the moment. For simplicity, I’ll refer to the person proposing as Person A and the person being proposed to as Person B.

Step 1: Deciding How to Include Your Photographer

Once you’ve figured out how you want the proposal to unfold, it’s time to decide how you want the photographer involved. I always ask my couples two key questions:

• Would you like me to already be introduced as the photographer for a couples session between the two of you? (Choice 1)
• Or would you prefer me to stay hidden until the proposal moment, so it's more of a surprise for Person B? (Choice 2)

The answer to this will help shape the whole plan for your proposal and how we approach the photography!

Pros of Choice 1: A Casual Approach with No Secrets

This is often the “easier” option because you don’t need to worry about hiding the photographer or keeping the moment a secret. It’s a great choice if you’re in a wide open area where it’s difficult to stay hidden, or if you’d rather be upfront about having a photographer there.

If we’re doing a couples session first, I can easily create a scenario where Person B turns around and bam—you’re down on one knee. It makes for a smooth transition, and it’s less stressful for everyone!

Pros of Choice 2: The Ultimate Surprise

This option is perfect if you want the proposal to feel more natural and less staged. Person B won’t have any idea that a photographer is involved, and that means their reaction will likely be more authentic, especially if they are the type of person who might get nervous with a camera around. You get all the raw emotion, and it feels more like a private, intimate moment.

Cons of Choice 1: It’s a Little Less Sneaky

If Person B has any inkling that something might be going on (especially if they’re suspicious about “suddenly” having a photographer involved), you might risk giving away the surprise. For example, if you casually say, “We never get photos together, so I hired a photographer to capture this moment,” they may start connecting the dots.

Cons of Choice 2: More Coordination is Required

Keeping the photographer hidden means we’ll have to coordinate a lot more to make sure we’re in the right places at the right time. I’ll need to be strategically positioned to capture the moment perfectly—whether that’s from behind a tree, across the street, or just out of sight. Depending on the location, this could require some extra planning on both our parts to make sure we don’t miss a thing!

Step 2: Choosing the Right Spot & Making It Personal

Once you’ve decided on your photographer strategy, the next step is to figure out where and how you’ll propose. This is where I help you decide the best location based on the vibe you want for the photos.

For example, if we’re shooting at Cape May NJ, do you want the moment to take place in the peaceful Sunset beach at sunset or by the red bricked Rotary Park? It’s important to pick a place that feels meaningful to both of you and offers the kind of backdrop you envision for your photos.

Step 3: What’s the Big Moment Like?

Here’s where I come in to help make sure everything flows smoothly.

If you choose Choice 1 (the couples session approach), I’ll guide you both through some fun, light-hearted poses. Then, I’ll sneak in a prompt that gets Person B to turn around (oblivious to the proposal coming). At that moment, I’ll signal to you that it’s time to pop the question, and the magic happens!

If you go with Choice 2 (the hidden photographer approach), we’ll have to be super coordinated to figure out the best hiding spots. We’ll do a walk-through of the location beforehand to ensure I’m in the perfect spot to capture the proposal without being seen. That way, you can get the perfect angle of Person B’s reaction, and it’ll all feel like a surprise!

Step 4: Time to Celebrate!

Once the big question has been asked and (hopefully) answered with a big “Yes!,” it’s time for some celebration! I’ll capture those beautiful emotional moments, and from there, the fun begins.

Some Fun Props to Consider:

Want to take your proposal up a notch? Why not bring some props to make it extra special? I always recommend a couple of fun ideas to bring the celebration to life:

• Champagne bottles: Bring a couple of bottles just in case the first one has a bit of a cork malfunction (trust me, it happens!). Popping champagne adds to the joy of the moment!
• Bring a nice blanket and have a little picnic!
• Have a handful of their close family or friends close by to celebrate after we take a couple of photos!
• The ideas are endless.

Whether you choose to go the “surprise photographer” route or not, the most important thing is that your proposal feels true to you as a couple. And whatever you decide, I’ll be there to capture every unforgettable second!

Final Thoughts

There are so many other ideas that you can explore, and my job is to help guide you through all the details you might not have even thought of yet. Surprise proposals are incredibly exciting, and capturing that moment is a way of memorializing the journey you and your partner are about to embark on together in this next special chapter of your lives.

Remember, there’s truly no wrong way to go about planning your proposal, so don’t feel like the choices I’ve listed above are your only options. What matters most is that the proposal reflects you as a couple, and that it’s something that resonates with both of you. As cheesy as it may sound, as long as you both had fun, the experience will undoubtedly be one for the books!

Quick Tips

• If you kneel, try to stay down for at least 20 seconds so I can capture the moment from various angles.
• Don't share your plans with anyone unless you really need to, humans are notoriously bad at keeping secrets.
• Practice your speech, but don't be afraid to sound genuine and heartfelt. 
• Try to stay calm and be yourself. The main point is to express your feelings to the person you love. 
• Make sure you are both dressed up nice and that her nails are done! I will be taking pictures of her ring (and so will she to share with the world) so she will appreciate it if her nails are done trust me. 
• Take your time! There is no rush.
• Take a deep breath, soak in the love, the moment, and enjoy the joy of your engagement.