Hiring a photographer to discreetly capture your surprise proposal has proved to be so appreciated by future fiancé's. Sharing professional photography of your surprise wedding proposal also sets the tone that you are looking forward to including your friends and family in what is going to be a very exciting next couple of years. And truly, there is nothing like those first moments and genuine expressions.
While you pop the question I will be photographing discreetly, giving you privacy to say what’s on your heart and not revealing myself to your special someone until afterwards. It takes a bit of planning to pull off a photographer for a surprise engagement with great photos to show for it, so I’ve shared a few tips to help get you thinking.
Planning a surprise engagement
I’m always impressed when a client calls me and says they have been planning this for months. By the time I hear from most people, the ring is in hand and location has been set, or at least thought about. This is when you fill out my contact form and we start to hatch a plan.
Some clients want to go all out with a professional planner and/or florist, caterer, etc, and in that case I am happy to work on the details directly with the other vendors you have chosen. A more intimate proposal plan means I will be working with you directly to pull off the big surprise. Either way, let’s get started!
Choosing a location
Selecting a location for your surprise proposal is - or should be - very personal. Yes, you want somewhere beautiful. More importantly, choose somewhere meaningful. If you’re stuck for ideas, think about somewhere you go often together. Maybe a coffeeshop you visit on the weekends, somewhere you walk together often, outside a favorite restaurant, at your home or in your own yard, on your college campus, in the place you first met. If you are really stuck simply observe for a week or two where the two of you have the most relaxed energy.
The wedding day itself is, or at least can be, very curated. Your surprise engagement will be romantic just by being in spaces you love together.
I'm located in Newport, and love photographing in my own local area. With no shortage of locations to pop the question and then celebrate afterwards, we can certainly plan an amazing day here.
Have your heart set on somewhere else? I travel a lot for my clients, and am happy to do so! Anywhere in RI, including Block Island proposals, southeastern Mass, Cape Cod, and even Boston Proposals. From sweet to adventurous, I’ll be there! (I’m manifesting photographing a proposal at the top of a mountain in NH, incase any fellow outdoor/hiking lovers are seeing this). And yes, dogs are welcome as long as the location you choose allows them.
Timing of your surprise engagement
Once you have a spot picked out, then we will talk about things like time of day, where to stand, avoiding crowds, permits if necessary, etc - to ensure the moment goes off beautifully. We’ll start with a phone call and google maps to pinpoint a spot that works for you.
If you are choosing downtown Newport then stay away from weekend afternoons in the summertime and special events (check the Newport Events Calendar). Beach proposals beg for sunset light and low tide (Newport tide chart). Block Island means working around the ferry (ferry schedule) . Boston means working around people and traffic. All things that can be overcome with a little planning! I’m happy to walk you through every step.
What happens after the “YES”!
After you take your time to propose, I ask my clients to stay in the moment as long as possible. Whatever the reaction is, that’s what I am there to capture. After the energy of the moment starts coming back to normal, I will say hello to your new fiancé and we will take some time to capture some engagement portraits.
We can even add in the next phase of your plan, if applicable, and capture the high and congratulations of any family and close friends whom you are planning to meet directly afterwards. I typically arrive at least 30 minutes before you do to the designated location, and staying about an hour afterwards.
I can send you a sneak peek that day to share on social, and have the whole gallery ready in just a few days.
What about props?
This question is tricky, and I don’t want to make anyone mad but in my opinion choosing a great location, timing, and activity for afterwards (a romantic meal, meeting up with friends or family) is wonderful. Unless you are going to go all out and hire a professional florist and planner, it doesn’t really add anything to have a couple of props set out. A blanket can be a sweet touch, and something I can help with if you’d like. I would say that signs with any words on them detracts from the moment and visually with the photographs. Either hire a pro and go all out or keep it really simple. Less for you to think about in the prop department will mean more energy you can direct towards your special someone.
How I hide in plain sight
Well I can’t just put those secrets on here -we don’t want to spoil any surprises! A few tricks and I will blend into the environment. Your future fiancé won’t even notice me until you are asking the big question. At that point, I move out of the shadows to photograph the moment.
Ready to plan an amazing surprise proposal?
Surprise Proposal Pricing
Surprise proposals start at $995, with additional costs for travel beyond my local area or additional time (engagement party, etc). In this fee I include rush editing of your images so you can share them as you celebrate!
Biggest surprise I've been a part of....
I’ve photographed surprise proposals and surprise (to the guests) weddings. But the biggest surprise I’ve pulled off with a client was a wedding that was a surprise to the bride! She figured it out after we had been photographing portraits for an hour, and I had the “idea” to take some images outside a pretty church in the square, then casually went in to see what the organ music was all about. Open the doors and it was filled with family and friends. A full reception was waiting for her, planned by her husband. Whatever your vision is, I’d love to hear about it!
