How To Incorporate A Photographer Into Your Marriage Proposal

Capturing The Perfect Marriage Proposal

Trying to capture the perfect marriage proposal is a combination of skill, planning, and luck. Part of the job is being hired for skill and talent. The other part is being hired to keep a secret. I love planning and details, so a proposal is perfect for me. Every time, I get butterflies while waiting for the couple. I can’t wait to see the process of the proposal unfold in front of me.

Keeping It Secret

As the photographer, I can easily keep the proposal a secret. I only know one half of the couple. The hard part is for the person proposing. He or she has to discreetly manage emails, texts, or phone calls related to hiring me. Once the form of communication is established, I try not to veer from it. If he/she texts me everything, I will continue to use text.

Tip: Have the person proposing share his/her location for the hour leading up to the big surprise. This helps keep me alerted to where the couple is.

Marriage Proposal Logistics

Depending on the location of the proposal, I can be hidden or in plain sight. For an art museum that is closed, I have to hide away as well as I could. For a park or other public places with lots of visitors, it is easier for me to blend in. I can always pretend to be photographing something else until the moment arrives. Be prepared, be aware of their location, and do your best to stay unassuming.

Executing The Perfect Marriage Proposal

Every proposal is different, and so is the way you approach it. The best advice I can give you is to plan ahead, plan for the unexpected, and hire a professional like me. I have photographed at so many locations around town and may be able to provide a more nuanced plan of attack. Remember to take into account certain days, such as homecoming weekend, holidays, and days the chosen location is closed. For the Dayton Art Institute, I had to just do my best to hide.

Incorporating An Engagement Session

Sometimes the couple chooses to have an impromptu engagement session following the proposal. This only works if the couple is properly dressed. It is a fine line to walk, asking your partner to dress up to go to the park. That may create suspicion and kill the surprise.

Couples that hire me specifically for marriage proposals or engagement sessions receive a nice discount on wedding packages if they decide to hire me to shoot their wedding.