Incorporate A Photographer Into Your Marriage Proposal
June 19, 2025
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 we establish a form of communication, I avoid veering 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. Prepare yourself to 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. Take into account homecoming weekend, holidays, and any 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 works only when the couple dresses properly.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.
Incorporating a photographer into your marriage proposal might feel like a big move, but honestly, it’s one of the best decisions you can make for such an important moment. Proposals happen fast. Your heart races, your hands shake a little, and before you know it, the whole thing becomes a blur. Having a photographer there helps you slow it all down and remember every detail later.
Why I Love It
I love photographing proposals because everything is so real. There’s no acting, no posing, no “let’s try that again.” It’s pure emotion. When you loop a photographer into your plan, you give yourself the chance to relive that moment—the look on your partner’s face, the surprise, the laughter, maybe even a few happy tears. Those reactions only happen once, and capturing them is priceless.
The best part? I stay out of the way so you two can be fully present. We plan the spot, the timing, and the general flow ahead of time, so when the moment comes, you just focus on your partner. I’ll blend into the background like a random person taking nature photos, scrolling my phone, or pretending to photograph the skyline. Your partner won’t suspect a thing.
After the big “yes,” that’s when the real fun starts. We always get a few minutes of pure, joyful chaos—hugging, shaking, laughing, sometimes jumping up and down—and those photos are gold. Then, once you both catch your breath, we slide into a quick mini-engagement session. This gives you gorgeous photos while the excitement is still fresh and your smiles are 100% real.
Bringing a photographer into your proposal isn’t just about getting good pictures—it’s about honoring a moment you’ll never repeat. Years from now, you’ll be so glad you have something more than just a memory. You’ll have images that tell the whole story, from nerves to celebration, exactly as it happened.
2025 Review From A Marriage Proposal At UD
“Thank you so much for getting these done so quickly. The photos turned out amazing and you were great to work with! We will definitely be reaching out when the wedding time comes!” – C.E.
Some Of The Marriage Proposals I Have Photographed
- Dayton Art Institute proposal
- Eastwood MetroPark proposal
- Cox Arboretum MetroPark proposal
- University of Dayton (several)
- Check out all of recent and past engagement session blog posts and galleries here!
- I am a wedding filmmaker and videographer – see what I offer here.
