Are you planning the ultimate surprise for your girlfriend or boyfriend – a proposal? This is a very important moment and you want everything to be absolutely perfect. From start to finish, it has to be planned perfectly. When hiring a photographer to photograph the big moment, here are some very important things to consider, how to plan, and questions to ask.
EXPERIENCE
Has the photographer ever photographed a proposal before? Ask to see examples of their work, to be sure their style is the one you are imagining and hoping for. An experienced photographer can read the moment, and be ready to shoot when the time is right. The results should be professional and artistic, and taken from the correct angle to showcase the moment.
LOCATION
Choosing the right location at the right time of day is very important, because you want to be able to share photographs that are not only emotional (content) but beautiful (professionally framed and shot).
The time of day matters, because light is key to photography – bad light can ruin your shots. Consider moving the location if it’s in direct sunlight, or the time of day to later in the evening for better light. You’ll want a spot where there isn’t a crowd, with people to get in the way. Make sure your photographer knows this location well, and it is an appropriate setting to pop the question, and that it makes sense for you to be there. A spot near restaurants makes sense, as a cover for why you’re there all dressed up.
SET UP
If you choose a more quiet location such as a park, you enlist friends and family to create a set up and mark where you’ll stop to propose. Some clients use handmade signs, a picnic basket with champagne, a trail of of rose petals (careful of wind!), bouquets of flowers, and balloons to mark the spot.
Your photographer should be there before you, to help secure the location before hand, and be there early waiting for you to arrive.
MAKE IT A SURPRISE
You want the proposal to be a surprise, so you’ll need some help before the day. Enlist the help of family and friends, to keep your soon-to-be-fiancé in the dark.
She’ll want her nails looking Instagram ready, so have a sister or friend take her out for a manicure. Book a restaurant, so she’ll have a reason to be dressed up. You could also say you booked a photographer for a little photoshoot together, and this helps explain why there is a photographer waiting at the spot. Or your photographer can discretely sit on a park bench, and then get into position when the moment arrives.
CHOOSE THE RIGHT SESSION
Photographers offer a huge variety of packages, which can be confusing. Make sure the one you choose will get you enough photos to cover the whole event.
Most photographers offer full sessions (usually $750-$1200) with a lot of digital images, as well as print options. Some also offer mini sessions for under $400 – but watch the fine print to see how many photos you get. Some offer as little as 3 digital images for that price point.
I offer a perfect little mini session that gives you great coverage of this exciting event, for a lower price point than full sessions. Click here to check out my Mini Session Deal!
For more information about planning your engagement photography session, email me directly with this CONTACT FORM. Click to view my Engagement Photography portfolio here and my Proposals gallery here.