Planning a proposal is exciting enough on its own—but adding a professional photographer to capture the moment makes it even more unforgettable. Proposal photoshoots are different from engagement sessions, and it’s helpful to know what to expect so you feel confident heading into your big moment.

Proposal Photos vs. Engagement Photos

Unlike engagement sessions, proposal photoshoots are all about the element of surprise. Since one person usually isn’t prepared for photos, these images feel more spontaneous, candid, and real. Engagement sessions, on the other hand, are planned in advance with time to choose outfits, locations, and styling. Both are wonderful—but they serve different purposes.

How We Prepare Together

Communication is everything on proposal day. Here’s how we make sure everything runs smoothly:

Location check-in: Before the shoot, we’ll connect via text or call to confirm the exact location. If there isn’t a precise address, we’ll use a map pin so there’s no confusion.
Location sharing: On the day of, we’ll ask you to share your live location (both iPhone and Android allow you to do this temporarily for 1 hour). This makes it easier for us to track your arrival.
Outfit details: We’ll also ask what you’re wearing so we can spot you in the crowd.
Final confirmation: About 5–10 minutes before the proposal, we’ll check in again to confirm that we’re in place and ready.

Staying Inconspicuous

When the moment comes, our goal is to stay out of sight without raising suspicion. From experience, 99% of the time, you won’t notice us even if we’re not fully hidden. We’ll be nearby, cameras ready, capturing the exact moment as it unfolds.

Capturing the Big Moment

If you’re planning to get down on one knee, we recommend holding that pose for at least five seconds. It gives us enough time to get a clean, well-framed shot of the moment.

After the proposal, we’ll introduce ourselves and transition into a mini photo session. This can include:

Formal and informal portraits
Ring detail shots
Photos with family and friends (if they’re part of the surprise)
Candid shots around the location

Receiving Your Photos

Our standard delivery timeline for proposal shoots is two business days for the unedited photo gallery. If you’d like to relive the moment even sooner—or share it with friends and family right away—we offer expedited next day delivery options:

• Unedited gallery + 3 sneak peeks (our choice of images)

• Unedited gallery + 5 sneak peeks (our choice of images)

Sneak peeks are hand-selected by us to give you the most beautiful first glimpse of your photos while you choose your allotted amount of photos you’d like us to edit.

Why You Should Still Book an Engagement Shoot

While proposal shoots are incredible for capturing raw emotion, they’re not a replacement for an engagement session. Engagement shoots allow both of you to arrive fully prepared—styled outfits, chosen location, and plenty of time to focus on creating beautiful portraits together.

The best approach? Enjoy the excitement of your proposal photos, then schedule an engagement shoot afterward to get the most out of your pre-wedding photos.