Why are professional proposal photos such a trending thing nowadays? Well, for one, it is capturing a moment that is completely unposed, candid, and always has an amazing raw reaction from the person being proposed to. I always well up just a bit as I capture them, because it is such an intimate moment between to people that I get to be a part of. The other chief reason people are booking proposal sessions is because you get more bang for your buck. You get the proposal, plus an engagement session immediate following, in which you are beaming with joy. Part one of this series is giving you the inside scoop on what it takes to prepare for a proposal session. Ladies, if you are reading this and want to give that subtle hint to your partner, copy the link and shoot it in an email and give them the old wink face. Sisters, send this to your brothers, because what woman wouldn’t want to have this amazing moment captured. Read on to find out just what it takes…
PLAN, PLAN, PLAN… I don’t ever want to be seen or give away what is about to happen when someone proposes. This is why it is so important to have a good plan in place so I don’t give away the goose. Is that a saying? I think it’s totally a saying now. When planning to propose and having a professional capture the moment, it is imperative that you have a solid plan in place. This is not one of those things you can simply wing and hope for the best. The way to get the best angle and reaction is for both people to be facing each other and perpendicular to the photographer. That quintessential shot is a profile of both people facing each other as pictured above. As the photographer, I have to be set up and ready to capture the moment as it is happening, so I can’t really run over and change my angle at the last second. The two biggest factors for getting professional looking proposal photos, is 1. Lighting and 2. Location.
1. Lighting…Amazing photography is always about great lighting. I will have the preposer (not really a word) set up in a way that gives me the best lighting I can possibly get. If you just go out at a time where the light is super harsh and stand wherever to propose, it will just look like a snap shot and won’t look like a piece of art. This is why planning is so important.
2. Most proposers have an idea of where they want to propose and they trust that I know the lighting and everything else. Most people are open to suggestions, which is helpful in getting the best shots. I like to give people options and let them make up their mind. The most crucial factor for location is that you don’t want a place in which there is a lot of foot traffic or people. So the subway might not be your best option for a proposal. The reason you don’t want a ton of people around is because there is the potential for someone to get right in front of me as I am trying to capture the shots. It is just an ordinary day for everyone else and they have no idea that you are getting ready to propose, or that I am capturing it. This is not to say, that you can’t change it up. With Connor and Courtney, there were tons of people around because it was the Biltmore Estate around Christmas time. This is where having a professional who knows what they are doing and gets the shots no matter what comes into play.
Communication is one of the biggest pieces when planning to have your proposal professional photographed. So don’t wait until 3 days before you plan to propose to get a solid plan in place. Hire early, at least 2 weeks, but 1 month is better if you can. Look for Part 2 coming soon.
Here is Connor and Courtney’s proposal story…
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