Over the last year, I’ve had the honor of photographing TWO proposals, and they were both amazing to be a part of! As a wedding photographer I’m usually there for the engagement photos and the wedding day (obviously) but it’s so fun to be a part of the single moment where they decide they’re going to get married! Since I’ve started my career as a photographer, I’ve photographed three proposals total, and I’ve learned a few things along the way. I decided I’d share them today for other photographers who may be getting inquiries about photographing a proposal!
- Meet in person beforehand. If you have the opportunity, meet in person AT the place where they plan to propose! This way you can get a feel for the layout, you can plan where you’re going to hide so the the proposer is aware of where your location will be! It’s even better if you can meet before at the SAME time the proposal will be taking place! This gives you a really solid idea of what the light will be like!
- Use a long lens. One of the easiest ways to stay out of sight is to use a zoom lens like the 70-200mm. This ensures that you can be far away but still get a close shot! However, something to keep in mind is that this can make it challenging to get closer to them and still shoot! So just be aware of closing that gap! 🙂
- Talk about the angle. It’s REALLY important that the person who is doing the proposing actually gets down on one knee (or whatever the plan is) while facing the correct direction! You need to be able to see the profile of BOTH people involved to really get the moment!
- Manage expectations. With each couple I’ve done a proposal with, I’ve made it clear that while I will do everything I possibly can in my power to get THE shot, but so many things can get in the way (someone walking in front, them not facing the right direction, etc.) that could prevent you from getting the magic shot. One person I worked with told me over the phone that he completely understood that and worst case scenario we’d re-create the image. It’s really nice when the other person is understanding!
- Shoot through the moment. Don’t just stop after the person has (hopefully) said yes! Shoot all the way through until they’ve acknowledged you! There have been so many cute moments that I’ve captured after the moment has happened that I wouldn’t have gotten if I had stopped shooting as soon as the “yes!” happened!
When it comes to planning the proposal, there are two ways to do it: you can have them propose during a regular session OR as a spontaneous event. I personally think that it’s easier to photograph a proposal if it’s happening during a regularly planned session (That’s how Landon did it last year!), but either way it happens it’s going to be amazing! 🙂
Linda is a Boston-based photographer specializing in weddings and creating family legacies. You can see more of her work online at lindabarryphotography.com, on Instagram, or on Facebook. If you want to reach out directly: linda@lindabarryphotography.com. To sign up for the monthly newsletter full of encouragement and real life, click here!
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