Surprise Proposal Photo Tips
Popping the question can be nerve-racking, but the logistics of proposal photography don’t have to be! Our team of incredible professional photographers here at Flytographer is ready and excited to help you with your perfect proposal! 💍
Adding proposal photos when you commemorate your big moment ensures you’ll both remember this “Will you marry me?” moment forever. Timeless, great photos will allow it to live on and be shared with loved ones who may not have been able to celebrate the surprise alongside you and your now-fiancé. 📸 Now, keep reading for our photo tips for Proposals! 👍
TLDR
(A little sneak peak just for you 😊)
- Plan a Flawless Surprise Proposal: How do you get killer proposal photos without the need for selfies? Answer: Flytographer. At your service!
- Pick the Best Proposal Photographer: We love our team, and we know you will too! First step is finding a photographer in your chosen location.
- Ensure the Best Lighting: We encourage you to consider location logistics, seasons, and local expertise to really set you up for success!
- Choose the Poses for your Proposal/Engagement Session: Read about some of our favourite pose ideas! Not only will you have stunning pics of your proposal, now you’ll also have beautiful, romantic engagement photos to celebrate your love.
- Dress to Impress for your Special Moment: Deciding what to wear can be tricky – it’s important to find the mood best suited to your location, background, weather, and individual comfort level.
- Have Fun on the Big Day: Enjoying this special time is the most important thing. Plan for the remainder of your day to be filled with fun!
Photo: Claudia in Cancun for Flytographer. Hannah and partner celebrate their proposal in Cancun with a proposal photoshoot at Playa Delfines.
1. Plan a Flawless Surprise Proposal
So you want to propose. Awesome! Hooray! Question: Now what? How do you get killer proposal photos without the need for selfies? Answer: Flytographer. 💁♀️ At your service!
Our surprise proposal photo shoots includes: a consult with a photographer to create the perfect game plan 📲, location recommendations for your proposal📍, maps and mockup images to ensure it goes seamlessly 🗺 (basically, a virtual walkthrough), tips and tricks to make the most of your surprise 📝, local insider tips on the best places to celebrate afterwards 🥂, and a dedicated Customer Experience team to assist with any questions 😎.
Once you select your desired location, photographer, and session length (shoot packages can be between 30 minutes and 2 hours, with pricing starting at $385 USD), we’ll work together to set up your perfect proposal, easy-peasy! After your proposal shoot, your photos will be emailed to you in an online gallery within 5 days, ready to download and share with family and friends. 💌
Photo: Ana Lucia in Lisbon for Flytographer. David and partner celebrate their proposal in Lisbon with a proposal photoshoot at Belem Tower and Gardens.
2. Pick the Best Proposal Photographer
The first step in finding a proposal photographer is choosing your location/destination. You can scroll through our team of photographers in your desired city, review their portfolios, read customer reviews, get to know a bit about them and their personalities via their bios, and even browse their calendars for availability. We love our team, and we know you will too! 🥳
Photo: Mary and Maurizio in Amalfi Coast for Flytographer. Pamela and partner celebrate their proposal in Lisbon with a proposal photoshoot.
3. Ensure the Best Lighting
Lighting and time of day are key, and they make a huge impact when it comes to proposal photos. ⛅️ We encourage you to consider location logistics, seasons, and local expertise to really set you up for success. We love morning golden hour photos, but getting your girlfriend or boyfriend to the desired spot just after sunrise can be challenging (😴). In the evening, getting dressed for a proposal disguised as a fancy dinner may be easy, but crowds might be more intense during this busy time. That’s why we’re here to help! We know how to get you where you need to be when you need to be there, and to make sure everything looks as dreamy as possible. Great lighting in proposal photos is a huge bonus, highlighting your magical moment. 🌅
Photo: Amanda in Horseshoe Bend for Flytographer. Justin and partner celebrate their proposal in Horseshoe Bend with a proposal photoshoot.
4. Choose the Poses for Your Proposal/Engagement Session
We love this part. Let’s talk poses! 💃 Just after your proposal, you’ll have time to take engagement photos together—so romantic, right? Not only will you have stunning pics of your proposal, now you’ll also have beautiful, romantic engagement photos to celebrate your love. 💓 Here are some of our favourite poses and photo tips for proposals/engagement sessions!
Photo: Darian in San Diego for Flytographer. Wilfred and partner celebrate their proposal in Cancun with a proposal photoshoot at Scripps Pier.
Forehead touch
This one is a favourite for good reason. It can feel totally awkward, but that’s the best part! Putting your foreheads together instinctively causes giggles and smiles. The closer you get, the better! Oftentimes, tears will flow, and this moment feels truly emotional and genuine. 🥹
Photo: Rojeena in Kona for Flytographer. Tommy and partner celebrate their proposal in Kona with a proposal photoshoot at Old Kona Airport.
Dip ↙️
This one is a no-brainer when it comes to proposal pictures. A little dance dip (with or without additional dance moves) creates movement, laughter, and romance. Plus, you get a jumpstart on those soon-to-be wedding photography moves. 😉
Photo: Tracy in Portland, Maine for Flytographer. Sagar and partner celebrate their proposal in Portland, Maine with a proposal photoshoot.
Big hugs
We can’t emphasize enough how special the time just after your proposal can be. The simple act of holding one another and letting the moment sink in is so beautiful to capture. 🫂 Savour this time! Bonus: A big hug is also a great opportunity for your photographer to snag some close-ups of that shiny new engagement ring! 💍
Hot tip! For even more photo tips for proposals (or engagement) shoots, be sure to check out this post.
Photo: Flytographer in Honolulu. Paul and partner celebrate their proposal in Honolulu with a proposal photoshoot.
Look amazing in photos
Get 50+ insider tips on how to prepare, what to wear, and easy posing ideas for your next photo shoot!
5. Dress to Impress for Your Special Moment
Deciding what to wear can be tricky—especially since you want to stealthily encourage your partner to be photo-ready! When it comes to coordination and matching, colours and patterns, or figuring out what “proper” attire is, the vibe and mood can really vary depending on your location, background, weather, and individual comfort level. We love a good dress-to-impress moment, so definitely check out this post for even more tips on proposal outfits. 👗 Don’t be afraid to lean into the glam! Make an excuse to dress up together, and the surprise photos of your fancy pants will live on beyond phone selfies!
Photo: Rachael in Paris for Flytographer. Benedict and partner celebrate their proposal in Paris with a proposal photoshoot at Trocadéro.
6. Have Fun on the Big Day
Obviously, you’re excited for the actual proposal moment, but it’s so helpful to plan for the remainder of your day to be filled with fun. 🤩 Enjoying this special time is the most important thing. Whether it’s formal or casual, the time after you pop the question will likely be filled with emotion, tears, questions, and lots of “Guess what?!” conversations with loved ones. 🎉 Factor in some down time to just savour one another’s company and enjoy an extension of this magical day.
Photo: Taena in Maui for Flytographer. Hunter and partner celebrate their proposal in Maui with a proposal photoshoot at Ulua Beach.
Capturing Your Engagement Photos
Our team of professional photographers have captured thousands of marriage proposals around the world, and we’ve loved sharing some of our best photo tips for proposals neither of you will ever forget. Your expert photographer will likely provide even more special, local tips to make sure your proposal plan goes seamlessly. 👌 If you’re itching for more helpful deets, here are even more tips on choosing the proposal location and planning your perfect proposal.
Be sure to read some of these inspiring proposal ideas, and of course, don’t forget to tag us on social media after you’ve popped the question—we can’t wait to celebrate with you!
Congratulations in advance! 😃
“The surprise photo shoot with Ellie was an enormous success! Working together to pick the perfect location, time, and overall plan made the already stressful process super smooth. Ellie’s work is nothing short of amazing, she was super friendly, and energetic, and made us feel extremely comfortable. Ellie is a true professional and I would recommend her to anyone thinking about booking any sort of photography session. We cannot thank her enough for capturing the perfect shots of our proposal, they are very special snapshots of time we will cherish forever!”
Dominic
“Sébastien was amazing! He got there super early to pick the best spot and was so helpful and responsive throughout the whole process. Not to mention, he essentially was a small tour guide for us giving us loads of places to visit and see! I would recommend him highly for any shoots you are thinking of having, the attention to detail is superb – you will not be disappointed!”
Ricky
“Kari is so genuine & friendly which made us feel at ease throughout the shoot. She guided us with different poses & took us to some great locations, which delivered excellent end results! Kari kept in touch with me via Whatsapp the entire time & answered all my questions – even suggesting the best pizza spot in Brooklyn! Thank you Kari for making us feel so special and for capturing our love story so effortlessly!”
Bradley
