Your proposal is a very special, once-in-a-lifetime moment that starts the beginning of a new chapter for you and your partner. Planning a surprise engagement photo shoot or proposal can be a nerve-wracking process, but you don’t have to do it alone. As an Arizona engagement photographer, I’ve helped lots of couples capture this magical moment of their love story. In this guide, I’m sharing the three steps to pulling off a successful surprise proposal photoshoot.

How to Plan a Surprise Engagement Photo Shoot

Choose a Location

Your location is one of the first decisions you will make when planning your surprise proposal. It sets the scene for the big moment and will be the backdrop for all your proposal photos, so you want to spend a little bit of time picking the perfect spot.

I like to tell the partner who is planning the proposal to pick a location that means something to them. Think about places you like to visit together and the types of moments that are most meaningful to you both. What’s your style as a couple? Do you like to spend time outdoors or do you enjoy more of a stay-at-home-and-chill kind of vibe? Is there a favorite date spot you have or somewhere you’ve both always dreamed of visiting together?

These questions are a good place to start when choosing the perfect surprise engagement photo location.

Hire a Surprise Proposal Photographer

One of the best ways to make sure your engagement is beautifully documented is by hiring a surprise proposal photographer! Not only will your photographer give you amazing photos to look back on, but oftentimes, they’ll help walk you through the planning process.

A good engagement photographer will have lots of experience photographing surprise proposals and will be able to offer you tips and tricks to make sure your proposal goes off without a hitch.

Make a Plan & Choose Your Surprise Proposal Photoshoot Option

Generally, when someone reaches out wanting to plan a surprise proposal photoshoot the first thing I ask them is if they have a plan already or if they need help coming up with one.

If you have a general spot already picked out I’ll help you narrow it down to a specific location. If you don’t have anything already in mind, we can talk through some ideas that fit what you are looking for. As an Arizona engagement photographer, I’ve collected a ton of amazing locations in the surrounding areas so don’t worry if you don’t have any location ideas yet.

*Tip - If choosing an outdoor engagement photo location, keep in mind how much hiking is required. I recommend keeping hiking to a minimum and choosing a location that is easy to get to and has plenty of parking. These spots often still have areas that are secluded and by minimizing your hiking, you reduce the chances of something going wrong with the timing.

Once you’ve landed on a location, you’ll want to decide how you want to prepare for the photoshoot. In general, there are a few ways to go about this…

Use the photo shoot as a cover for the big surprise
Make it a complete surprise and have your photographer hide nearby, ready to capture the moment
Make the photo shoot a complete surprise but have your friends or photographer set up the site in advance

The photoshoot option tends to be easier and often allows for better photos as well. As the one proposing, you have an easy reason to explain why a photographer will be there. It also eliminates some of the added stress and pressure of when to pop the question. When couples go this route, I always give the proposing partner a signal when to ask the question. This way I am able to find the perfect location and lighting, giving you the best surprise reaction photos!

If you want the photoshoot to be a complete surprise, we’ll just need to do a little bit more planning together in advance. We’ll decide on your location and I’ll let you know exactly where I will be and how to get there. When you and your partner arrive at the spot, I’ll already be there pretending to take photos of the surrounding scenery and ready to capture the moment. While this option can allow for more of a surprise factor, it can be a bit harder to successfully pull off.

To make your surprise engagement even more special, consider setting up your proposal site in advance. This is a cute and fun option that I love to help couples with as I get to be more hands-on during both the planning and the photographing portions. If you decide to go this route, just remember to follow the leave-no-trace policies when getting engaged on outdoor, public land. Oftentimes, even things like rose petals are prohibited so if you want to include them in your setup, you may need to choose a different location.

No matter which option you choose, after you’ve popped the question, we’ll continue to take engagement photos. After the session, you’ll receive a full gallery of beautiful images that you can share and use to announce your engagement with everyone!

Start Planning!

Planning a surprise engagement photo shoot doesn’t have to be stressful. Once you find the perfect location and choose a surprise proposal photographer, you’ll be well on your way to making your partner’s dream proposal a reality!

Are you looking to plan your very own surprise engagement photo shoot? I’d love to be a part of it and photograph your day for you! Get in touch now to check availability and for more information.

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