Proposal Tips (from a New York City Proposal Photographer’s Perspective)

First off - congratulations! Something tells me that, if you’re reading this, you’re thinking about popping the question to your significant other (S/O). And even more specifically, you’re probably here because you’re thinking of proposing in New York City.

I’ve had the opportunity to photograph many wonderful proposals all over NYC. There’s a lot to consider when planning for the big moment. Here are a few tips from an NYC proposal photographer’s perspective.

Discuss Your Vision with Your Photographer:

Leading up to the big moment, you’ll be working closely with your photographer to ensure there is a mutual understanding of your vision. This is likely one of the first things you’ll discuss in the early stages, but it can be fine-tuned and perfected over time.

Your photographer will help bring your vision to life, but also work with you to discuss any anticipated challenges and changes to ensure that everything goes off without a hitch!

Visit the Location to Verify That It Looks Like You Remembered:

So you think you’ve come up with the dream location for your proposal? Fantastic! Next step: visit that location at least once.

Doing this will not only help you become more comfortable with the general scene and area, but it can also verify that location looks as you envisioned.

On the contrary, you may discover that the area does not look as you envisioned. This is a more common factor than you’d think in NYC, as high-rises and skyscrapers go up seemingly all the time.

Here is just the latest example of a once-iconic view being blocked by a new building.

Bonus points if you take a video of the location and its surroundings and send it to your photographer - they may have some creative input.

Have a Backup Plan (or be open to one):

New York City is the best city on Earth, but it’s also super chaotic and unpredictable.

Come the day of your proposal shoot, there might be factors outside of your control that make your desired location suddenly inaccessible – a Law & Order film crew, emergency sidewalk repairs, an outdoor pilates class, another proposal – you’d be surprised at the possibilities.

With this in mind, it’s not a bad idea to discuss a back up plan with your photographer in advance. This can even be a location a few hundred feet away from the primary spot. Therefore, when your photographer arrives at the location in advance, they can quickly text you “change of plans - backup location!” and you’ll both be prepared.

Take Crowds Into Consideration:

8.5 million people call New York City home. That number doesn’t take into account the many tourists that visit year-round. None of this is meant to scare you off - it is just something to consider when selecting a location (and especially a time) for your proposal.

For example, if you want to pop the question at sunset on the Brooklyn Bridge, or at Bethesda Terrace in the early afternoon, you should not expect to find peace and quiet if that is what you are looking for.

If your heart is set on a popular tourist destination, consider doing your shoot during sunrise before the city is awake, or consult with your photographer to see if they know of any quieter spots in that area.

Visual Communication is Key:

In a city like New York, it may feel easy to get lost in the crowds. Your proposal photographer will be on high alert as the time comes. There are a few easy things you can do to ensure your photographer is able to easily spot you.

In advance of the shoot, I will ask you to share a somewhat recent photo of yourself and your S/O - so that I know what you both look like.

On the day of the proposal, I typically ask my clients to temporarily share their phone’s location as the moment approaches. To be safe, I will share my location as well. I will also ask what color shirt or jacket you are wearing, so that it is easy to spot you.

Exhale and Live in the Moment:

Proposing to your S/O is one of the most memorable and significant moments of your life. Remember to breathe - the pictures will turn out great. Your focus should be the love and embrace of your other half!