Gathering Information

Ok, so you found your soulmate, you have the ring and you are ready to ask the most important question of your life. So what comes next? Well, the first step is to find out what kind of proposal your partner would like. Some people prefer to keep this moment private and simple, while others dream of a big gesture in front of friends and families. In any case, having a discussion about expectations is a good idea. If you wish to keep things a total surprise though, you may need to chat to friends or family members to find out what your partner's wishes are. In any case, communication is key!

Once you have an idea of how you would like to propose, you may need to do a little more planning to get the ball rolling. Do you need to book a trip? Make dinner reservations? Pack a picnic? and most importantly...... will you get the magical moment captured by a professional photographer? In this age of cell phones and selfies, many people rely on themselves to snap a photo of their proposal, but there are many benefits to hiring a professional. Not only to preserve these memories forever, but to help set your plan in motion and make sure everything goes smoothly.

The Game Plan

I recently had the honor of photographing Brayden and Eva's proposal. They were going to be visiting the Okanagan, a spot they often visit on vacation, and he decided this was the perfect opportunity to pop the question. After he booked me to preserve the memory and a quick photo session after, we worked together to figure out all the details. First, I helped him narrow down the location to Nobel Ridge Winery, which just so happened to be a favorite spot for both of us. Braydon had booked a wine tasting for the two of them so I suggested that after they were done, they should go down into the garden and picnic area to enjoy the beautiful views. I let him know that I would already be in the area waiting for them, posed as a random lady enjoying a glass of wine and reading a book. While they chatted at a nearby table, I would discreetly watch for his signal. What was the signal you might ask? I told him to take a selfie with his gal, which is a perfectly normal thing to do at a beautiful winery right? When I saw this happen, I took out my hidden camera and got into place ready for the big moment! Everything worked out perfectly, and after a few minutes, I formally introduced myself and we continued with the photo session to celebrate their engagement.

Behind The Scenes

But there is more to the story! There were a lot of things that happened behind the scene, things that Brayden didn't even know about. I got to the winery early to let the staff know who I was, why I was there, and what the plan was for my clients. Then I took a few minutes to look around the property to see where the best places were for their photo shoot. I set up my gear before hand, adjusting my settings for the light at that time of day and took a few test shots to make sure my camera was ready. I knew there would be no time for test shots when the proposal was happening. I also made sure the area of the garden we had talked about was available for them, which meant I had to ask a few lovely ladies to please move to another table. (I explained the situation and they were very nice about it). Then, 2 minutes before the big moment, I also had to ask a few children to play in a different section of the venue so they wouldn't interrupt what was about to happen and get in the shot. These were all things Brayden didn't have to worry about. All he had to do was enjoy a wonderful wine tasting with his lady, take in the beautiful views and then ask a very important question. I took care of the rest.

I share this part of the story to highlight some of the extra benefits of having a professional photographer capture your proposal. We care about your magical moment just as much as you do, and we will do everything in our power to help make it happen. It's part of our job!