Surprise Engagement Photoshoot Derby
Surprise engagement photoshoots are definitely some of the most exciting shoots to be a part of! I also find that they require the most planning. It can be so hard to keep the whole thing a secret—especially when you want the moment to be photographed too.
As well as the whole secrecy element, one of the main challenges is making sure you and your partner are wearing clothes you’ll be happy to be photographed in. From experience, there’s virtually no overlap between “clothes I’d wear on a hike at Winnats Pass” and “clothes I’d like to be wearing during my engagement photoshoot!”
How I Photograph A Surprise Proposal Photoshoot
It’s so important to properly plan a surprise engagement shoot to make sure your partner doesn’t get suspicious! I schedule a face-to-face Zoom call with all of my surprise engagement photoshoot clients. This gives us the chance to chat about exactly how we’ll make sure your partner doesn’t catch on to the fact that you’re about to pop the big question.
We’ll also go through details such as the location, the best time of day for the shoot, and the role you’d like me to play in your proposal.
From my experience, there are two main ways to photograph a surprise engagement without your partner getting suspicious:
- Shoot from far away!
One option is to photograph your proposal from a distance. This method works well because your partner is unlikely to notice I’m even there! I’ll be hiding behind a bush or something (in a totally non-creepy way…). Using my telephoto lens, I’ll capture your proposal while staying far enough away not to be noticed.
There are a few drawbacks to this method, though. When I’m photographing a client, I often like to move them around a little to make sure the light is just right for a beautiful, flattering image. When I’m shooting from a distance, I don’t always have that opportunity. That’s why I often prefer the second method…
- Ask me to take a selfie!
This method works brilliantly, and it’s the one I always recommend to my clients. All it involves is you handing me your phone and asking me to take a picture of you both. This gives me the chance to position you where I know the light and background will look best.
Once I’ve taken a couple of shots on your phone, I’ll hand it back. Then, as you get down on one knee, I’ll (quickly!) grab my camera. If all goes well, you’ll end up with some stunning surprise proposal photos—and your (now) fiancé won’t have suspected a thing. 🙂
Tej and Davi’s Peak District Surprise Proposal Photoshoot
This was the method I used when I met Tej and Davi at Winnats Pass for Tej’s surprise proposal. Tej had sent me a picture of the two of them before the day, so I knew who to look out for. I followed them at a distance as they ascended Winnats Pass.
Once they reached the viewpoint, Tej asked me to take a picture of him and Davi with his phone. Then, as he got down on one knee, I quickly switched to my camera. I think the results speak for themselves. 🙂
Ready to book your own surprise peak district proposal photoshoot?
Than get in touch! And let’s start planning 😀
