Casey Fatchett Photography

With the holiday season upon us, it is that time of year when men decide to pop the big question.

Whether you are planning to ask around Christmas or New Year’s or you are waiting for Valentine’s Day, it is already time to be putting some more thought into how you are going to propose.

I’m sure you have put a lot of thought into where and when, but have you considered documenting the big moment? More and more men are hiring photographers to snap candid photos of the event. And why not? What better way to show her that you really put some effort into your proposal than by getting a photographic record of it?

Now if you are looking to hire a photographer to shoot your proposal, there are some things to consider:

1. The Element of Surprise - You don’t want her to know that you are about to ask so having a photographer standing next to you with an elaborate camera set-up is probably not a good idea (unless you tell her you hired someone to take some pictures of the two of you - it is an idea but you have to set that up beforehand to avoid arousing suspicions)
2. Location, Location, Location - I can not stress enough the importance of choosing your location properly if you want someone to photograph your proposal. Many men come to me saying they want to propose to their girlfriend in Central Park after dinner . . . while this is very romantic, it poses a number of problems. From November to February, it gets pretty dark in Central Park after 5 pm and there are not a lot of people around (so your photographer may look suspicious). Wherever you decide to pop the question, if you want someone to photograph it - choose a location where there are going to be some people around (or where your photographer can hide a reasonable distance away) and there is going to be a fair amount of light.
3. Find the Light - You don’t want your photographer to have to depend on using a flash (giving away the surprise) so if you are proposing at night, find a spot where there is light on you (a street light above you will provide dramatic lighting if nothing else is available). If you can manuever into a place where there is light hitting your face, all the better.
4. Your Photographer - Hiring the right photographer is of the utmost importance. To shoot a proposal properly your photographer has to be part actor, part papparazzi, and part spy. I have had to pretend to be a tourist, hide in bushes, and tail a couple for close to an hour just to get the right shot. A clumsy or ill-prepared photographer could give everything away. Your photographer also needs to have the right equipment for the job (low-aperture, high speed lenses that work in low light conditions so they do not need to rely on a flash)
5. Preparation and Planning - Go over your plan with your photographer several times (at least) beforehand. Have a back-up plan in case the spot you are going to is too crowded or there is some unforeseen occurrence (police activity, car accident, labor strike - don’t laugh I have seen it happen). Also have some way to communicate with your photographer - I find that text messaging is a very good way to stay in touch and doesn’t seem odd.

In the end, remember that you are showing her that you want to remember the look on her face when you asked her to marry you - FOREVER! And that, is priceless…having the photos to show afterwards earns you some major brownie points…