An important thing to consider as you’re planning your proposal is if you want to hire a proposal photographer to capture it all. Why should you book a proposal photographer? We know first-hand the value of having a proposal documented because we had ours documented. We’ve also had the privilege of capturing our client’s proposals too. Let’s jump into what it looks like to book a proposal photographer!
As a husband-and-wife photo and video team who love to capture love stories, we are always excited when we get to be the proposal photographer for a couple. Capturing a surprise proposal and watching a core memory form in real time will never get old.
Surprise Proposal Photographer
Why should you book a proposal photographer? Below are 5 reasons why we think you should go for it.
1. Your proposal is documented in a beautiful way.
This is a big life step and having photos of life events like this are important for you and your partner. Professional photos mean high quality documentation so beautiful moments like this are captured in a way that stands the test of time.
2. It allows you to be present in the moment.
Hiring a proposal photographer takes the pressure off your partner (and you!) to document everything so you both can fully enjoy the moment. There is a high likelihood that either you or your significant other take photos of your lives together. Why wouldn’t you both want photos of your proposal as well?
3. The proposal can be followed by an engagement session.
A proposal photographer wraps everything up into 1 package and captures all the excitement at once! It takes care of one more thing before you begin planning for your upcoming wedding or elopement.
4. A proposal photographer can help you plan the details.
This means less stress for you. They will help with location scouting, outfit suggestions, work with you to find an alibi that aligns with the location you choose, and help plan a cue/spot for when/where the proposal will take place. You can breathe easily knowing that you have some help and you can focus on what you want to say to the person you love when you ask them to marry you.
5. You show your partner just how much they mean to you.
We can almost guarantee that your partner will be SO HAPPY you hired a proposal photographer and surprised them. Doing something like this is thoughtful and intentional. It will show your partner that you wanted to plan something incredible for them to sit back and enjoy. Don’t underestimate how loudly actions speak in showing love.
Waterfall Proposal
Josh + Rachel
Months before he planned to propose, Josh reached out to us to capture this moment for him and his girlfriend, Rachel. He knew Rachel and thought this was something she would really love and enjoy. Josh wanted a beautiful spot in nature (he was hoping for waterfalls). When he gave us this information, we knew of an incredible spot that wasn’t very far away from Indianapolis: Cataract Falls State Park.
In the months ahead, we planned all the details from the outfits to the stunning spot overlooking the falls, the ring hand-off to the number of poses that would cue the big question. During this process Josh shared with us, “This is going off without a hitch and I couldn’t be more thankful for you! If any other photographer shot this, I would have been a nervous wreck. I kept saying that I knew Rachel would love to have you take photos of us, but looking back on it, I really needed you as well. It has made this event so stress-free, and I feel like I can just enjoy it. You’re great at this!”
Rachel thought that she and Josh were modeling for us. Little did she know what surprise awaited her. Josh proposed to Rachel in front of Cataract Falls with the most gorgeous sunset lighting them. Rachel was so surprised, and their genuine emotion and true joy over their engagement was beautiful to behold. After their session, Rachel shared, “My mind is seriously blown! I can’t believe he/you organized all this! I feel so loved and treasured.”
Beach Proposal
Colton + Bri
Colton wanted to surprise Bri with a proposal in a beautiful, scenic place. He knew that she wanted their engagement photographed so he reached out to me months in advance to begin planning. We discussed locations, how to keep everything a surprise, and the best flow for it all. Bri + Colton were going to be traveling from Dallas, TX up to Michigan City, IN and he thought that Indiana Dunes National Park would be a solid location for his proposal to Bri.
After some calls to NPS rangers at the Dunes about the best locations for something like this, I was able to find the sweetest spot for this moment for Colton + Bri. But, as the date came closer, we realized that the weather was going to be rainy for our original plan. There was no reason to worry though. We pivoted by 1 day and had the PRETTIEST sunshine and warm temps for these two and their dog, Pi.
Following the surprise proposal was an engagement session. It was truly such a joy to photograph these two playing and having fun together—Bri’s excitement was so sweet, and the location was a stunning backdrop for such a special moment.
From the Clients Who Hired a Proposal Photographer:
“The main thing I loved about my photo shoot with Vallosio Photo + Film was the simplicity of it. Ashley and Jonathan heard my idea and ran with it. They provided multiple venues for me to choose from, they helped orchestrate our attire for the evening, and even brought sparkling water for great photo opportunities. They nailed down all the small details for me, I just had to show up! In fact, my biggest worry was planning it all by myself. I have never planned something as important as proposal/engagement photos before. Vallosio Photo + Film to the rescue!
I would recommend Ashley and Jonathan to anybody. Not only did they plan everything, they are so kind, caring, and thoughtful. It was an absolute pleasure to share the evening with them. We shared lots of conversation and laughs. They really made me comfortable, and that took the nerves out of the equation. So comfortable that we asked them to do our wedding. We are so excited for you guys to capture our marriage, and we look forward to many family photo sessions in the future! Thank you so much Ashley and Jonathan!”
-Josh
“I had the opportunity to hire Ashley for a surprise photo shoot for my fiancés and I’s engagement photos at Indiana Dunes. You could not envision better service for such an important moment.
She found the best place based on the location preferences of my fiancé, she was flexible in being able to schedule to make sure it fit within the weather/our plans, and was incredibly helpful in making the shooting experience memorable.
If you are looking to do a surprise or nature/authentic/natural photo shoot, this team is your go to! Couldn’t recommend more highly.”
-Colton
What does it look like to book a proposal photographer?
It’s simple! You’ll inquire with us first and from there, we will contact you to set up a call to talk through your package options, your vision, location ideas, and what’s most important to you and your partner.
Once you decide what package you want, you’ll book with us and we will walk you through the rest of the planning process step by step.
If this is what you’re looking for, you can contact Jonathan and I here. Then, we can start talking about your vision for asking the love of your life to marry you.
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