Proposals
The most important question, the unforgettable yes
I am a proposal photographer in DC and Northern Virginia, and I photograph every proposal from a distance so the moment stays completely yours. Once the yes has been said, I come out to capture your very first photos as an engaged couple.
How I shoot a proposal
The first proposal I ever photographed was George asking Marina at Sunday Park, and a Christmas proposal in Old Town Alexandria is where I knew this was what I am meant to do. I take every proposal seriously, because I know how much it means to the person asking.
- We plan it before the day
- Every proposal starts with a meeting with the person planning to ask. We hash out every detail of the surprise together, where you will be coming from, where you will stop, which direction you will be facing and what the signal will be, and we talk about the feeling you want the moment to have. The more we plan in advance, the less you have to think about when it matters most.
- I stay out of sight
- I will be far enough away with a long lens that neither of you will notice me. Nothing about the moment should feel staged, because it isn't.
- Then I come say hello
- Once the phone calls start and the happy tears slow down, I come say hello and we take some time for portraits of the ring, the two of you, and anyone you had hiding nearby to watch.
Planning a surprise? Reach out from an email address your partner doesn't check, and I will keep everything on my end quiet until you have asked. And once you are ready for more photos together, take a look at engagement sessions.
Where to propose in Northern Virginia and Richmond
The right spot is always one that means something to the two of you, but a few places keep coming up.
- The Old Town Alexandria waterfront
- Open views across the Potomac and plenty of room for me to stay hidden. Thomas proposed to Verina on a path of rose petals and candles by the river, at a spot he used to visit with his grandmother, and Abanoub asked Merona in Old Town during Christmas time.
- The Boathouse at Sunday Park
- A pavilion on the lake in Chesterfield, near Richmond. George asked Marina there with glowing MARRY ME letters and a heart of red rose petals, and it was a beautiful surprise.
- The DC monuments
- The Lincoln Memorial and the Reflecting Pool are quietest early in the morning, which makes it much easier for me to stay hidden.
Recent proposals
Questions couples ask
How long until we get the photos?
Your gallery is delivered 4 to 8 weeks after the proposal.
Do you travel?
Yes. I photograph proposals across Northern Virginia, DC, Maryland and Richmond, and beyond when the spot calls for it. Travel is built into the collection I put together for you.
Can friends and family be there?
Yes! Some couples want the moment to be private, and others have friends waiting nearby to celebrate. At Verina and Thomas's proposal, his friends ended up tossing him into the air.
What should I tell you when I reach out?
Just the date, the place you have in mind and roughly what time. If you haven't picked the spot yet, that is completely fine, we will work it out together.
How do I book?
I send over a contract and a deposit, and once both are in, your date is held. We will meet before the day to plan every detail, so all you have to do is ask.
Planning to ask?
Let's plan it