Having photographed over 2,500 surprise marriage proposals in New York City, we’ve learned a lot about what makes a proposal perfect, beautiful, and stress-free. From lighting and crowds to how to get to “X” location at “Y” time without tipping anyone off—we’ve got you covered. Here is a quick guide to next steps once we are booked and some quick tips.
Step 1: Review the plan!
Double check all of the information on the agreement is still accurate! Ensure you know how to get to the spot. We sent a Google Map pin on the Google agreement, so you can easily navigate there.
IF YOU ARE NOT FROM NYC
CENTRAL PARK - Cars are not allowed in the park! Let Google Maps tell you where to go and how to get there; walking, subway, car. Plan your route using the “I am leaving at TIME” feature.
UBERS AND TAXIS: Allow time for traffic if you are taking a car. There is traffic and it’s going to be BAD traffic.
Walking: You’re going to have to walk to a lot of places. That’s just a fact.
Busy!: This is a city of 9 million + a BIGILLION more tourists. There are going to be people.
Step 2: Leading up to the day!
We’ll touch base week of, the day prior, and day of via text.
Step 3: Proposal Day! - We have a photo of you, you have a photo of us.
On the big day, your photographer arrives about 30 minutes early. We want to ensure we are 1) there before you and 2) the spot is good to go; lighting, crowds, and the view! We’ll send over a selfie that’s “marked up” (see below), so you know exactly who to look for and where /how to stand for the best angles. We emphasize catching authentic emotion; your partner’s reaction is always the priority. We move around as we capture.
When do you get your photos, and how many photos?
All photos captured are delivered edited, full resolution print ready, and without watermarks within 7 days. These are 100% your photos.
FAQs on how we capture a picture perfect surprise marriage proposal in NYC
FAQ #1 - Are your proposal photos staged? No — all the proposals you see are real, not posed.
FAQ #2 - Do you hide somewhere? Not exactly. We stay close nearby, camera ready, but not hidden in bushes. NYC has enough lurking cameras already.
FAQ #3 - When do you start photographing? Once you’re clearly proposing. We wait for that moment so the surprise stays intact.
FAQ #4 - Do you know what you look like to my partner? Yes. We’ll exchange photos with you so your partner doesn’t recognize us early on.
Tips and tricks to being a ROCKSTAR NYC Proposal Photographer
TIP #1 Let us know what you’re wearing and text us when you’re 5minutes away, so we can ensure the spot is ready for you and not crowded.
TIP #2 The photographer will stand in the spot, so no one else is there. As you approach the spot, your photographer will walk out of the spot, and you’ll walk in to the spot.
TIP #3 Ask us to snap a candid photo of you two with your phone just before you propose. It helps loosen things up, gives you a fun keepsake, and nobody suspects—the real camera is already ready.