RYAN & KRISTEN’s SURPRISE ENGAGEMENT

First things first, Kristen said “YES!”...(insert big AWWWW)

Thanks to hubby-to-be Ryan, a little help from a close friend, and of course moi, the amazing photographer (unofficial title), this surprise engagement fell into place flawlessly.

It was a cool, August afternoon on top of the new Hudson Commons building in NYC, which provided the perfect backdrop for Ryan to pop the big question. As the photographer, I made sure to scout the location, prior to the event to ensure I always get the perfect shot.

As Kristen arrived, she was greeted by the soft glow of the twinkling white lanterns, surrounded by white flower petals.

As Ryan happily got down on one knee, Kristen held her mouth to try to contain all the excitement. But she knew what would happen next.

The pictures say it all, Kristen was so surprised, which made for some amazing shots.

Ryan asked “Kristen, will you marry me?”. Then in the presence of the infamous New Yorker neon sign along with the rest of the city skyline (Plus two hired musicians and one dear friend, who orchestrated everything to Ryan’s specifications) she said “Yes!”. After he proposed, this magical moment continued to the tune of their favorite song, “We Are The Champions”, by Queen, played softly by a guitarist.

As the joyous couple celebrated with Veuve Clicquot champagne, blissfully basking in their love and the sunset, I couldn’t be more grateful for having the honor of making this moment unforgettable with each ‘click’ of the camera. This is why I love recommendations!

Tips for how to plan a surprise engagement…

Ryan, made sure to cover all the “How To’s” of making this engagement a “surprise” and “unforgettable”, starting from selecting a good proposal location to choosing the right photographer. This is key, for it truly to be a surprise the location needs to either have a good hiding space for me or be so in the public, like a park, that I blend in with the rest of normal day life.
Next is timing…this is like a well rehearsed dance but without the rehearsal. While scouting out the location, we go over all the details pertaining the arrival. Which door or street corner they will be turning from, where they need to stand and coax their partner to stand so I have the best angle.
It’s so important when choosing a photographer for a surprise engagement to select one that has an eye for capturing the candid details in your special moment. Think about it? The moment is only 10-30 seconds and it must be absolutely perfect and captured flawlessly.
Third is the back up plan. Surprise proposals work best when outdoors where I do not need flash or strobes. Though we want our dreams to look just like the movies, you might want to consider possible snags, like RAIN. Ideally after obtaining the photographer, the musicians, flowers, champagne, having a B plan isn’t a bad idea. Fortunately we did not need plan B for this wonderful couple.
Oh yes, let’s not forget the lying…this will probably be the one time you will be forgiven instantly, never having to say sorry. Though I do not condone being dishonest, I do also suggest that my cell number go into the phone of the proposer under my initials and emails are done through a work email. Many of us share devices, I suggest being sneaky is the kindest way.

I like to think that my images are filled with intimate emotions and gestures that gently expose the celebration of true love, like that of Ryan and Kristen. To check out more engagement photography by my studio in NYC, click here.