Plan, Plan, Plan
Good news for those proposing: You’re not alone. “Planning ahead with your photographer is how you’ll get the ideal light, location, and positioning,” says Choi. If your ideal backdrop is a very public area, she suggests contacting the space beforehand to see if they can help with finding a secluded spot or providing crowd control.
“If you can, walk the location beforehand with your photographer at the exact time of day you plan on dropping to a knee,” write James and Jess. If a literal walk-through with your photographer is unrealistic, FaceTime or send a video, but “by the end, you should know exactly where you’ll be standing to propose and which direction to face,” say James and Jess, and the photographer will know exactly where to be for that perfect, unobstructed, shot. Then, on the day of, don’t be late. As James and Jess point out, “The sun sets at a specific time.”
One strategy to aid proposal recipients in their own planning to be camera-ready is coming up with an alternative reason for a photoshoot, says Mary. “Tell them a photographer needs a model for a styled shoot or is trying out new equipment,” she says. “It can be as involved as having your photographer post a casting call on Facebook—knowing your partner will respond—and happen to pick you guys.”
Meanwhile, if you’re the one expecting a proposal and concerned about looking your best, there’s nothing wrong with taking a little extra pride in your appearance until it happens, say Jess and James. Any time it doesn’t, you still look great. Win-win. (Heads-up: Reds, oranges, and hot pinks are not your friends on a digital camera, warns Mary.)
