Charlie and Corinne were introduced by a mutual friend in summer 2016 (when lil Piper the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was just a twinkle in her own mother’s eye). Charlie reached out to me a few weeks before proposing to Corinne with his plan, and knew exactly where he wanted to propose - on a spot along a Charles River walk they all take together frequently as a family.

Step 1. Scout your location ahead of time

It was pretty cold and slushy out, so we arrived early and shoveled a path along the dock just to make sure they wouldn’t slip. We’re good like that. We really just want to see these next moments happen PERFECTLY!

Step 2. Pick a place with meaning

There are other much better “views of the city of Boston”, and Charlie and I talked about that when planning this session. Ultimately, we chose one of their favorite docks along their Charles River walk from their Cambridge apartment across the Longfellow Bridge. So much sweeter than the “perfect” view. Not to mention, we caught the red line going by (or they caught us!).

Step 3. Bring your pup

Because it’s super cute, oh so sweet, and you’ll cherish that you shared such a special memory together!

Step 4. Bundle up, it’s cold out there!

Lots of folks who plan proposal wonder how to tell their partner to dress a little nicer than they might normally without giving away their plan. We oftentimes suggest that folks use an activity (going for a walk to grab dinner out) as reason to get a little more fancy.

In the wintertime, don’t be afraid to bundle up! It’s not only practical, we really love the snuggly feel it gives to winter photos and the clothes don’t need to be too fancy - which makes the getting dressed up part a bit easier.

Step 5. Share the good news, whenever the mood strikes!

Don’t wait to call your loved ones. I love capturing these shots - these are moments that will never happen again, and I cherish how priceless it is. After a few happy phone calls we headed across Storrow Drive to the Boston Public Gardens for a mini engagement session. The lighting was perfect, and we had so much fun!

Step 6. Make time for engagement photos

Most of our couples want to spend a little extra time with us to capture the first few moments after their engagement. We love the excitement and joy that immediately follows a proposal, there’s nothing like it. Boston is beautiful and giving your self a bit of time to explore the beauty this city has to offer is always worth it, we promise.

Step 7. Pop a bottle

I oftentimes offer to bring a bottle of champagne (non-alcoholic bubbles too!) for any proposal we help plan. Who doesn’t love a little bubbly after getting some of the best news of your freaking life?!

Step 8. Remember to factor in timing, it’s everything in the city!

We’ll work with you to plan the perfect proposal, from scouting locations to figuring out timing. We know when and where the best golden light happens around the city, and recommend taking advantage of that if you have a sunny day on your hands. We planned this proposal so we’d have that perfect pre-sunset lighting for the engagement portion of the session after the initial proposal and it worked out perfectly. What a beautiful evening in Boston.

Step 9. Let loose, have fun, and go with the flow

My motto for sessions days is to have fun with posing, be authentic, laugh, and create good memories. So often we forget how linked our feelings are to photographs. What were you feeling when you took that photo? Was it awkward, joyful, forced, or loving?

Let’s get out there and have a blast together! Lots of couples ask if they can call relatives, or apologize if their loved ones are blowing up their phone after a proposal. We always encourage folks to call whoever they want, and we’ll be there to capture those happy moments along the way. Especially now with COVID and quarantine, it’s not uncommon to see, for instance, photos of a laptop full of zoom attendees at a wedding, or new parents introducing their babies to their parents via Facetime. I’ve got the over the shoulder cell phone shot in the bag. Check the sweet moment we capture below where mom finds out her baby’s getting married!