K & E planned a trip from abroad to visit Victoria for their third anniversary. E has an incling that K was planning to propose on this trip but she had no idea it would happen in the middle of their stroll through Butchart Gardens. K and IÂ spent a lot of time planning out every detail to ensure that I could capture his suprise proposal uninterrupted and without giving anything away in advance.Â
The challenges of planning a suprise proposal at a distance include:
- not being able to scout the location together (often the client has never been to the location)Â and therefore needing to discuss using photos, maps and story telling;
- having to begin the session at its most intense without having previously met; and
- coordinating an exact time and place for the proposal without being able to communicate in person on site.Â
Having two photographers on site was crucial for crowd control and maximal efficiency when it comes to capturing engagement photos - especially at midday in the summer at Butchart Gardens. We found a quiet corner in the Japanese garden for the proposal itself and then wandered through their favourite spots in the garden for an engagement shoot, trying to avoid the harsh sun and the overly crowded sections.Â
The whole session went as planned and it was such a thrill to be surrounded by love and excitement (both from the couple and onlookers).Â