Planning and Photographing Alexanders Central Park Proposal

How to plan your secret proposal: A little help from your friends.

Alex enlisted his friend John and his wife to organize and deliver “the supplies” to the exact spot he’d propose in Central Park; hot chocolate, marshmallows, whipped cream, champagne, a dozen roses.

How Alex Proposed: Alex and Casey would walk through Central Park from their Upper West Side apartment to the Upper East Side to meet friends for lunch. This had Casey looking nice!

Alex and Casey’s friends helped bring the hot cocoa supplies in a neatly organized picnic basket. The basket marked the spot where Alex would propose. Later, they regrouped with the newly engaged couple for a quick in person “congrats!” and a group photo.

Finding a private place to photograph a secret proposal in Central Park takes some thinking. Having a professional proposal photographer help you is a huge load off of your shoulders.

Photographing proposals in Central Park is such a contrast from the more typical New York City hustle and bustle proposals with New York City as the background. Today’s hidden spot is in the northern part of Central Park near the reservoir. I love photographing proposals here because the light filters through the trees creating warm even light. This spot provides some privacy between you and tourists in the park, and offers several different vantage points for post-proposal posed photos.

Jonathan Heisler Photography is comprised of New York City photographers specializing in photographing private NYC proposals, as well as engagement sessions and weddings.

LEARN MORE ABOUT HIRING A PROPOSAL PHOTOGRAPHER IN NYC

Photographing Souf's Private Central Park Proposal

Photographing proposals in a private and intimate place isn’t as hard as you’d think in New York City, just go to Central Park.

Photographing proposals in Central Park’s Shakespeare Garden is such a contrast from our typical hustle and bustle proposals with New York City as the background. This hidden spot is just off of the main loop near the 79th street Central Park West entrance, and yet it’s never busy. The garden’s beautiful woodworking, well manicured gardens, and winding paths offer a quiet setting.

Jonathan Heisler Photography is comprised of New York City photographers specializing in photographing private NYC proposals, as well as engagement sessions and weddings.

LEARN MORE ABOUT HIRING A PROPOSAL PHOTOGRAPHER IN NYC

Jack's Thanksgiving Central Park, NYC Proposal

Asking a Central Park Proposal Photographer where to propose

This Thanksgiving we all had a lot to be thankful for. For Jack, he was thankful for his family and most importantly his girlfriend, now fiancee. Jack knew he wanted to propose on their trip to New York City. However, he needed some helping picking a place to propose without a crowd. Proposing in Central Park meant finding somewhere private and not generic, meaning we wanted to capture parts of the New York City skyline for context. Ladies Pavillion on the West Side is fantastic place to propose and have your moment photographed by a professional photographer.

Where to propose in Central Park for a beautiful moment and for the best proposal photos

The best place to propose in Central Park is Ladies Pavilion on the West Side. It’s only short trip in to the park from Manhattan’s West Side and you’ll be transported to another place. We really like photographing proposal at Ladies Pavillion for the following reasons:

• You’ll have bits of the Manhattan skyline as the backdrop to your moment.

• You’re surrounded by water.

• It’s not terribly crowded because it’s off the beaten path.

How to convince them to go to the park?

• Get a coffee and pastry outside of the park, and then walk the park

• Watch the sunset

• Meet friends at X location

Jonathan Heisler Photography is comprised of Professional New York City photographers specializing in photographing private NYC proposals, as well as engagement sessions and weddings.

LEARN MORE ABOUT HIRING A PROPOSAL PHOTOGRAPHER IN NYC

Photographing Dave's Secret Proposal at NYC Central Park’s Ladies Pavilion

Trying to pick the perfect fall day in New York City is an elusive task. “Will it rain?” or “Will it be super windy and cold” are the two big questions we are often asked when helping plan fall proposals. For David’s proposal at Ladies Pavillion on the West Side of Central Park, NYC these two questions were real factors as the day arrived. The temperature had dropped and that very morning it was drizzling, when the forecast mentioned no rain. I assured David the weather was going to improve, and it did.

I’m so glad he chose us to photograph his special moment. Our years of planning and experience photographing proposals all throughout New York City really came together. Photographing proposals in New York City during the fall is such a treat.

Where to propose on the West Side of Central Park?

The best place to propose in Central Park on the West side is Ladies Pavilion. Here you’ll take a short trip in to the park from Manhattan’s West Side and you’ll be transported to another place. We really like photographing proposal at Ladies Pavillion for the following reasons:

• You’ll have bits of the Manhattan skyline as the backdrop to your moment.

• You’re surrounded by water.

• It’s not terribly crowded because it’s off the beaten path.

Jonathan Heisler Photography is comprised of Professional New York City photographers specializing in photographing private NYC proposals, as well as engagement sessions and weddings.

LEARN MORE ABOUT HIRING A PROPOSAL PHOTOGRAPHER IN NYC

Here’s how we helped AJ plan and photograph his night time Little Island Park Proposal

Little Island on Manhattan’s West Side is quickly becoming one of the best places to propose in NYC. As a proposal photographer, I don’t only just take photos. I also offer my knowledge and experience. Each location has its pros and cons. Little Island is a great choice to propose because of its views and many different looks (grasses, water, concrete, and art installations).

What’s the best time of day to propose if you’re hiring a proposal photographer?

The best time of day to propose is dependent on location and what works for you. For evening proposal, it’s easier to get that special person dressed up and looking nice. However, not every location is suitable for nighttime photography. On tonight’s Little Island proposal session, we came prepared with a flash to light the night. We also worked with AJ, the guy proposing, to select a spot on Little Island with a view of the illuminated city behind them, so they didn’t have a dark black background.

Jonathan Heisler Photography is comprised of New York City photographers specializing in photographing private NYC proposals, as well as engagement sessions and weddings.

LEARN MORE ABOUT HIRING A PROPOSAL PHOTOGRAPHER IN NYC

Proposing at Rockefeller Center is quintessential NYC, regardless of the Christmas tree.

It didn’t matter to Zack that the world famous Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree wouldn’t be in attendance for his proposal. Zack knew if the tree was there, so would the crowds and that’s exactly what he did not want when proposing to Paige, lots of people shoulder to shoulder. As professional NYC Proposal Photographers, we help plan countless surprise proposals. Often, we advise against super popular and crowded areas for a number of reasons; it’s not as intimate, there are people walking in to your photo making awkward faces, and it can be hard to find one another/ pinpoint the exact spot.

We started our holiday season photographing a secret surprise proposal at Rockefeller Center and Radio City Music Hall, and it was AWESOME!

For today’s proposal session, we advised Zack to go to Rockefeller Center later in the afternoon and before work ended for the day. We knew the Rockefeller Center and Radio City Music hall area wouldn’t be packed yet. Today’s early November proposal also was before the pre-holiday season rush.

Jonathan Heisler Photography is comprised of New York City photographers specializing in photographing private NYC proposals, as well as engagement sessions and weddings.

LEARN MORE ABOUT HIRING A PROPOSAL PHOTOGRAPHER IN NYC