Proposal Planning Tips and Sample Scenarios
So you have decided to organize a surprise proposal for your partner in Budapest, but you are unsure how you can do it without making it too suspicious? You are not alone!
Question: “How can I bring her to Fisherman’s Bastion without arousing suspicion?!”
Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered! Welcome to my tried-and-true plans for proposals and engagement photoshoots! I'll help you create a seamless experience that keeps the surprise intact while ensuring everything goes smoothly.
Option 1 - Planned Photoshoot
Suspicious Level: 7/10
Difficulty Level: 1/10
Romance: 7/10
Chance for good photos: 9/10
This plan is the easiest to organize and usually gives the most successful result for good photos.
GAME PLAN:
Set the Scene:
Tell Your Partner: Explain that you hired a photographer because the city is so beautiful, and you would love to have some lovely photos from it.
Preparation: Ensure you both dress nicely for the photoshoot, suggesting it will be fun and special.
Meet the Photographer:
Arrive at the Agreed Location: Meet me at the spot we have prearranged for the photoshoot.
Start the Photoshoot: Begin with a regular photoshoot, capturing various poses and angles.
Set Up the Proposal:
Adjust Positions and Angles: I will change your positions and angles to look good for a proposal photo.
Give the Hint: At the right moment, I will give you a hint by saying, “I like how it is looking right now,” or giving you a wink.
The Proposal:
Propose: Use the hint to know it's the perfect moment to go down on one knee and give the ring.
Questions to Consider:
Does your partner like getting photos taken?
Is your partner active on social media?
Will your partner find it normal to hear an offer from you?
ADVANTAGE: This option ensures that both of you will come prepared (more dressed up, with make-up, hair done, etc.), and I will have full control of the environment and poses, so you will both like the photos better in the end.
CHALLENGE: Your partner might guess immediately that a proposal may be coming. You should keep cool and pretend nothing big is happening. Or you can just let them get the hints; maybe it will make the whole event more exciting!
Option 2 - Random Photographer
Suspicious Level: 1/10
Difficulty Level: 6/10
Romance: 6/10
Chance for good photos: 6/10
This plan can be a good one depending on some conditions
Set the Scene:
Tell Your Partner: Bring your partner to the agreed spot and attempt to take selfies. Express dissatisfaction with the selfie results.
Preparation: Look for someone with a camera (me) to help with taking the photo.
Meet the Photographer:
Ask for Help: When you see me taking photos, ask if I can take a picture with your phone.
Offer to Help: I will take the photo and suggest that the lighting isn't good for phone photos, offering to use my camera instead, and send you the photos for free.
Set Up the Proposal:
Adjust Positions and Angles: I will direct your positions and angles to look good for a proposal photo.
Give the Hint: At the right moment, I will give you a hint by saying, “I like how it is looking right now,” or giving you a wink.
The Proposal:
Propose: Use the hint to know it's the perfect moment to go down on one knee and give the ring.
Answer some questions yourself; the answer should be mostly "yes":
Are you good enough to act in this scenario?
Is he/she going to be okay with giving the phone to a stranger?
Will you be able to bring your partner with a nice outfit and make-up/hair?
ADVANTAGE: This option ensures that he/she will not be suspicious about the proposal, making it an ultimate surprise.
RISK: He/she may come unprepared (not dressed up, no make-up, hair not done) and may not feel comfortable. I suggest dressing up yourself, so he/she will want to do the same.
Option 3 - Hire me as a “guide”
Suspicious Level: 2/10
Difficulty Level: 3/10
Romance: 7/10
Chance for good photos: 7/10
This plan is the most popular recently and it has been working all smoothly.
GAME PLAN:
Set the Scene:
Tell Your Partner: Explain that you hired a guide for a Budapest sunrise/sunset tour.
Preparation: I will meet you as the guide with a small shoulder bag containing my camera.
Meet the Photographer:
Browse for Photo Spots: I will quickly browse for the best photo spots and direct you there.
Offer to Take a Photo: Once we get to a spot, I will offer to take a photo of you for my guide portfolio.
Set Up the Proposal:
Adjust Positions and Angles: I will adjust your positions and angles to look good for a proposal photo.
Give the Hint: The hint can be a sentence like “I like how it is looking right now” or just a wink.
The Proposal:
Propose: Use the hint to know it's the perfect moment to go down on one knee and give them the ring.
Answer some questions yourself; the answer should be mostly "yes":
Are you good enough to act in this scenario?
Will you be able to bring your partner with a nice outfit and make-up/hair?
Is she going to be cooperative when I request to take a photo for my client portfolio?
ADVANTAGE: This option ensures that he/she will not be suspicious about the proposal at all, making it an ultimate surprise.
RISK: He/she may come unprepared (not dressed up, no make-up, hair not done) and may not feel comfortable. I suggest dressing up yourself, so he/she will want to do the same.
Proposal at Fisherman's Bastion with Budapest sunrise
Option 4 - The Stressed Photographer (my favourite!)
Suspicion Level: 1/10
Difficulty Level: 2/10
Romance: 9/10
Chance for Good Photos: 9/10
This plan can works like a miracle!
GAME PLAN:
Set the Scene:
Tell your partner you want to go to a specific spot because morning selfies can be great there.
Ensure you both dress nicely for the photos, suggesting it will be fun to have a mini morning photoshoot together.
Meet the Photographer:
We meet at the location we agreed upon in advance.
I will be there, acting as a stressed photographer, because I am scheduled to do a couple's sunrise photoshoot, but the couple is late.
Set Up the Proposal:
I will take you to the spot for the photo and direct you to various positions and angles so you look good for a proposal photo.
At the right moment, I will give you a hint by saying, “I like how it is looking right now,” or giving you a wink/nod.
The Proposal:
Use the hint to know it's the perfect moment to go down on one knee and give them the ring.
Answer some questions yourself; the answer should be mostly "yes":
Are you good enough to act in this scenario?
Is he/she going to be okay with allowing a stranger to take your photos?
Will you be able to bring your partner with a nice outfit and make-up/hair?
ADVANTAGE: This option ensures that he/she will not be suspicious about the proposal, making it an ultimate surprise.
RISK: He/she may come unprepared (not dressed up, no make-up, hair not done) and may not feel comfortable. I suggest dressing up yourself, so he/she will want to do the same.