Whenever I do surprise engagement photos I have a few scenarios that will work. One of them is to pretend to be a landscape photographer or have an assistant to act as my model, then have the couple taking selfies, asking me to take a photo for them . This one lets me get them into position and pose them before switching to my real camera and having everything perfectly lined up! Of course this doesn’t work in all cases, and in some I simply have to know where the spot is going to be, get there early, and be inconspicuous with a really long lens until it’s go time!  The second scenario worked here as I arrived to the agreed on spot almost an hour early. The soon to be groom chose Painter’s Point in Big Sur for his surprise engagement - one of those gorgeous locations along Garrapata Bluffs Trail that just begs you to take photos (and make paintings, obviously!). I saw the soon to be engaged couple enter the perfect spot and bam! Surprise proposal lined up perfectly!  Afterwards I took them on a little photoshoot around the area, family had brought her a change of clothes and I led them to a less sunny area to do photos until the sun started to set, then we came back to Painter’s Point and did the champagne (don’t worry, actually non alcoholic sparkling cider). The stuff sprayed so far it even hit my lens, and trust me you don’t want sticky sparkling cider on your vintage contax zeiss lens - but a quick wipe down with the cleaning gear I keep in my camera belt and we were back at it!

Interested in planning your surprise proposal in Big Sur? Need a surprise engagement photographer who really knows what they’re doing? Better look somewhere else! Just kidding, I’m the guy and I’m ready to capture your surprise proposal with the same magic that I do almost weekly on these dramatic cliffsides. I can guide you with how to plan it, where to do it, capture everything, and then give you the mini photoshoot/adventure that yields magical once in a lifetime memories. Give me a call, email, or reach out through the contact page and let’s talk! Don’t forget I do all kinds of portraits, events, weddings, videography, commercials and more - I travel everywhere there’s a good shot and I love my work. Thank you for letting me live my dream job every day!

Seansalazarphotography@gmail.com

408-306-3490