A short while ago, I got a message on Whatsapp from a nice guy asking if I’d be WILLING to photograph him proposing to his girlfriend while he was in Niagara Falls for a romantic weekend.
I love this stuff! Of course I wanted to be a part of it! I told him i was 100% on board and then suddenly I felt as nervous as he did. The pressure was on to hold UP my end of the bargain. He trusted me to get the shots; rain OR shine, even if the Leafs were playing that night.
His plan was to take her to dinner at 5:30 at the Skylon Tower and it was up to me to find the best plan aside from that. “In front of the falls would be cool too if you had any good spots” was the only real request he had for a spot, so it was up to me to make the rest work.
I took a little drive to scope out the area the night before. It was miserable weather, so I did a slow drive with a few passes along the falls. I REALLY don’t like to use ON-camera flash, so I was hoping for some sort of constant light source I could get them to be near, but not too specific to make him panic/feel anxious about being in the right spot.
These street lights. Bingo.
These lights were every 50 meters or so along the whole Niagara River on the Falls stretch, an easy walk from the Skylon. I had my plan in my head. an easy one. This is what I sent him as my proposal for his proposal. (sorry, I couldn’t help myself. lol)
“Leave the Skylon and walk down to the falls on Murray StREET. I'll be waiting on a park bench or something acting casual like a guy just hanging around. When I see you pass me, I'll just start following you about 10-20 steps behind. My camera will be in a bag. I’ll just look like another tourist. When you get down to the road along the falls, cross and go to the other side. Every 50 meters or so there's nice street lanterns along the entire stretch. When you get to a view that you'd like to make the move at, be about 10 feet away from the street light. I'll be watching closeY. Go for as long or as short of a walk as you want. Your calL. I'll be wearing a blue jacket, a Jays hat and a brown shoulder bag.” And I sent him this map.
He sent me a pic of his girlfriend as they were ready for dinner so I knew exactly what she lookED like, and told me what he’d be wearing. No room for error, and all bases were covered.
So, Saturday Night was here, and eveRything was going well. I drove in and parked at the lot at the corner of Murray and Niagara Parkway (on the map at the blue shopping bag by the tim hortons). This was a good spot, I thought. if they were ahead of schedule, I would see them coming down Murray and then i’d just follow them. I WANTED to plan FOR all scenarios.
WE EXCHANGE A FEW SECRET TEXTS DURING DINNER TO MAKE SURE THINGS ARE GOING WELL, AND THEY ARE.
7:30 came and just as planned, there they come strolling across the parkway. He spots me and gives me the high eyebrows, like “hey, it’s me!” I follow along a safe distance back and wait for him to find the spot.
I SENT HIM A TEXT EARLIER JUST AS I WAS WAITING SAYING: “Go where ever you want when you get out (OF THE UBER. IT WAS COLD, SO THEY DROVE. THIS IS WHY YOU GIVE A MAP, AND HAVE SOME SORT OF WALKING/MEET UP PLAN, AND NOT JUST '‘GO TO THIS EXACT SPOT, I’LL BE HIDING NEAR BY”) and Find the perfect spot.”
AND JUST LIKE THAT, HE DROPS TO ONE KNEE, SAYS A WHOLE BUNCH OF REALLY NICE THINGS HOPING FOR THE ANSWER HE’S LOOKING FOR!
OBVIOUSLY A YES! SUCCESS!
AFTER HE GOT BACK UP, HE POINTED ME OUT TO HER AND THEY HAD A LAUGH, AND A BIT OF A CRY. WE WERE IN A BIT OF A TIGHT SPOT FOR PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC, AND TOURISTS DIDN’T SEEM TO CARE TOO MUCH FOR WHAT WE WERE DOING, SO WE STROLLED DOWN THE WAY A BIT TO GET A COUPLE MORE SHOTS TO REMEMBER.
AND JUST LIKE THAT, IT WAS OVER. IT WAS PRETTY COLD, AND NOT REALLY A NICE EVENING FOR MORE PHOTOS OR A LOVELY WALK. I LEFT THEM WITH A CONGRATULATIONS AND A PROMISE TO BE IN TOUCH IN THE MORNING WITH PHOTOS.
LIKE I WROTE ON MY INSTAGRAM POST, “I’M Not sure what's more overwhelming; the stress of trying to follow the plan to find them in a crowd without her noticing me, or the rush of getting the shot and making it all worth it.” TO BE HONEST, WHEN IT CAME RIGHT DOWN TO IT AND HIM DROPPING TO THE KNEE IN THE MOMENT, IT WAS STRESSFUL. I HAD A BIT OF FOCUSING ISSUES BECAUSE LIGHTING CONDITIONS WERE ALWAYS CHANGING, THEY WERE BOTH WEARING BLACK COATS (FOR NON PHOTOGRAPHERS READING THIS, CAMERAS FOCUS ON CONTRAST AND IF the spot YOU WANT TO FOCUS ON IS STARK BLACK, IT WILL HAVE A HARD TIME LOCKING IN FOCUS) AND I HAD PEOPLE CONSTANTLY WALKING BETWEEN ME AND THE LOVEBIRDS so MY SUBJECT WAS BLOCKED A FEW TIMES. I WAS WORRIED ABOUT MISSING SOMETHING GREAT. IT ALL WORKED OUT THOUGH. AND NOW WEDDING PLANNING BEGINS!