Photography is a great way to turn an unforgettable moment into one that you can look back on freely and share with family & friends.

Though you have decided to coordinate for a photographer, it is possible to have problems when it comes to choosing the best location.

When deciding on the best scenery, here are five tips to keep in mind:

1. Photo Permit

There are many public spaces that offer amazing scenery and views, however, many of them require photo permits. When doing it in places like restaurants or parks, do some research and make sure they allow public photography. It is best to contact the venue directly and explain your situation. More often than not, they will even waive the permit since it is only photography for a proposal and not commercial.

2. Take Advantage of Nature

Take advantage of local nature sites and parks for a stunning backdrop that does not break the budget. 

3. If planning at the beach, make sure to designate an exact spot.

A helpful practice for any location, especially the beach, always plan and designate an exact proposal spot, so the photographer knows exactly where to position himself to capture it. Try to designate a spot close to a landmark or something easily recognizeable.

4. Use Reservations to Get Them There on Time

It might be hard getting your partner to show up somewhere on time. Using lunch or dinner reservations nearby the proposal spot is a fantastic way to get them there more timely and already dressed up for the pictures!

5. Get Creative

If you want an exact location for sentimental reasons but it does not have the best scenery / backdrop, get creative. Do your own romantic setup for a picture-perfect proposal.

The post Five Picture-Perfect Los Angeles Proposal Ideas for Backdrops appeared first on Paparazzi Proposals.

The weather may be cooling down, but proposal season in Los Angeles is just heating up.  Looking a spot perfect for your surprise engagement photographs? These photogenic proposal spots will have you putting a ring on it! If you want more ideas, just check out our Los Angeles page.

Point Dume

Located at the edge of the Malibu Canyon, Point Dume offers stunning views of the Pacific Ocean below.  The brief hike from the beach to the summit of the cliff is well worth it:  on one side, there’s a field of wild, blooming yellow daisies, and to the other, a hidden cove only viewable from the outlook point.  Point Dume is also known as the perfect spot to catch a glimpse of whales and dolphins– so they may make a surprise appearance at your engagement!  Stop by the Sunset Restaurant and Bar for cocktails with a view, either before or after you pop the question.  Or, if you’d rather have your entire proposal take place outdoors, arrange for a picnic blanket with a dozen roses and your favorite champagne to be waiting for the two of you either on the shore or at the summit.

Leo Carillo

The waves here make it a favorite for surfers, but it’s the incredible rock formations that make this beach perfect for surprise engagement photography.  Whether the two of you have plans to camp nearby, or are visiting for a stroll on the scenic shores, this location is a star proposal spot.

Surfrider Beach

If the two of you are all about sun, sand and surf, this could be the perfect spot for you.  The shoreline itself is small, but there is a pier nearby and surfers always riding the waves.  Before or after you pop the question, perhaps arrange for a tour (and incredible photography!) at the nearby historic Adamson House and Malibu Lagoon Museum.  The April through October, the National Park’s beachfront grounds are open for bookings and special events.

Santa Monica State Beach

This is the perfect location for anyone visiting from out of town.  Miles of sand and coastline stretch in either direction, and iconic little blue Lifeguard stations dot the panoramic view.  But the best part about this stretch of beach is its proximity to downtown Santa Monica.  Have a world-class dinner at the Third Street Promenade before wandering down to the Santa Monica Pier to propose, like Nathan did!

Venice Beach

This iconic beach’s funky charm draws crowds from all over the country!  This beach draws its name from the manmade canals that surround the shorefront, constructed in 1905 to imitate the Italian city of the same name.  It serves as the backdrop for countless movies and music videos– so why not your proposal as well?  Rent some rollerblades and skate down the colorful walkway to take in the street art and interesting store fronts, pausing at the point of your choosing to pop the question!

Paradise Cove

This Malibu gem is nestled into a cozy cove and lined by palm trees.   Home to the Paradise Cove Cafe, this stretch of shore has lounge chairs set up right on the beach– so you can sip a cocktail with your toes in the sand.  Malibu locals frequent the quaint hang out, which means that celeb sightings are not uncommon.  Give your special someone the star treatment by surprising them with a proposal as the sun sets over the Pacific.

El Matador

Another beach notable for its incredible caves and rock formations, this quiet beach is located at the end of a long dirt road.  Be prepared to walk down a set of stairs, and to take in the incredible views!  Once you’ve reached a quiet section of shore, drop down to one knee and pop the question before walking through incredible rock formations for a stunning engagement shoot!

Share the moment you propose with your friends and family. Capture the romance of your Los Angeles beach proposal with surprise engagement photography!

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Beaches, year-round sunshine and Hollywood make Los Angeles the perfect place for a marriage proposal. You can go full-on glam, or totally laid-back with your proposal, depending on what suits your style. 

Here are some of our favorite Los Angeles marriage proposal ideas that take advantage of all that Los Angeles has to offer!  And for the ultimate guide on how to pop the question in L.A., make sure to check out to our Los Angeles proposal page!

Casual Elegance

As a couple, you two love understated luxury.  The ‘little things’ in life make you happy-watching the sun set, enjoying a picnic, exploring the outdoors- all with a little class and style.

Beach Proposal

Un-ironic long walks on the beach were the foundations of your romance, so why should your proposal be any different? Take in sun, sand and surf with a romantic beach proposal.  Class it up by adding a bottle of champagne and a dozen roses laid out on a picnic blanket.  After your special someone says yes, the two of you can enjoy a toast and watch the sun set over the water.  Added bonus: it’s the perfect backdrop for some stunning engagement photos.

Trail Ride Proposal

Or, opt to add a little adventure to your engagement with a proposal on horseback.  Celebrate California’s history as the forefront of the wild west by taking to the Malibu Hills to pop the question.  After a private horseback ride through the breathtaking cliffs, hop off your steed and propose like John Wayne.

Movie Star Style

Who says you have to be a star to have a Hollywood proposal?

Griffith Park Observatory Proposal

You two love Hollywood glam, so make sure when you pop the question, your engagement has celeb status.  Include Hollywood in your proposal (literally) by popping the question at the Griffith Observatory, like Andrew.  He took his special someone to the scenic outlook, and while she observed the famous Hollywood sign in the distance, he popped the question!  Afterwards, they took photos with the iconic Hollywood hills in the background.

Helicopter Ride Proposal

Observe it all from above with an amazing helicopter ride.  Fly high in style, soaring over both the Hollywood sign and the sparkling shores for a great photo op before landing on a scenic outlook point of your choosing to pop the question, like Ajay did.

Of course, the best way to make sure your special someone gets the star treatment is to arrange to have your own personal paparazzi capture every moment!

Mediterranean Marriage Proposal

The two of you have always dreamt of traveling to Italy, but with these proposal ideas, you won’t have to travel for your perfect Mediterranean marriage proposal.

Vineyard Proposal

Tuscany may be only a few hours away if you opt for a romantic California vineyard proposal.  Southern California is renowned for its wide variety of delectable wines, so take advantage by planning a day trip or weekend getaway to a nearby vineyard.  Once there, take a tour of the winery, venturing out to the grounds to pop the question.  That’s what CBS’ The Insider host Michael Yo opted for in his recent stunning Malibu Family Wines Proposal that Paparazzi Proposals helped plan and capture.

Gondola Proposal

Or, take your special someone to the waterways of Venice with a romantic gondola proposal at the Newport Canal!

Want more Los Angeles proposal ideas?  Browse our portfolio of Los Angeles proposals for inspiration.

Ready to pop the question? Remember to contact us  for a free consultation with one of our proposal experts.

The post Los Angeles Marriage Proposal Ideas appeared first on Paparazzi Proposals.

It was the perfect match.

On their first date, Ajay immediately noticed that she was well-spoken and stunningly beautiful.  He was drawn in even more by her kind heart and her sense of humor.  She was attracted to his general goofiness and enjoyed that they shared laughs with ease.

Ajay said that as their love grew, they both came to slowly realize that they wanted to spend the rest of their lives together.

When the time came for him to propose, he wanted to wow his loved one with amazing views.  So he chose a breathtaking helicopter ride along the California coast, gliding past the Hollywood Hills and landing at a private outlook point in the canyon.

Once the two were on the ground and taking in the views, he turned to her and presented her with a gorgeous ring!

She said yes!  And one of Paparazzi Proposals’ sneaky photogs was there to capture every beautiful moment!

See all the photos from this couple’s beautiful engagement, here.

Los Angeles is full of silver-screen worthy proposal moments.  Check out our extensive portfolio of gorgeous proposal photography that we have taken in the Golden State.

Not in California? Not a problem.  With photographers located everywhere, we are ready to make your moment memorable, no matter where you are located.  Check out how we work, and contact us whenever you’re ready to commit.

And if you just love love, you can also check us out on social media by liking us on Facebook, and following us on Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest! We can wait to help you pull-off your dream proposal!

The post Los Angeles Proposal Photography – Ajay’s Helicopter Proposal appeared first on Paparazzi Proposals.

They came across a blanket laid out on the ground.  Mariachi approached them and began to play.  That’s when Chad dropped to one knee, and presented Sandra with a sparkling engagement ring from Robbins Brothers!

After she said yes, the two embraced and kissed before sharing a dance to the music of the Mariachi.  Our photographer captured every beautiful, genuine moment, so now the couple can commemorate their beautiful engagement with gorgeous photos.

But as we know, every silver-screen worthy ending starts somewhere!  We spoke to Chad and Sandra to see where their love story started.

In the summer of 2005, while hundreds of moviegoers were having their own romantic date nights at the AMC movie theaters in Ontario, CA, two of the cinema’s employees were falling in love.

Sandra was training new hires at the theater, and Chad had just gotten a job there.  When he came in for his first day of training, he was struck by Sandra’s stunning beauty.  Chad knew Sandra was one of a kind, and was awed by her bubbly demeanor and winning smile.

Chad stood out to Sandra because of his outgoing personality.  He spoke his mind and was able to make her laugh instantly.  The two were immediately attracted to each other, but kept a working relationship.

When Chad found out that Sandra would soon be transferred away from his location to Fullerton to manage a theater there, he was devastated. The job that brought them together threatened to separate them for good, and he hadn’t let her know how he felt before she left.  He knew at that moment that she was the one, and vowed that if he ever saw her again he would try his best to convince her to go out on a date with him.

When Sandra came back to work in Ontario for a short time, he got his chance.  He asked her out on a picnic date, and she accepted.  Finally getting the chance to impress Sandra, Chad was nervous—but was able to make the experience beautiful and memorable.

“I knew instantly that he was different from any other guy I had met,” said Sandra.  “He put so much effort and detail into that date; from taking my favorite dessert (keeping coffee ice cream frozen in June is no easy feat!) to finding a beautiful scenic view!” she gushed.

That first date let Sandra know that she had met someone special, and the two continued to build a beautiful romance and friendship over the next 9 years.

San Diego was the place where they shared their first weekend getaway together, as well as where they celebrated their one-year anniversary, so when the time was right for Chad to pop the question, he knew that he wanted the magic moment to be there.

First, he shopped for Sandra’s stunning ring at Robbins Brothers.  The popular jeweler recommended Paparazzi Proposals’ services to help Chad plan and coordinate the perfect proposal moment.

After consulting with our team, Chad settled on the quiet, private spot in the park as the location for his marriage proposal, and wowed Sandra once more with an outdoor proposal reminiscent of their very first date.

View all of the photos from their romantic engagement, here.

Need some inspiration for your proposal? Check out our gallery of stunning engagements that we have captured, in California and nationwide, and  contact us when you’re ready to commit!  We will help you plan your dream proposal, and make sure a photographer is there to secretly capture each moment of genuine joy with incredible engagement photography.  With locations everywhere, whenever you’re ready to pop the question, we are ready to document it with stunning photos.

The post San Diego Marriage Proposal – Chad and Sandra’s Presidio Park Proposal appeared first on Paparazzi Proposals.

When she turned around, he was on bended knee.  She brought her hands to her face as he opened the box to reveal a sparkling engagement ring!

A passerby stopped and offered to take a photo on their phone, which they accepted, before Andrew surprised Ashley once again by pointing out our sneaky proposal photographer, who had captured every moment!

Or, get more inspiration by browsing our ultimate Los Angeles proposal guide, complete with easy-to-book and customizable proposal packages, and gorgeous engagement photography from the most recent proposals we have helped plan and capture.

Once they were both on board, they added to the stunning photos of their proposal with an impromptu engagement shoot. They wandered the Observatory’s grounds, posing on the steps, in the Art Deco archways, and on a terrace with the Hollywood sign in the background!

See all of their inspiring Los Angeles engagement photos, here.

Full of sunshine and Hollywood glam, Los Angeles offers endless options for a romantic proposal.  Live in L.A. and seeking inspiration?  We have a gorgeous portfolio of California proposals—and we are ready to help you plan and document yours! Contact us to start brainstorming creative proposal ideas and romantic locations.

And if you’re not in Los Angeles, it’s not a problem!  We offer surprise engagement photography just about everywhere in the U.S., including:

New York

Dallas

Chicago

Love some love? We do too.  We share incredible engagement stories and photos every day. Be sure to follow us on Instagram or like our page on Facebook for our latest and greatest engagement moments!

The post Los Angeles Proposal Ideas – Andrew’s Griffith Park Observatory Proposal appeared first on Paparazzi Proposals.

Paparazzi Proposals was in position to provide surprise engagement photography to capture the proposal and the beautiful moments leading up to it!

“We met in college (Indiana University) at a Halloween party of a mutual friend.  As soon as we became close, I left for a semester abroad, studying in Sydney, Australia.  Thanks to modern technology, we were able to talk everyday via Skype.  When the semester had finished, on my way back to the Midwest (where I am from), I stopped in Los Angeles to spend a week with Lily.  I didn’t waste any time, asking her to be my girlfriend the day I arrived.  A little over 6 years have passed and we are now engaged.”

You can click to check out their full Gallery of pics. Want to see some of our other amazing California proposals? Take a peek at this adorable Newport Beach gondola proposal. Or how about this stunning Golden Gate Bridge proposal.

Paparazzi Proposals is America’s only national proposal planning and photography company. We have photographers with experience planning and secretly photographing proposals in every city. Interested to see how we work? Click here to see how we do it. Want to see more of the amazing proposals we have been a part of? Click to take a look at our entire collection of engagement shoots.

Not getting engaged? Paparazzi Proposals also offers our special rent-a-paparazzi service for parties and events. Let one of our photographers treat your guests like stars, photographing your celebration paparazzi-style. Click to see how to have your very own paparazzo covering your next big gathering! Regardless of where, when or what your big idea may be, Paparazzi Proposals is standing by to capture it all!

Still curious to learn more about us? Paparazzi Proposals was recently featured on ABC’s smash-hit, Shark Tank. Watch as the sharks circle and gobble up this unbelievably unique idea! We can’t wait to hear from you!

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