Jeremy and Taylor: New Orleans Surprise Proposal Photography
New Orleans Surprise Proposal Photography
Jeremy surprises Taylor with a marriage proposal, engagement session, AND engagement party
I started planning Jeremy’s surprise proposal with him back in April. A resident of Baton Rouge, Jeremy was plenty familiar with the French Quarter and knew what he wanted. He’s a logistics guy and his plans were BIG! I was happy to help him work out the photography end of things- including nailing down the location. Many people don’t know that Jackson Square requires a permit for professional photography (all city-owned parks do but that’s the only location that actively enforces it). What’s more is they only hand out one permit at a time (even though the permit doesn’t grant private access to the park and doesn’t prevent tourists from getting in your photos. So I don’t quite understand why multiple photographers couldn’t navigate the space simultaneously. We do it at all other locations all the time! But I digress.) and those are often booked way in advance. For a Saturday in mid-June, there wasn’t any chance of getting a permit. We both called to inquire but were met with the same answer. So we planned it at my favorite sneaky Jackson Square location that puts the St Louis Cathedral directly behind the couple.
Jeremy wasn’t just planning on surprising Taylor with a marriage proposal. He was also surprising her with an engagement session that would end at an engagement party! He was able to book a room at the Royal Sonesta that had a corner balcony facing Bourbon street. The plan was for me to lead them on an engagement session through the quarter that would end at the Sonesta, using that corner as a backdrop. All of their family and friends would be waiting on the balcony to surprise her (I told you his plans were BIG!). Then we’d head up to the suite for an hour of event photography before I left them to their celebration.
A plan with this many moving parts could easily go awry. But I’m happy to report that everything went according to plan! The usual suspects were at the location and they recognized me from previous proposals I’d been laying in wait for. They were kind to stay out of the way when it was go time (although one guy goes “oh hey, is that them!?” and I gave him a stern “shhhh!”). Jeremy and Taylor waltzed up as the sun was starting to set and he quickly popped the question. The photos were stunning with the sun diving into my lens behind them making for beautiful golden-soaked images with perfect lens-flare. We started their engagement session up there before making our way down to the closed Jackson Square. I told them that I knew the perfect corner to photograph them on but it was a bit of a walk. Taylor was game and Jeremy, of course, knew the plan.
They put their phones and sunglasses in my bag to keep their hands and pockets free during the engagement session. We were getting close to the Sonesta when I realized people were probably trying to check in with Jeremy! So I stopped in my tracks and suggested they take their phones back. Whew! Crisis averted! We could see everyone on the balcony as we walked down Bienville street. But thankfully the street was so busy with people and cars that Taylor didn’t look up.
We had to wait for several cars to pass before I positioned them in the middle of the intersections of Bienville and Bourbon, with the DESIRE marquee lit up behind them. After a few shots I yelled to them “Ok, now turn around and look up!”. As they turned, their friends shot off confetti cannons from the balcony and cheered. I had managed not to cry this whole proposal but the look on Taylor’s face when she turned back around did me in. I kept taking photos as the confetti danced around them for some truly epic Bourbon street engagement photos. Taylor threw her arms around me in a sweaty mid-June hug (a hug I was happy to be able to accept in these post-vaccine days!) before we headed into the air conditioned reprieve of the Sonesta and made our way up to their party.
It was a sticky night in a suite packed with their closest friends and family. But love and joy were large in that room. I got some amazing photos of them on the balcony in front of a pink sunset before spending an hour capturing the happiness in the room.
Looking to plan your epic Surprise Proposal?
Enjoy this selection of proposal images from Jeremy And Taylor’s French Quarter Surprise Proposal and Engagement Session.
