Candid Proposal Ottawa

Surprise Engagement Photography

Thinking about popping the question soon? Having a photographer capture the moment can give you a beautiful keepsake of this incredible milestone. It's truly a once-in-a-lifetime event that deserves to be remembered forever. Just picture the joy of one day sharing these photos with your future children and grandchildren—showing them the exact moment when their parents or grandparents made that life-changing commitment. It’s a magical way to keep the memory alive for generations.

Let us take care of the planning. We'll help you choose the perfect Ottawa location—all you need to do is pop that important question!

How it Works

  1. We’ll come up with a detailed plan together on where and when you’ll propose.

  2. On the day of, we'll show up 20 minutes early and find a good spot to blend in, doing our best to look like a tourist or hobbyist photographer.

  3. We’ll come up with a subtle signal for you to give 30 seconds before you propose, then you do your thing!

  4. I’ll shoot the first few minutes from a distance, then I’ll come over and say congrats, and we can proceed to shoot a mini engagement session for 30 minutes.

  5. We’ll send over one image right after the proposal so you can post about it right away. The rest will be delivered the next day.

Candid Proposal Photography: $550

What's Included:

- Candid photography of your engagement

- 30 Minute mini engagement session after your proposal

- 30+ High resolution images delivered next day

- 1 Image delivered on the day of

- Full planning support (location, timing, logistics)

- $200 off all our wedding packages

Pro Tips:

Make sure your future partner loves the way they look on the day of the proposal. Tell them that you’re going out for dinner somewhere fancy.

Pick a location and activity that are true to you as a couple. It can be sports, coffee, your favourite restaurant, or the location of your first date, etc.

A non-Saturday date is usually best during wedding season (June–October), as many wedding photographers are booked on Saturdays.

Book Your Proposal

Frequently Asked Questions

  • At least 2–3 weeks out to give us time to plan the location, timing, and logistics together. Popular dates fill quickly, especially in spring and fall.

  • We can reschedule at no charge. We'll keep an eye on the forecast together and make the call a day or two before.

  • We're experienced at blending in — we dress casually and use discreet equipment. Most partners have no idea until they see the photos. We generally pose a hobbyist photographer pretending to be shooting landscape or street photography.

  • We can shoot anywhere — Major's Hill Park, the ByWard Market, Dows Lake, the Rideau Canal, a favourite restaurant, or somewhere meaningful to your relationship. We'll help you pick what works best. Check out our full planning guide here

  • So far this has never happened, but we'll quietly disappear and keep everything confidential. No images will ever be shared.

  • Yes! We're available within a couple hours of the city. Travel fees may apply depending on location. Just reach out and we'll figure it out.

  • Absolutely: https://www.ghattasweddings.com/josh-swain

We've put together a complete guide covering the best locations, timing, and how to plan the perfect day.

Surprise Engagement Guide
Surprise Engagement Guide