A Surprise Proposal in Bordeaux: What Happened, What I Shot and Why I’d Do It Again
This was the first time I photographed a proposal. I felt surprisingly nervous. I’d gone through the plan and checked the gear, but my hands were still a bit shaky while I waited.
Noah and Carol were visiting from Kansas. They were travelling through Europe and stopping in Bordeaux for a few days. A friend sent me Noah’s Reddit post where he mentioned he was planning to propose, and I reached out. I live here and thought it would be a good fit. I told him I’d be happy to help.
I also mentioned I proposed to my wife along the river here, so the idea of doing this felt like a good one.
The Lead-Up
We started over email. I sent a few suggestions for possible locations and he picked the Monument aux Girondins. It’s got space to move and a strong backdrop without being too crowded if you time it right.
We switched to texting closer to the date. He let me know what they’d be wearing and I sent him a photo of myself so he could spot me without tipping her off. I arrived early, got into position near the fountain, and acted like just another person with a camera.
He shared their live location so I could see when they were close. I chose a spot slightly off to the side where I’d be behind him but still able to see her face clearly.
I shot it on my Sony A7III with the 85mm 1.8. It worked well, but next time I’d want something longer. We’d talked about doing it around midday, but I suggested earlier or later for better light. We went for 10.30am. It was meant to storm but the weather held.
The Proposal
They arrived about twenty minutes early. Luckily I was already there. The monument is usually packed with tour groups but somehow, just at the right time, the space opened up.
Noah stepped into position and dropped to one knee. Carol froze for a second. She covered her face and looked completely stunned. A few people nearby clapped and called out. It happened quickly but felt real and unforced.
A minute or two later, Noah told her I’d been there photographing it. She turned, smiled, and waved. I walked over, said hello, and congratulated them both. We talked for a bit and took some more photos together around the fountain.
After that, we made our way down to Place de la Bourse. We carried on taking photos as we walked. They were both still a bit giddy from it all. There wasn’t really a plan. We just stopped occasionally when something looked good and carried on from there.
What Stayed With Me
I arrived early to test the light and shoot a few frames before they got there. I’d never photographed a proposal before and didn’t know how it would feel. There’s no second take, so I wanted to be ready.
Once it started, everything else dropped away and I focused on getting what I needed. I didn’t know them, but you could tell how much it meant. It felt good to be there and even better to be trusted with it.
I’d absolutely do another.
Planning a proposal in Bordeaux?
I’m based in Bordeaux and know the city well. I speak English, and I’ll keep a low profile until the moment’s done. If you’re planning something similar, I’d love to help.