THE MOMENT
YOU’VE BEEN
PLANNING FOR

Photographing a surprise proposal in Aspen requires more than showing up to a location. The person proposing is already managing nerves, timing, and a cover story — the last thing they should have to think about is where to stand. That coordination starts well before the day itself.

Most of the proposals I photograph happen at locations with real constraints: the gondola summit on Aspen Mountain, where you have maybe two minutes before other riders arrive; downtown Aspen, where foot traffic is unpredictable and timing matters; and spots in Snowmass where the light changes fast and the approach path matters as much as the location itself. Snowmass offers mountain backdrops that I particularly like for proposals, including views of Mount Daly in winter. The approach and the place I can wait both need to be planned. Maroon Bells presents the same challenge: the view is unmatched, but the crowds and the lack of cell service make real-time coordination nearly impossible. If you're still deciding on a location, this guide covers the most common proposal spots in Aspen and Snowmass.

The proposals I've found work best are the ones where the person proposing has already walked through the moment before it happens — which is exactly what the Proposal Video Walkthrough is built for.

Sometimes the hardest part of a surprise proposal is finding somewhere for the photographer to wait. At a recent Maroon Bells proposal, there were no trees to hide behind near the bridge the couple had chosen. Instead, I blended in with the tourists and photographers already there. The couple walked right past me, and when the moment arrived, I only needed to move a few feet to get into position.

At other locations, I can wait behind a bush until the last moment. That works because we have already gone through the plan together in your personalized video: you recognize the spot and know where to stand. Where there is nowhere to hide and a lone photographer would stand out, my wife has sometimes joined me. We look like another couple enjoying the view until it is time for me to step into position.

For Tim and Lexi’s proposal on the Maroon Bells bridge, Tim and I reviewed satellite images together on a call. I marked the approach and proposal spot so he knew where everything was. On the day, I blended in with the other photographers, and the couple walked right past me. See Tim and Lexi’s bridge proposal and portraits.

The planning takes those decisions off your mind, so you can focus on the person in front of you. Clients often tell me how prepared they felt and how helpful it was to see the plan in a video beforehand.

Explore our Aspen proposal photography logistics guide for the practical details. For a different setting, see our Hotel Jerome rooftop proposal story.