Hawaii proposal photographer | How to propose in Hawaii

You found your person, and you found the ring! You’re planning a trip to Hawaii and it’d be the perfect opportunity to propose! Your head is probably swimming with ideas and you may not be sure of the best location to propose, especially if you’ve never been here before. Oahu has no shortage of stunning backdrops to pop the question, and make it a day your partner will remember forever. From rugged beaches, to stunning vistas, to dramatic cliffs, to tropical jungles and waterfalls, Hawaii has it all. Read on to learn my insider tips and tricks on how to propose in Hawaii!

1. Hire a photographer

Proposing is such a major milestone in your lives, and in an epic location like Hawaii, it deserves to be captured to remember forever! Consider hiring a professional photographer. This is where I come in! If you found this blog post, and are considering proposing in Hawaii, I’m your girl! It’s SO IMPORTANT to hire a local photographer that knows the islands in and out, especially if you’ll be traveling here. I’m not only a photographer, but I act as a planner as well, helping my clients craft the perfect day. I know the best spots all over the island, and I’m always prepared with backup plans in case of inclement weather or other such snafus.

2. Choose a date and time

Consider if there is a specific date you’d like to propose (ie an anniversary or a special day), or if you’d like to propose early on in your vacation, or keep ’em guessing and propose the last day. I usually find it’s most fun to propose early on, then you don’t have to stress about the proposal and making it all perfect, and you can spend the remainder of your vacay in celebration mode as fiancés! Also consider timing. We can make anything work, but like all sessions, I encourage shooting at sunrise or sunset for ideal lighting. Sunset is usually easiest for surprise proposals so you don’t have to worry about being anywhere super early.

3. Plan out the proposal day

Every proposal is different, but I recommend having a general plan for the day before choosing a specific location. This is important because you want to make it easy and as stress-free as possible to get to our designated meeting spot on time. There are soooo many options for your proposal day, that it’s impossible to list them all here. Maybe you plan an adventure day on the North Shore, and take your partner someplace special to “watch the sunset.” Or maybe you have a spa day at your hotel, and we meet at the beach afterward. Or maybe you want to take them on an epic hiking adventure and you propose on the top of the mountain. Maybe you surprise them with a special couples photo shoot so they have an excuse to be all dressed up, and you pop the question then. A general idea of how you want the day to flow, will help me to suggest the perfect location to tie in with your plans.

From this point, we also plan out, in detail, how the proposal will go down. There are several options that I discuss with you ahead of time, so we’re both on the same page. Whether you want me hiding in the bushes, or you want me to pretend to be a “friendly tourist” and come up offering to take a cell phone pic before whipping out my real camera, or you want to disguise the proposal as a regular ol’ photoshoot, we’ll plan this all in advance so you feel as comfortable and confident as possible.

4. Choose a location

Choosing a location really goes hand in hand with planning the entire day. All of my clients received my comprehensive location guide with over a dozen gorgeous, off-the-beaten-path locations, and tons of examples of real-life sessions I’ve shot at those spots. This will help you feel confident in choosing the most epic backdrop. And, if you’re not sure, that’s totally ok. I’m happy to guide you with a plan and location that will knock your partner’s socks off!

5. Plan a celebration for after your proposal!

Don’t forget to make a plan for after the proposal too. Whether it’s champagne on the beach or a dinner reservation at that special spot she’s been mentioning she wanted to try. Think beyond the proposal and photoshoot and really make the entire day memorable for your partner. If you need help with activities for afterwards, I’m happy to make suggestions!

There you have it, my top five tips for how to propose in Hawaii! Keep scrolling for more images from this gorgeous sunrise surprise!

And that’s how to proposal in Hawaii! Contact me if you’d like to get started planning your own proposal!