In short: Richard, visiting from London, found me through ChatGPT and proposed one morning on the Canal Saint-Martin. This time I didn’t hide: I approached them as a passing photographer, and when she turned around, he was down on one knee.
The photos from this proposal are being edited. I’ll add them to this page very soon.
Richard and his partner came to Paris from London for a short trip. He had planned one thing she knew nothing about. He found me through ChatGPT and sent me an email: he wanted to propose, and he already knew where: the Canal Saint-Martin, in Paris’s 10th arrondissement.
Why we chose the morning
I still went through the other options with him: the other places I like for a proposal and the time slots I work with. My advice was the morning. The canal is calm at that hour, the light is soft, and you don’t share the quays with the crowd that sits along the water later in the day. Richard agreed, and we set the proposal for the morning.
An hour and a half before
I got to the canal an hour and a half before the time we had agreed. I chose the exact spot for the question based on where the light would fall and what would sit behind them in the frame. On a sunny morning the light moves quickly, so I wanted to see it with my own eyes rather than guess.
No hiding this time
For many surprise proposals I stay out of sight with a long lens. I explain how in this article about staying invisible. This time we did it differently.
I sent Richard my live location, and when they arrived I texted him to walk past me. As they passed, I said hello in French, they answered in English, and we started talking. I told them I was out taking photos for myself and offered to take a few of them, for free. They said yes.
I took a few natural pictures first so they could relax. Then I asked her to turn around and face away from Richard. With her back turned, I gave Richard the signal and he went down on one knee. Then I asked her to turn back.
The moment
The first second was beautiful. It went straight to emotion and she started crying. Several people sitting along the canal congratulated them.
After the yes
Once the proposal itself was done, we kept going. We walked along the canal and through the small streets around it, and I photographed them as a newly engaged couple. Richard had booked my one-hour proposal package, which left time for the moment itself and a relaxed walk afterwards.
My advice if you want to propose on the Canal Saint-Martin
Come early. In the morning the quays are quiet, the light is gentler, and you have room to choose your spot. Later in the day people fill the edges of the canal, which makes the surprise harder to set up and the photos busier.
Quick answers
Is the Canal Saint-Martin a good place to propose?
Yes, if you come in the morning. The quays are quiet, the light is soft, and the water and the footbridges make a calm background. Later in the day it gets crowded.
What time is best?
The morning. That is what I advised Richard, and it worked: few people, gentle light, and time to choose the spot.
Does the photographer have to hide?
Not always. Here I didn’t hide at all: I offered to take a few free photos and set up the moment in front of her. In busier places I stay out of sight with a long lens.
How long does it take?
One hour was enough for Richard: the proposal itself, then a walk along the canal and the nearby streets.
If you’re planning a proposal in Paris, you can see how my proposal sessions work and what they cost, or read about the best season and time of day to propose. Send me your date and the place you have in mind, and I’ll reply within 24 hours.