Planning the Surprise Proposal
Min wanted to plan his surprise engagement proposal in Vancouver, so he reached out a few weeks before the big day. He had a few requirements and after considering several options, Lighthouse Park in North Vancouver seemed to fit best. This particular spot can be tricky, and luckily, he lived in the city, so we were able to visit the location together prior to the big day.
Choosing the Perfect Spot
After walking through Lighthouse Park together and feeling comfortable with our spot, all that was left was to get Yunna there on the day we picked. I highly recommend at least wearing running shoes on the rocks of Lighthouse Park, since you don’t want to get caught off guard if it’s wet. This is something to keep in mind when you’re planning a surprise shoot on a hiking trail or near the beach with rocks. There are a few spots out at lighthouse park, all a bit different and all with varying degrees of difficulty (everyone’s level of comfort is different). In addition some rocks are going to have a lot more people on them vs. others depending on location and ease of access. The tide levels will also be different depending on the day.
Keeping the Surprise
Yunna, I think, was a tad surprised, but she definitely knew something was up since they were both more than a little dressed up (plus she had proper foot wear). This was a fun shoot, and I was so happy everything worked out for them!
Weather Considerations
We couldn’t have asked for a nicer day. We shot closer to midday on what should have been a cool fall day, but we totally lucked out with a gorgeous sunny day that was very warm in the sun. Keep in mind that weather can be unpredictable, so it’s a good idea to have a backup plan or to check the forecast before your shoot.
Timing and Crowd Control
We also had the entire place to ourselves, given that it was a weekday. Often, Lighthouse Park can be quite busy on a beautiful day, especially on weekends. If you prefer privacy or want to avoid crowds, consider scheduling your shoot during off-peak times.
Logistics and Access
For those who rarely come out to lighthouse park, keep in mind that the parking lot is relatively small and during busy times you might not find any parking. Parking on SW Marine drive can be very tricky and it’s also highly trafficked by cyclists and cars with no sidewalk. It’s single lane in both directions. Once you get into the park, the paths are pretty well laid out but getting down to any of the beaches or rocks does require some work as the paths are not clearly marked.
Photography Tips
My photography tips for this location is to plan ahead and know where the light will be coming from. Out on the rocks or by the water there is no shade, so shooting at any time of day is good. Obviously shooting mid-day is not ideal but as the photos on this page show, you can make it work. The rocks will reflect a lot of light back into the couple. During sunset, you likely want to shoot looking east, as shooting west towards the sunset, you’ll either blow out the sunset unless you’re going for silhouettes.
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