Sharon Bushman Photography Blog » Surprise Proposals

ryan + erin – surprise proposal in Central Park

admin — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 03:33:19 +0000

Everyone knows how much I love shooting proposals. Well I love it even more when the couple is as cool as Ryan and Erin. They flew in all the way from Canada and Ryan popped the question on a gorgeous Monday morning in September. Erin was SOOOO excited and surprised! She’s a fellow photographer so, needless to say, she was thrilled that Ryan was thoughtful enough to hire me!

I am so honored to be a part of this important day. I had a really amazing time and I wish you both all the very best. You’re awesome. Thank you for making my first proposal post baby easy and so fun!

Here are some of my favorite shots from the day. And, as always, please CLICK HERE to see their slideshow! It’s the best way to watch their story unfold!

taylor + amanda – surprise proposal in central park, nyc

admin — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 18:51:47 +0000

This past December Taylor flew his girlfriend Amanda from the City of Angels to the Big Apple to pop the question in Central Park! Bow Bridge was the proposal spot and just to make it even more cool, Taylor also hired a musician to casually play as they got there and specifically “I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz once he went down on one knee. Well, little did we know that just a mere minute before Taylor and Amanda showed up, ANOTHER couple proposed! It was crazy! The musician starts playing “I’m Yours” and I’m trying to signal him that it’s the wrong couple but Taylor and Amanda were walking towards the bridge so I had to start photographing. In the end, it worked out perfectly and Amanda was so surprised! The other couple that had just gotten engaged congratulated them (I can’t help but think that the guy felt one-upped by Taylor what with a musician AND a photographer…haha! Score another one for Taylor!).

Taylor and Amanda, you are such a wonderful couple. Your laughter was contagious and love for each other SO obvious. Thank you for letting me in on this monumental day in your lives.

Here are some of my favorites from the day. As always, CLICK HERE to see their SLIDESHOW! It’s got tons o’ smiles and laughs!

See the couple on the right…he just proposed to her a minute before!

Comparing bling with the other proposal couple!

mike + katie – surprise proposal at top of the rock, NYC

admin — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 03:53:34 +0000

Early in the morning on the first day of 2012, Mike proposed to Katie on top of Rockefeller Center’s observation deck Top of the Rock. He surprised Katie first with a trip to NYC from Michigan and then with a beautiful diamond ring! When Mike emailed me about photographing this proposal, we decided that the morning would be best to avoid the crowds and it worked out great. The bright sun and brilliant blue skies were the backdrop for a perfect day! What a way to start 2012!

Thank you Mike and Katie for making my job so much fun. It was my pleasure to be a part such a big day in your lives. Say hello to Michigan for me!

Here are some of my favorite shots and of course CLICK HERE to see their SLIDESHOW!

dave + lindsay – surprise proposal in Central Park, NYC

admin — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 03:29:52 +0000

When Dave contacted me and told me he wanted to propose to his girlfriend Lindsay while on a row boat in Central Park, I was hesitant at first. At the time, I had never done a boat proposal before, but had just had another inquiry from a different man asking for the same thing! Seemed like this was my chance to get my fear of boat proposals behind me and just do it. I just made sure he understood where to “park” the boat when he was going to propose and it ended up being more perfect than I could have imagined!!

As was the case this entire summer, the rain threatened all day, but we got away with just a few sprinkles. Yay!

Dave and Lindsay, I hope you are enjoying your life as fiance’s in Ottawa, Canada. Thank you for trusting me to be a part of this important moment! I had a great time!

Here are some of my favorites from the day. If you CLICK HERE you will see their awesome slideshow!

I was afraid she spotted me at that point…she didn’t. He did though!

I LOVE her reaction. I also love that the boat floated right towards me so that I could get such great close-up shots!

Troy and Lissette : Proposal in Central Park – nyc

admin — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 15:00:57 +0000

Troy proposed to Lissette on a beautiful evening in Central Park. He had written to me asking if I would photograph the moment and said he’d like to propose on a gondola! This sounds super romantic and wonderful, however, I had my reservations about it. Mainly from a photography stand point as it leaves me with less control of the situation. If the gondolier doesn’t put the boat in the right position, I could miss her reaction completely. In the end, I decided to go with it and I am so glad I did. It WAS super romantic and wonderful and the gondolier did great job! Troy and Lissette are such a great couple. It really was such a pleasure spending the evening with them.

Troy and Lissette, thank you for trusting me with such an important task! I had a blast! I’ll never forget the Ram and the runners in their underwear!

Here are some of my favorites and, as always, CLICK HERE FOR THEIR SLIDESHOW!! The slideshow is the best way to see the story unfold!

I love this shot. He’s smiling right at me and she’s none the wiser!

Her reaction is priceless!

This is why I like to shoot before sunset….Look at that gorgeous light!

Want to propose to your gal on reality TV?

admin — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 16:40:13 +0000

So yesterday I get a phone call from Bravo casting. They are filming a new reality show here in NYC that is based on a chef and the events that he caters. They asked me if I would like to help them find the perfect NYC based couple to propose in one of their upcoming episodes.

The proposal would need to take place in early August and will include a fully catered party!

If this sounds like something you would be interested in (or you KNOW someone who would be interested), then contact me asap! (Just click the CONTACT button in the menu above). Please include a description of yourself, the one you love, why this proposal would be “must see tv”, and any interesting themes you might have (the quirkier the better!)

Hopefully Bravo and I can help make this proposal an event to remember!

Michael + Sarah – Surprise Proposal in Central Park, NYC

admin — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 22:30:11 +0000

Michael and Sarah hopped in their car and headed to NYC from Ontario, Canada. Perhaps Sarah may have had an idea that a proposal was imminent, but she was completely surprised that Mike had hired me to capture that memory for them. Mike chose the rocky hill overlooking Wollman Rink for his proposal. It’s a favorite spot of mine, and one that I take nearly every couple to when in that area. I love those parts of Central Park that remind you that you’re actually in a big city with skyscrapers. It’s the best of both worlds.

Mike and Sarah, you’re an awesome couple. You made my job a piece of cake! I’m so glad that I could be a part of this important day in your lives.

Here are a few of my favorites from the day. CLICK HERE to view their slideshow! Go on, it’s the best way to see the story unfold!

matt + christina – surprise proposal in central park, nyc

admin — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 14:55:05 +0000

Seems like I’ve been glued to the Weather Channel app on my phone non-stop lately. Rain was in the forecast all week, but Mother Nature gave us a break on this particular day. Matt and Christina flew into NYC for a vacation and took an innocent stroll through Central Park. Little did Christina know that life was about to get a little bit sweeter on this day! Matt enlisted me to photograph his proposal to Christina and, as always, I was honored to be a part of such a special, important day in their lives. They are such an awesome couple and so in love! It was a pleasure spending the afternoon with them.

Here are just a few of my favorite shots from the day. CLICK HERE to view their proposal story slideshow! Tons of great moments!

brad + connie – suprise proposal in central park, nyc

admin — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 02:54:23 +0000

Brad and I had been watching the weather forecast all week….hoping for clear skies. We got it. A gorgeous spring day in Central Park was the backdrop for Brad’s proposal to his girlfriend Connie.

These proposal shoots are very “fly by the seat of your pants” kind of shoots. I mean, me and my guys always have a basic game plan, but that doesn’t mean that things don’t happen on the day that make you stay on your toes! Like the fact that Brad and Connie got stuck watching one of the street performances in Bethesda Terrace (where I planned on “meeting” them). I was frantically looking everywhere for them because I had gotten his text that they were almost there. People were everywhere and these performer guys create a HUGE crowd. I swear, they are the bane of my existence. Once the weather gets nice, there they are on the steps of Bethesda Terrace creating havoc in my world and making finding my couples nearly impossible. Finally the performance ended, they were able to escape and I spotted them right away. We start our walk towards Cherry Hill which overlooks the lake and Bow Bridge. They were following me and the plan was for me to head to the proposal spot while they linger on Bow Bridge a bit. Then they would walk over to Cherry Hill and Brad would pop the question. Except I didn’t anticipate there would be a wedding there! Lucky for us it was just finishing so I texted him to stall on the bridge for a few minutes. In the end, it all worked out beautifully.

Thank you Brad and Connie for letting me be a part of this day in your lives. I had a wonderful time and wish you all the best!

Here are some of my favorites from the shoot. CLICK HERE to see their slideshow with lots more photos!

stuart + ruth – surprise proposal in central park, nyc

admin — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 16:06:15 +0000

Spring has nearly sprung here in NYC, and we had a little taste of it a couple weeks ago. All the way from Ireland, Stuart organized a beautiful surprise proposal for his girlfriend Ruth. He hired guitarist Matthew Cutillo to play a list of Ruth’s favorite songs which was really cool. He was really subtly sitting at the end of Bow Bridge playing and singing while Ruth and Stuart took in the view. I later learned that after a few songs, Ruth said to Stuart, “It’s like he’s playing my ipod list!” haha! After the proposal and introductions were made, the happy couple and I walked around Central Park getting a few more shots. Stuart and Ruth are such an amazing, fun, loving couple. I had a great time and laughed so, so much. Thank you both for letting me be a part of this monumental moment. It’s an honor!

Here are some of my favorites from the session. CLICK HERE to view their slideshow! (The song Better Together was one of the songs played while on the bridge)