You want to propose. I take away your stress.

I’m Phavy, and I’m a proposal photographer and videographer. I photograph two to three proposals every week, and I’ve planned and photographed hundreds across Florida and Georgia. With more than 15 years behind the camera, I know exactly what it takes to get this moment right.

A proposal happens once. The moment lasts about a minute, and there’s no second take. So I leave nothing to chance. I plan every proposal like it’s the only one that matters, because to you, it is.

Showing up with a camera is the easy part. My real work starts weeks before, and it goes far beyond photography. Proposal planning comes with every booking. Here’s exactly what you get.

1. I learn who you’re proposing to

Before you book, I want to understand what you’re picturing. That first call or text exchange tells me almost everything I need to plan well.

I ask about your partner more than the proposal. Are they private or do they love an audience? Would they rather be dressed up, or would a suspicious dinner reservation give the whole thing away? Do they love gardens, the water, history, or a quiet spot with no one around?

I also ask the practical questions: your dates, whether you’re traveling in, where you’re staying, and whether family wants to be nearby. Most of my proposal clients are visiting and don’t know the area. That’s completely fine. Knowing the area is my job.

2. I help you choose the spot and the time

Once I know your vision, I recommend locations that fit it. I don’t hand you a generic list. I match the spot to your partner, the look you want, and how crowded it gets at the hour you’ll be there.

Time of day matters as much as the place. The hour before sunset gives the softest light, and many of my clients want to propose as the sun goes down. Some locations call for a different plan. A few venues close early, and some beaches are best at sunrise or at low tide, when the shoreline opens up.

I know these locations because I’m in them constantly. I photograph in the Lightner Museum courtyard about once a week. I know which corners stay private, where the light lands at each hour, and how holiday crowds during Nights of Lights change where you can stand.

If you can’t visit ahead of time, I’ll send you video of the spot so you know exactly what to expect when you arrive.

3. I handle the venue permits

Some of the most beautiful proposal spots require a photography permit. I’m a preferred vendor at both the Lightner Museum in St. Augustine and the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens in Jacksonville, and I photograph at permit-required venues every week.

I handle the permit process, the paperwork, and the certificate of insurance. You don’t have to call the venue or figure out their rules. If your spot has a fee or a cutoff, I tell you upfront and build your timing around it. At the Cummer, for example, the latest proposal start is 2:30 p.m., so we plan the whole day backward from that.

4. You get a plan for your exact location

After you book, I send a written plan built for your location. By proposal day, there’s no guesswork. It covers:

• Where to park and how long to allow for the walk
• Step-by-step directions to the exact spot where you’ll stop
• Where to stand so the light is on your partner’s face
• Ring box advice, including which pocket keeps it from showing
• What to wear, plus a reminder that your partner’s hands will be in the photos
• Where to eat before or after, so the outing feels natural

I write these from experience at each location. On some beaches, that means tide timing. On Jekyll Island, it means knowing most breakfast spots don’t open until 8 a.m., so you’re not stuck after a sunrise proposal.

5. Full proposal planning, not just photos

A proposal has a lot of moving parts besides the camera. I help with those too.

• Setups and décor. Want a picnic on the beach, florals, or a few special props? I work with local vendors and will connect you with the right one.
• Family and friends. If they want to be there, I plan where they’ll hide and when they come out, so they don’t give it away.
• Dinner and the rest of the day. I’ll recommend where to eat before or after, so the whole outing feels like a normal date until it isn’t.
• Last-minute plans. Decided to propose this week? Text me. I’ll tell you what we can still make work.

By the time you arrive, I’ve already walked through every step you’ll take. You don’t have to manage anything. You just have to ask.

6. I keep the surprise a surprise

The biggest worry I hear is “How do I get them there without them figuring it out?” This is where I help the most.

We plan a natural reason to be there: a walk after dinner, a stop at a landmark, a quick photo while you’re sightseeing. If your partner is the type to get suspicious when you suddenly want to dress up, we plan around that too.

We also agree on a signal, so I know the moment you’re about to kneel. That way you won’t be looking around for me. You’ll know I’m ready.

7. I’m ready and waiting

On proposal day, I’m in place before you arrive. I already know where you’ll stop, where the light will fall, and where I’ll be standing. I blend in with everyone else, so your partner never suspects a thing.

All you have to do is walk in, give the signal, and ask. I’ll be ready and waiting. My second shooter covers another angle, so the moment is captured from both sides.

Want the moment on film too? I’m also a proposal videographer. Every proposal includes raw phone video of the moment at no extra cost, because many of my clients are private people who want the real moment for themselves. If you’d like more, add professional videography and I’ll create a cinematic highlight film with the words, the laughter, and the sound of that first yes.

8. I guide you after the yes

Once the shock wears off, I step in and introduce myself. Then I guide you both through a relaxed mini session right there. This is when you get the portraits of the two of you, the ring, and the happy tears.

If family or friends want to be part of it, I’ll coordinate where they hide so they can join right after the yes. Some of my favorite images are those group celebrations.

And if the weather turns, we move the date. There’s no reschedule fee for weather.

9. You have your gallery in 48 hours

The first thing your new fiancé will want to do is tell everyone. So I edit fast. Your full gallery is delivered within 48 hours, with every usable image professionally edited and no cap on how many you receive.

You also get a print release, so you can share, post, and print however you like. I never publish my clients’ names, and if you’d like your photos kept completely private, just tell me when you book.

You bring the ring. I’ve got the rest.

From the first conversation to the gallery in your inbox, every detail is handled by someone who has done this hundreds of times. You’ll find other proposal photographers. You won’t find one who plans your proposal more carefully than I do.

I photograph proposals throughout St. Augustine, Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra, Savannah, and Jekyll Island, and I travel beyond. If you’re planning last minute, reach out anyway. I’ll tell you what we can make work.

Phavy Photography (phavyphotos.com)
St. Augustine Proposal Photographer / Nights of Lights Proposal Photographer
E-mail: contact@phavyphotos.com
Phone: 904-228-1350
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/904photographer
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhavyPhotos
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@surprise_proposals
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@904photographer/