Are you hoping to plan a proposal photo session in Columbus, Ohio? If so, I hope this post gives you some great ideas!

These photos are from Robert and Gabby’s recent surprise proposal photo session at the Columbus Arts Museum. Robert contacted me to plan this special event and we had a great time coming up with ideas. There were a few twists and turns but we communicated well together and everything went wonderfully! Gabby said YES and off we went to do a relaxed little photo session afterwards.

There are some rules you have to follow if you are planning to photograph at the museum. Examples: No flash, no tripod or extra lighting equipment, and no camera backpacks. I made a make-shift tripod to video the proposal with my phone out of a camera lens hood 🙂

You also need to be aware of the fact that there are other people enjoying the art and they may step into the photos unknowingly. This happened to us and I just worked around them, did the best I could, and realized that it was all part of the story. At the end of the day, the important thing is the event itself and I have a goal of making it as fun as possible on my end.

Congrats to Robert and Gabby and may you have a wonderful time planning your big day 🙂 I had a blast photographing this special moment!!

If you are planning a proposal photo session in Columbus, Hocking Hills, or on a mountain top in Colorado;)-you can get more info from my recent blog post: https://amyrebecca.com/photographing-a-proposal-in-hocking-hills/

What a privilege to be photographing a proposal in Hocking Hills with Kyle and Marissa this month! Kyle did an amazing job communicating with me for this special moment. I asked for a photo of them beforehand so I could easily identify them as they walked into the Ash Cave trail. As I saw them approach, I filed in discreetly behind them. The funny thing is that a group of about 50 people came in right before us which dramatically slowed us down. Kyle couldn’t wait any longer to ask Marissa to be his wife so he stopped right on the trail, reached in his pocket, and got on one knee. The look on her face was priceless! Everyone around cheered and joined in the celebration. After that, we had a little mini photo session in the cave. It was memorable for us all!

Photographing a proposal in Hocking Hills…or anywhere…is a wonderful experience. I love these sessions. I thought it might be helpful to have some tips for others as they plan for this event.

How to prepare for a proposal while working along with a photographer

1. Scheduling and working closely with your photographer is very important. Good communication is key.
2. Make sure you know what each person looks like so they can easily be identified.
3. Exchanging phone numbers is vital so if there is a delay you can easily be reached. Since the recipient of the ring does not know this is happening, they may not be in a hurry to get to the proposal destination 🙂
4. Photographers look for good light. Since they are not necessarily in control of this during a proposal, the person doing the proposal should look for consistent light on both people. Meaning solid shade and not being heavily backlit by the sun.
5. If your partner usually gets their nails done, then try to work around a fresh manicure haha

After this experience, Kyle sent in a beautiful review on Google. These were his words:

“Amy did a fantastic job with our engagement photos – she captured every smile, a few happy tears, and all the love and joy of the moment. I’d recommend her to anyone.

Her expertise shined, and I appreciated her thoughtful, thorough communication leading up to the day. From the first email to the final gallery (and everything in between), Amy made the entire experience seamless 🙂

Thank you, Amy, for capturing such a beautiful milestone and giving my fiancée and me photos we’ll cherish for the rest of our lives!”

Congrats to Kyle and Marissa! I appreciate you so much for allowing me to photography such genuine love and emotions!

For more info on Hocking Hills, check out this site: https://thehockinghills.org/https://thehockinghills.org/

Working as a Columbus, Ohio family photographer has allowed me the privilege of photographing many in-home sessions. This recent one was very special to me. I have loved being a part of this family’s life since the time we did their engagement session in a pop up blizzard 🙂 Then came the wedding, the kids, a dog, and a beautiful forever home. Taking photos at home feels like we are creating memories for many years to come.

Tips from a Columbus, Ohio family photographer for an in-home session

1. Decide if you want your photos inside, outside, or a combo of both.
2. If you want photos inside, look for rooms with preferably natural light . If you don’t have lots of natural light, I do bring additional lighting.
3. If you want photos outside, choose a time of day when there is a shade option.
4. Incorporate sentimental items. For example: a quilt made by grandma.
5. Plan on the dog (or cat) being in the photos. That makes me happy 😉

Benefits from an in-home session

1. You don’t have to leave the house.
2. The weather isn’t as much an issue. If it rains, we can either take photos inside or play in the rain!
3. The kids are more comfortable and you can get a snack in between shots.
4. Things are more relaxed which leads to more candid photos.
5. The dog (or cat, or lizard) can be in the photos 😉

This session below is a great example of using a particular color palette for outfits. Their dog even matches the palette!! It’s also a nice way to see how you can get both inside and outside photos within an hour session.

Please look at my past blog posts for tips on lighting and timing, etc. This one in particular is about in-home newborn sessions : https://amyrebecca.com/in-home-newborn-sessions-info-jadyntyler/

Family photos in Hocking Hills this 2025 year! The leaves are changing and the golden glow is all around. Families come from all around to stay in the cabins and hike the beautiful trails. This cabin was an airbnb called Juniper Pines in Laurelville. What I loved about this cabin was that there were trails behind the cabin and a big pond at the bottom of the hill.

When I arrive to a session, I try to get some traditional photos first and then hopefully have time to play. Hiking, dogs, and just loving interaction between family members lead to having those extra “candid” shots. Of course, every family dynamic is different and it takes a few minutes to read it. Some people prefer a more traditional session while others like the playful candid shots.

What is your family’s personality?

This family was so much fun! They were down to do a little hike in the woods and brought out the dogs to play. I was also given a gift of a pet rock from their little girl 🙂 Below is a nice example of a session with lots of less posed moments in between the traditional family shots. It brings me such happiness to meet so many new people and be able to help them remember their time spent in the beautiful Hocking Hills area.

You can read about more Fall family photos in Hocking Hills. Please enjoy another post about family sessions here on my blog. You can also check out the main site for the area at https://ohiodnr.gov/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/find-a-property/hocking-hills-state-park