Shang Chen Photography, jetsetting wedding photographer of dynamic couples » Engagement

She Said Yes! Frank proposes to Amy

Shang — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 12:00:43 +0000

Recently I’ve really wanted to photograph an engagement proposal, ninja style. Here’s the scene: down on one knee, “will you marry me”, the reveal of the ring, all while I hide in some shrubbery with a zoom lens! Then after the “yes!” and sobbing and hugging and kissing I’d jump out and surprise with the photos =) I had gotten an inquiry or two for something of this sort but I was always in Chicago and these were for Boston proposals.

Of course I offer engagement sessions standard in all my wedding packages – but these all happen way after the fact as part of the Shang Chen Photography experience where we build up trust in me as the wedding photographer. And re-creating the moment when one proposed just isn’t the same.

It’s a shame many people don’t have photographic proof of the actual engagement proposal, considering how beautiful the moment it is. Seriously, guys – if you’re going to propose, consider including some way to document it, such as having me be your photographer =) Your fiancee will thank you.

Thanks to my high school friend, Bo, who is good friends with Frank, also from my high school, I found out that Frank had been planning to propose for the past few weeks and I would be available to capture it!

It was Frank and Amy’s sixth anniversary. He took her in a limo ride to Top of the Hub for dinner, and then said that there would be dessert… little did she know that dessert was back at the MIT Stata Center – where they shared their first kiss during Frank’s sophomore year there. This all happened pretty much in the dark, which was definitely a challenge! In fact, during the proposal (and 10 freezing minutes beforehand), I hid in a dark corner with two small boxes shielding me, my camera mounted with a rented 70-200mm VR lens (I don’t own the lens due to its weight and cost) peeking over the top, my image review option turned off so my LCD screen would not light up my face – meaning, I *could not* review my photos until after the fact. I was nervous as heck – I hoped Amy wouldn’t notice me and that the photos would come out despite the lack of light. Anyway, here’s the story:

Frank’s friends and I arrived early to set up

The setup included a gorgeous bouquet of dozen roses, and a super-awesome wicker picnic basket

There was also a bottle of champagne and two cakes – the dessert – from Finale Desserts (I approve :D) Just so you know – I folded those napkins, so proud of myself!

Then everyone hid on a balcony upstairs and I stayed in my dark corner. To keep myself hidden and because you could hear every sound in this area, I didn’t start shooting until he got down on one knee

I love this moment because you can really see both their faces

Amy never heard or saw me the entire time!

It got a little cold so we all moved inside

All the helpers! Bo, Catherine, Chase, and Genieve

Lexington High School represent =) Who would have thought we’d meet together again on such an occasion!

And I got a lift on the limo ride back to where I was staying – awesome!

Congratulations Amy and Frank, on what will sure be a lifetime to happiness!
And others preparing to propose, if you want to do something like this, talk to me. I’m serious, but I’m not always available =)

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May 13 – 15 – Ann Arbor
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Jun 11 – The long-awaited return to Boston for the summer!
Jun 14 – 16 – New York City – available for shoots

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Sarah and Frank | Boston Engagement Photography

Shang — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 03:59:17 +0000

What do you get when you add a rocker and a sweetie? You get Sarah and Frank! I gush about all my couples, I know, and Sarah and Frank are one of those people who are not afraid to let their silly sides out! I could not stop laughing through our entire photoshoot. Our engagement session was on one hot, hot day in the North End. Their wedding is going to be in the Caribbean so they wanted to get some engagement photos in Boston. Frank originally was going to be bring his guitar (he’s played some pretty awesome gigs) but it was too hot…

what a colorful find – check out that background!

Wow check out that rock, beautiful!

A quiet little back alley we found…

Sarah’s dress is pretty fabulous

Please don’t kill me! I love the silliness here! We got gelato to cool down

By the waterfront… a lot of people were actually out here, I thought it was supposed to be a quiet spot

This cracked me up too much.. Frank was imitating a dog that was about to… well you can guess… ahahhahaa!!!

Well I think this patch of grass is clean…

Elizabeth and Bryan | Boston Engagement Photography

Shang — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 23:58:24 +0000

When I listened to Elizabeth and Bryan describe what they loved about each other, I knew we had to do a sunset photoshoot for this sweet couple! We began our day at Boston Public Library and ended by the Esplanade, and boy was it beautiful light! One other fun fact – Elizabeth and I had the same birthday! So I’m totally not surprised we had so much fun!

Look at them, they’re too sweet!

I love those flowers she’s holding!

I love the quality of the background in this one

I love silly jump shots!

Yum, sun flares!

They wrote their wedding date in chalk

A GORGEOUS tree on the Esplanade (this might be my boyfriend’s favorite climbing tree, but I’m not sure)

Goooorgeous, btw, I think they coordinated their outfits really well

Watching the sunset

Congrats you two! Thank you for such a fun photo session! It was my very first official sunset session, but definitely not my last one!

Christina and Alex, Engaged! | Boston Engagement Photography

Shang — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 00:35:23 +0000

Christina is one of my closest post-college friends. Not only that, she’s my coworker and we roomed for a year before I moved… I love watching her and Alex interact. They are absolutely hilarious, very social and affable people, they will make you instantly feel at home and welcomed into their lives. Alex is a great cook and loves poking fun at Christina. Christina, I’d say, is one strong and amazing woman – when she puts her mind to it, she gets crazy stuff done. For our engagement session, Christina wore a beautiful, column-like purple dress. We went to Brookline’s Larz Anderson Park.

I like it when couples naturally laugh at each other

Love the intimacy here

Ruuuuun!!

Heehee, this photo cracks me up

This background is very painting-like.. Alex found it!

Love this park. It has so many beautiful places, and is a lot less crowded than the Public Garden!

I can’t wait for your wedding guys!

Lisa and Javier | Boston Engagement Photography

Shang — Mon, 25 May 2009 01:36:28 +0000

These photos of Lisa and Javier were taken on the same day as Kristen and Matt, but you probably can’t tell.. in the couple of hours that passed between, temperatures dropped 20 degrees, and a MASSIVE patch of fog moved into Boston. Sigh, oh New England. Nevertheless, we all took it in stride, and Lisa and Javier’s personalities more than made up for the blaaah weather. We explored North End for this session.

You know it’s going to be a hilarious session when one of the first photographs is a Blue Steel

I rarely post up a series, mostly because I haven’t quite made the watermarking for that as automatic as I’d like, but this one is too cute.

Javier likens himself to Pepe le Peu, whose relationship with the love of his life – a black and white cat he mistakes for a skunk – can best be summed up with this picture. Everyone say aww!

More textures around North End. By the way, Lisa had her hair run that day and is wearing her wedding day shoes. Tip to my other brides – definitely a great way to do some trial runs on engagement session day!

LOVE this red door!

Okay, Javier and Lisa can DANCE. Look at that move!

I might want to try variations on this in future sessions =)

I can’t wait for their wedding – and it’s coming up soon!

Eugenia and Stephen, Engaged! | Boston Engagement Photography

Shang — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 02:30:49 +0000

The latest engagement session took place over St. Patrick’s Day weekend in the Blue Hills in Canton – the subway was an absolute mess, I was glad my equipment and I came out alive! As I’ve said before, I welcome any opportunity to shoot outside of the city. We had a beautiful combination of bright sunlight, gorgeous setting, and a very loving couple! I met Eugenia and Steve through an early client of mine (Steve is related to that family), back from when I first started doing gigs beyond Harvard friends, so you can imagine how floored I was to get a referral! With the abundant sunlight I got to play a lot more with backlighting in this shoot. Steve proposed to Eugenia at Blue Hills, so it’s only fitting that we should go there.

They were a little nervous at first, all my clients are, usually, it takes guts to get in front of the camera! And Steve noted the tree had a broken branch. haha!

But they quickly opened up!

I told Steve to whisper something to Eugenia here, heehee

I LOVE the sun!!! I love the bokeh on my 85mm too. This must be what Cali photogs feel like every day!

Getting a little sillyâ€¦ it might be spring, but there are still fallen leaves on the ground

I love hearing Eugeniaâ€™s laugh. They laugh often and itâ€™s so adorable

See you guys in the fall for your wedding!