Welcome to Smoky Mountain Marriage Proposals

Here is information on timeline, what to expect, tips, and resources.

First of all - thank you!

My top priority is customer satisfaction and I realize you could have chosen any other service provider. I realize that what you and I will be doing is more than pressing a shutter, and I won’t go into flowery prose about it being “storytelling.” Sure, it is but it is also planning, knowledge of sites and weather, and making sure that a number of factors come together to make it memorable for you and your loved one.

Every time I mention this enterprise, a lot of folks ask me, “Marriage proposal photography - is that really a thing?” And I assure them it is and then say this: can you picture a Dad showing his little girl some pictures and when she asks, “Who are those people?” the father answers her by saying, “That’s Grandma and Grandpa. That’s him asking her to marry him.” That is the kind of imapct your images will have.

Timeline

“What should I be doing now?”

Once you have contracted with me, probably nothing . . . for now. Get the ring. Hide the ring! Make reservations for accommodations and restaurants. Do what you would normally do for a trip. But the date is approaching and now we are T-7 days . . .

  • One Week Before. This is when I start looking at weather for your proposal date. While different weather websites may show a 10-day forecast, I can tell you that weather here in the Smokies is very variable and even the forecast one week out is likely to change. I will contact you to schedule a phone call to confirm the date and location based upon what it appears is happening, as well as establish how we will communicate when you are in the area, your travel plans, etc. During the week I keep checking the weather to see if any pattern is forming - is rain moving in sooner or later? What are the chances that the rangers will close roads? I will also be sending you a Preparation Checklist and directions/GPS to the proposal spot.

  • Two Days Before. Only now can we say with certainty what to expect on your scheduled proposal day. I will reach out to you as we planned to tell you of any potential issues. If we need to make changes for location and/or timing, we will do this now. Any new information needed, like directions, will be sent ASAP.

  • Proposal Date. This will be a quick “touching base” to make sure any questions you have get answered and the checklist is complete. Usually, this is a quick text or email from me just to say, “It’s a beautiful day for a marriage proposal - see you soon!”

And then . . . it happens!

Delivery of Images

Your photographs will be delivered within 24 hours. If there is any reason why I cannot, I will let you know up front. Sometimes I may do a sunset proposal that gets me home very late and have a shoot the next morning at sunrise, so there could be a day’s delay. If you have contracted for a package that includes video, that is delivered usually within 5 days.

I will be sending you a link to an online gallery where you can view and download the pictures. That link can be sent to anyone else, such as your families, so they can do the same. You have a license for personal use - that is, print them, post them on social media, print them on a mug for Mom, use them on a Save the Date postcard. Just do not use them for comemrcial use (although if you have a business and want to use them on that business’ social media - “Look everyone, the Boss and CFO got engaged!” - feel free to do so).

Proposal Tips

These tips will be included in your Preparation Checklist so do not feel that you need to memorize these now.

  • If the other person has long hair, think about ways you can suggest they tie it back. Ideally, I want to be in a position where I have you sideways in front of the camera so that both of you can be seen, instead of your back and the other person’s face. If you kneel to propose, the other person will be looking down and if there is loose hair, it can obscure their face. This happens often when someone wears their hair parted in the middle and framing their face. If they part their hair on the side, then the best position is to have the part side facing the camera, so that if it is loose and falls forward, the majority of it is behind the person’s head.

  • If you are nervous about “being in the right spot,” this trick works all of the time - hand me your phone and ask if I will take a picture of the two of you. Remember, 99% of the time I am hiding in plain sight, appearing to look like a nature photographer, a creature often seen in the Smokies. What’s more, I am a middle-aged woman, which fits the stereotype of a nature photographer but is also someone appearing “safe” to give your cellphone. A selfie cannot capture the setting you are in, hence why it makes sense to ask another person to take the picture. That allows me to position the two of you in just the right spot. When I say, “I got the shot” that is your cue to start your proposal.

  • When you propose, try not to be so quick about asking the question and then popping back up to your feet. I am firing fast but I try first to get a wide shot that shows the setting, then a vertical shot, then I start zomming in to get more close up shots. By getting down on bended knee, asking the quesiton, and then giving the other person time to react, say yes, and then placing the ring on, there is time for more variety in your picturs.

  • Have the ring ready to go. In some locations, you may be by, say, a mountain stream and nervously trying to get the ring box out of a tight pocket can cause you to fumble and drop the ring. Keep it safe! We don;t need to become an impromptu search party in thick grass looking for it!

  • Should you prepare a speech? Sure, why not - just know that only a handful of clients have actually managed to say it at THAT moment due to nerves. Do NOT feel you have to have one and do not feel the moment is any less special if you did have one but did not deliver it.

  • If you get to the spot and there are people milling about, do not panic. If privacy is an issue, we will address that in the selection of your proposal spot but you will be in a public area. Mill about with them. Give time for family groups to get out of the way. I will be trying to keep people free of the area and I have found that most people are very accommodating. They actually get excited being in on “the mission!” It may seem like an eternity but chances are within a few minutes the spot is clear for you.

  • Remember that there are very few areas of the Smokies that have cellphone reception. For this reason, my policy is to wait up to an hour (sometimes 90 minutes depending on the time of year) past our designated time for you to arrive. You could be stuck in a bear jam - that’s when someone spots a bear and traffic comes to a standstill as people attempt to get a picture.

  • Keep it simple. The more fanfare you plan, the greater the chances something could go wrong. On the other hand, if you want something special, let me know and I can make arrangements. And do let me know if there is going to be some sort of surprise, such as family hiding at a distance to watch.

Resources

Weather

The Smokies cover a large area so the weather varies even within the park. Here are my “go to” resources:

  • Mountain Forecast (https://www.mountain-forecast.com/). These is reliable for peaks like Clingmans Dome and Max Patch.

  • Accuweather or The Weather Channel. Use the forecast for Gatlinburg for areas like Elkmont but use Townsend, TN for Cades Cove and Maggie Valley, NC for spots on the North Carolina side.

  • METAR for Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge Airport (https://metar-taf.com/KGKT). I use this to see where the ceiling is when there could be overcast. Consider that a spot like Newfound Gap is at 5,049’ in elevation - if it’s a misty day and the ceiling is at 3,500’, there won’t be any view at Newfound Gap and you would be proposing in a cloud.

Road Closures

Some roads are closed seasonally and I have the schedule for those when we discuss potential proposal spots. Traffic accidents are the leading cause of death in the Smokies and so the rangers will close roads when there are rissk associated with snow, ice, or wind. A national park is, after all, a wilderness area. There are two ways of checking on roads:

  • Smokies Road Info is the account maintained by the rangers on X (Twitter) - https://twitter.com/SmokiesRoadsNPS. They will also post proactive information, announcing future closings and at what time.

  • You can also call Smokies Roads at (865) 436-1200. When you hear the recorded voice, press “1” and then press “1” for road closures. After pressing “1” you cna then press “2” for weather conditions but it just refers you to the Naitonal Weather Station in Morristown, TN.

Other

When I send you the directions to the proposal site, I will also include information such as whether there are restrooms available, what kind of cellphone reception there might be, and local landmarks or places for things like food and fuel.

Policies

SAFETY FIRST. There are potential danges when we are in the mountains - and the least of all are the bears. Certain things are unadvised, if not illegal:

  • Going near wildlife. The literal rule of thumb is that if you hold up your thumb to the bear or elk and can still see them, you are too close. Even approaching animals like deer or wild turkeys can cause them to attack.

  • No climbing up wateralls. I mentioned above that the top reason for deaths in the Smokies is traffic accidents; number 2 are falls. The Smokies is a temperate rain forest and rocks around water will be very slick and mossy.

  • The weather calls it. If we are in a spot where a storm can be seen approaching, or if thunder is heard, we have to move to a safe spot. And especially that last item since I am usually the one standing by a metal light stand!

Dogs. In the national park, dogs are only allowed on roads, parking areas, and on the two nature trails, one at the Sugarlands Visitor Center in Gatlinburg, TN and the other at the Oconoluftee Visitor Center in Cherokee, NC. They are not allowed on any trails. I love dogs and I welcome them, but I do follow the park rules on this. A spot I use for proposals is Max Patch, with outstanding views of the Smokies - that is “next door,” so to speak, in the Pisgah Naitonal Forest and dogs are allowed on those trails (but be advised in warmer weather ticks are present).

Other People. A lot of couples travel with friends and family. If they are present at your proposal, I do not mind including them in the post-proposal photoshoot but please be aware that they are taking your time. If you want to include a family session, let’s talk about adding additional time and the cost associated. If they start asking for special requests, I will be looking to you for instruction - you are the client, after all.

If the Other Person Says No. Unless you want me to do something different, if the other person refuses your proposal, I will quietly pack my gear and leave. We can talk later - you will have enough to deal with then. I will refund you your money except for the initial deposit and any money paid out of pocket already, e.g., if you asked me to have flowers ready and I have already purchased them.