Surprise Proposal at the Empire State Building (86th Floor Observation Deck)
This surprise proposal took place on the 86th floor of the Empire State Building and required careful coordination and fast execution. With limited time, heavy foot traffic, and no room for mistakes, I stayed completely out of sight until the moment happened and stepped in only when it mattered. The proposal itself was quick and emotional, with no second chances—which is exactly where experience makes the difference.
Afterward, we transitioned smoothly into couples portraits in the areas outside around the building, working efficiently in low light and staying flexible as the night unfolded. Shoots like this depend on strong planning, technical confidence, and the ability to adapt instantly once the pressure is on.
If you’re planning a proposal in a high-profile or crowded NYC location, I help you plan for timing, positioning, and lighting ahead of time—so when the moment arrives, everything runs cleanly and the photos come out strong.
Here are some of my favorite images from this shoot (click/tap to view full size and un-cropped):
To see more examples of this style of photography, visit my couples gallery >>
All images in this blog post were shot on a Nikon D850 using a variety of lenses, and all individually post-processed in Adobe Lightroom using custom-built presets.
Jinnifer Douglass is a full-time freelance photographer based in NYC, shooting for both individuals and brands such as Google, Sotheby’s, Uber, Make Up For Ever, Squarespace, and more! Specializing in portraits, food, and special events, she works to make every piece of your social and website content ‘Insta-worthy’ with high resolution, full-frame DSLR photography and expert Lightroom editing. Interested in chatting? Leave a comment below, or send an email to info@jinyc-photo.com!