Surprise Marriage Proposal in Wagner Cove, Central Park

Nestled in the heart of Central Park, Wagner Cove's quaint gazebo became the romantic backdrop for an enchanting surprise proposal I recently had the privilege to capture. The occasion was nothing short of magical, as this loving Ismaili couple decided to embark on a new chapter of their lives. For those not familiar with the Ismaili faith, it's a branch of Shia Islam with teachings centered around spiritual growth and community service; in their tradition, marriage symbolizes a sacred bond, uniting in love and shared spiritual values.

After I discreetly followed them through the park (his request), I positioned myself inside some bushes nearby the scene to quietly capture their intimate moment. Following the heartwarming proposal, we took advantage of Central Park's scenic beauty to capture some loving portraits of the newly engaged couple, the verdant landscape serving as the perfect backdrop. It was a wonderful experience, witnessing and capturing their radiant joy as they embarked on this beautiful journey together.

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 50mm f/1.8 prime lens, 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 hello@jinyc-photo.com!