Chicago Proposal Photography at the Lasalle Street Station

August 24, 2020 Steve Vansak

The L train roars above after a surprise proposal at the Lasalle Street station.

Ryan had met Lindsay years previously at the Lasalle Street train station in the south Loop of Chicago. When he decided to pop the question he wanted to take her to this spot.

He and I were in contact via text message and I knew their Uber driver wold be dropping them off about a half block down. I got into position as Ryan stopped Lindsay to ask her if she knew where they were. As she turned around to look at the station entrance he took out the ring. She turned around and after a look of surprise she then said yes.

This was all took place in a matter of seconds…

Proposing marriage at the Lasalle Street train station in Chicago.

Urban style engagement photos in downtown Chicago.

Ryan soon pointed me out to Lindsay and after a short meet and greet we then walked around the area for a mini portrait / engagement session.

The Chicago flag next to the American flag flies during a Chicago engagement photo session.

Newly engaged couple in downtown Chicago.

Engagement photo at the Chicago Board of Trade.

Portrait of a newly engaged couple in the south loop of Chicago.

I was very proud to have captured this moment for this very lovely couple. So cool that Ryan thought to bring Lindsay back to the spot where they first met.

We took many more images at our “mini engagement session” after she said yes, so do follow the Region Weddings Instagram feed for more from this session as well as weddings.

As always, please use the Contact Form to inquire.

Surprise Marriage Proposal At Gabis Arboretum

December 11, 2019 Steve Vansak

Newly engaged couple take a walk in the woods.

Bill wrote to me via my Contact Form here on the website and told me he was going to propose to Ashley and wanted it captured in pictures. He also was looking for a location in nature. I happened to be photographing an engagement session at Gabis Arboretum the next day so he met me there before the session and we plotted out how we might pull this off.

In late November, weather is always an issue too. He told Ashley there was a “fall festival” happening that day. Problem was, the parking lot was nearly empty aside from my car and a few others and the forecast was threatening rain and snow. Mmmm…. was Ashley suspicious?

I literally was hiding behind some giant bushes of the famed nature preserve as they walked up. Perhaps it was nerves, but Bill had forgotten which path he was to take and paused briefly. I heard Ashley say “this is like a horror movie and someone is going to jump out of the bushes at any time”. Yep, that would be me!!

He told her they needed to go down this path to get to the mythic festival and off they went. He then got on one knee and presented her with a ring. I trotted up a few steps (I thought he was going further down the path) and then knelt down myself and zoomed in to capture the moment.

A surprise marriage proposal down a leaf filled path at Gabis Arboretum.

I told Ashley when she finally spotted me that I was sorry to have to ruin her hot cup of coffee but we had us some pictures to take. Bill and I had talked about certain locations at Gabis Arboretum and it was amazing how much things had changed in just a few weeks. This nature preserve is always amazing as it changes naturally in all seasons with color and more. It truly is an amazing place to shoot all year around.

Capturing romantic moments of a newly engaged couple.

Red leaves surround the happy couple as they frolic in nature.

Nature portraits after a surprise marriage proposal.

I felt tremendous as I left the park for having been able to capture this once in a lifetime moment. Thank you Bill for calling on me to be the “stalker guy in the woods” with camera in hand to forever preserve the occasion.

If you are thinking of surprising your significant other with marriage proposal photography, please contact me here and let the planning begin!!

Proposal Photography At Adler Planetarium In Chicago

March 27, 2017 Steve Vansak

Fog engulfs the Chicago Skyline as a newly engaged couple embraces.

Dhara said that Amar was "acting funny" earlier in the day and that she knew something was up, but wasn't sure what. What she didn't know was that her soon to be fiancé and I had been plotting his surprise proposal at Adler Planetarium for a couple of weeks.

When they arrived at the scene, I was perched up on the stairs going up to the Planetarium. Amar had texted me a selfie and told me they'd be arriving with a blue umbrella on this rainy and foggy Spring day in downtown Chicago. I aimed my lens toward the city (like a tourist) and I noticed Dhara look right up at me as they arrived. I hoped she wasn't on to me and I immediately pointed my camera elsewhere. You can see her curiosity in the first image below. Within seconds though, Amar was down on one knee and popped the question. I will let the photographs tell you her answer...

Surprise proposal at Adler Planetarium in Chicago.

I let Amar and Dhara have their moment alone for awhile and then I introduced myself. We then went on a portrait session around Adler Planetarium. It was raining and the fog obscured the city in places, but we used it to our advantage. The excitement of this special day got us through the chilly temperatures and we got some really unique images.

Fog engulfs a newly engaged couple on the shoreline of Lake Michigan in Chicago.

Dhara admired her engagement ring as they walked along the shoreline of Lake Michigan. I asked them to sit down on a bench for a little while away from the camera to discuss this momentous and happy occasion. I took a number of candid images while they cuddled on the park bench.

Engagement session in the rain in downtown Chicago.

A newly engaged couple celebrates with Lake Michigan in the background in Chicago.

The Windy City lived up to it's name as it brought waves crashing onto Amar and Dhara with the Chicago skyline in the background.

Waves from Lake Michigan crash onto the boardwalk during a Chicago engagement session.

This has been a sneak peek look at Amar and Dhara's surprise proposal photography session at Adler Planetarium in Chicago. Be sure to fill out the Contact Form to schedule your engagement session. If you are planning a surprise proposal, let's talk and plan something special. I can be discreet when I need to be!! :)

Chicago Proposal Photography

$399.99

Propose to the love of your life in the beautiful city of Chicago and have it captured by a professional photographer and then go on a mini engagement session in the windy city. NOTE: An in person or phone consultation is required to nail down the logistics of this important event.

90 minute photography session in Chicago
Digital Images Via Download + Printing Rights
Online Photo Gallery & Ordering

Quantity:

A young couple walks along the shore of Lake Michigan in Chicago.

Proposal Photography In Chicago

December 12, 2016 Steve Vansak

Melecio contacted me a few weeks ago about photographing a surprise proposal in Chicago. He was such a sincere guy and I knew he was in love with this mystery woman named Valerie whom I would not meet until after she became his fiance. It's pretty obvious from the image above that her answer was a resounding yes!!

He chose December 11th, 2016 as that is their Anniversary date. He lured her to Chicago to celebrate the occasion with family. Only trouble was, Chicago was in a middle of a snowstorm and I'm sure she was reluctant to trek out to the city. Family persisted and off they went to shop on State Street. I was waiting for them outside a store and Melecio and I played it off like we knew each other and I just happened to be out there taking pictures of holiday lights. I suggested a quick portrait of them at Millennium Park and off we went. The entire family was hiding underneath Cloud Gate (a.k.a. - The Bean) to watch the entire proposal.

A surprise marriage proposal at Millennium Park in Chicago during a snow storm.

I could see the emotiona welling up on Valerie's face as she said yes. Family surrounded them to celebrate before Melecio even had a chance to put the ring on her finger.

Family surprises the bride to be during a marriage proposal in Chicago.

We gathered the group together along with their wonderful signs for a family photo. I then took the freshly engaged couple around Millennium Park for a mini winter portrait session.

Family photo with a newly engaged couple after a marriage proposal.

Winter engagement photo in downtown Chicago.

Valerie couldn't stop eyeing up her ring as we strolled around Millennium Park and the Michigan Avenue area. We even incorporated some holiday lights into some of our pictures.

A newly engaged couple in Chicago during a December snow storm.

Holiday portrait of the newly engaged couple.

Our final destination before the couple met up with family for a late lunch celebration was The Chicago Cultural Center. This stunning landmark building had a wonderful arch that happened to have a Christmas wreath right in the center.

A newly engaged couple kisses by the lighted arch inside The Chicago Cultural Center.

I had Melecio and Valerie take a slow dance of celebration in the middle of the ballroom. You can see the joy as they embraced in the hallways of The Chicago Cultural Center.

A young couple playfully dances at The Chicago Cultural Center.

It was an absolute thrill to capture the proposal photography and winter portrait session for Melo and Val (as the sign says) at Millennium Park in Chicago. I cannot wait to show them the rest of the images. Let it snow, indeed!!

Chicago Proposal Photography

$399.99

90 minute photography session in Chicago
Digital Images Via Download + Printing Rights
Online Photo Gallery & Ordering

Quantity: