Hakone Surprise Proposal Photography : One Perfect Moment

The preparation of surprise

They are a couple from New York.

He contacted me about a month ago, telling me that he had been with her for nearly ten years — and that the time had finally come. He is a truly romantic guy, and he kept the entire trip a secret from her. She arrived at the airport with just a suitcase and her passport, not knowing where she was going or what was planned.

The surprise had already begun from that very moment.

After exchanging several messages and going through different ideas, he decided to go with the proposal plan we recommended for Hakone.

The Day of the Mission

The proposal location was in Hakone, Lake Ashi — a place where Mt. Fuji can be seen rising above the water, with the iconic red Torii of Hakone Jinja standing proudly at the shore.

This was the spot where he planned to go down on one knee.

By around 3pm, Mt. Fuji was covered in clouds, and a cold, gusty wind blew across the lake. The conditions were far from perfect… we were a bit worried, especially about the cold, and whether he could guide her to the location as planned.

But this timing was important — we were aiming for that soft, romantic lighting before sunset, exactly as I had suggested during our planning.

Then — they arrived.

We spotted them immediately and walked up with a friendly “Hi!”

We began by shooting natural scenes: walking, smiling, chatting — letting them relax and enjoy the moment. After that, we gently led them toward the exact proposal spot.

On my signal, he took a quiet breath.

There was a short pause… and then he dropped to one knee and began the moment he had been preparing for.

It was beautiful.

Afterwards

Despite the cold, gusty wind, she took off her coat and appeared in a beautiful wine-red dress.

Our photo session continued for about an hour. She said she was freezing, but after the big, happy surprise, she barely felt the cold. The joy of the moment truly warmed everything around them.

Congratulations to this wonderful couple!
You two are absolutely perfect together.

Wishing you a lifetime filled with love, happiness, and unforgettable adventures.

PS: They wanted to try the scene 5 times!!