Fletcher Moss Proposal Photography

What Kind of Proposal Was This?

This wasn't your average proposal planned months out, with niche little things scattered across the park, or taking her abroad miles out, no, not at all. Rashid wanted to keep it local, and have it be somewhere where they both could relate to.

When Rashid first got in touch, he actually had a few parks in mind scattered across Manchester that meant something to him and his partner, but we also wanted it to be somewhere that his partner wouldn't suspect a thing either, so Fletcher Moss in Didsbury was the park we landed on (and not because of a major romantic choice) as it had a sense of normality and everydayness to it.

The park layout itself gives you distance and cover that you can't get in more open hill-like parks, with trees, bushes, and any sort of shrubbery i could get behind becoming my camouflage for the day.

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Fletcher Moss: What It's Actually Like to Shoot a Hidden Proposal Here

A lot of Fletcher Moss online is engagement content, not hidden proposals. It's always how both partners react to a camera they're aware of, how they planned outfits, and they work when they know they're being watched - but that's not a proposal at all (far from it in fact!)

A hidden proposal shoot means you need to trust your photographer with sightlines, with framing, and making sure someone walking their dog isn't in frame or walking behind you every other second (so location scouting a private area is a must!) I always tell people that the formal gardens is an easy but soft safe spot as most people take their photos there. There's a lot of flowers, an archway, a fountain of flowers (literally) and soft patches of grass to sit on!

But there's also the riverside, the woods. There's tall trees, uneven ground, so think about variety when it comes to your proposal.

And that's what makes Fletcher moss worth the admin. There's always going to be a visual difference in your photos compared to the most standard engagement shoot. Especially in the summer where the hay is dry, the grass is a tint yellow from a lack of rain, and the skies are clear. It gives this almost southern-gothic look that most Manchester parks shy away from. If you want that blend of visual detail whilst still having engagement photos that scream romance and love and not grief then Fletcher Moss is certainly for you.

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What Went Well

Starting with the positives first. The advice-first approach is what helped make the day work, as me and Rashid had talked through the park, how we'd share locations and how we'd have a queue of sorts beforehand he proposed, it made so I wasn't ever in the dark on when he'd ask her the question! I also managed to come prior to the shoot and scouted a few locations and then sent them to Rashid, telling him where we could shoot and where would be best for photos and where would have heavy foot traffic.

Another positive was the easy location change. Often its an extra cost for location changing, but at Fletcher Moss you have a dozen areas on the trail within a few minute walk, meaning if you want an open rugby goalpost in one of your shots for an "americany" look then you can go for that! If you want a more riverside canal walk, then there's also that too! Fletcher Moss is almost a drag-and-drop for backgrounds!

What Wasn't easy

The first issue was the publicness of the park. Especially with it being a sunny saturday. The foot traffic is a trade-off no one warns you about green areas such as Fletcher Moss Park, where the scenery isn't just reserved for you and your partner. On the day you'll want to be aware of dog walkers, families, people cutting through. All of this is a variable for you and your photographer to discuss, so having someone who knows the park and hidden spots beforehand is a major advantage compared to someone whose never shot there.

The second one is communication. Fletcher moss is a forest, not a road with motorway signs. It's a real issue to tell someone "meet me by the big tree" and expect them to be a mind reader. Always share your live location with your photographer prior (which is what me and Rashid did) as it meant I could always track them roughly and never fall behind or go far too ahead. It also meant I could always get to the next vantage point without thinking if I was going too far away (incase I'd miss anything important or cute). And yes, the live location is patchy, but it's the best way to circumvent any sort of awkward "did you get it?"

If I were to do it again, I would always say to my client on where they'd want to propose prior, and if they're okay doing it somewhere more definitive (such as the canal or the garden square) as it allows the photographer to properly prepare and not be sprinting to try and close a gap the GPS says is seven minutes away when in reality its two.

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Should You Book for a Proposal at Fletcher Moss?

If you're planning a proposal at Fletcher Moss, than this blog is a fair preview of what the park is like, how I navigate it, the flaws, the pros, and what I'd change for your day; having been a photographer whose scouted it and has locations pre-planned.

If you're planning a hidden or surprise proposal anywhere in Manchester and the question is really 'can this person actually stay out of sight and still deliver a usable shot,' that's the specific thing this shoot demonstrates. It's not the same skill as a posed engagement session, and worth checking any photographer you're considering has actually done it rather than assuming it.'

If you're planning a hidden or surprise proposal in Manchester (Either at fletcher moss or anywhere else), I'd ask if you want my style, my whims, whirrs, and the ability to take five minutes to change shoes and joke a bit about the day and how exciting it is to now be engaged.

I won't guarantee a tight, close-up frame of the moment itself, as I'm someone who likes to capture the moments from afar. If you're someone who wants a total surprise than micro-expressions being captured, then I'd be more than happy to hear you out on your day, and hopefully, come back to Fletcher Moss to capture it!