A surprise proposal is the one shoot where I can’t ask for a second take. Miraj chose the pink loggia at The Ringling in Sarasota: a long row of arches, lanterns overhead and terracotta tile under foot. My job was to be invisible until the exact second he went down on one knee. After the yes, it turned into a full engagement photoshoot across the estate.
The Proposal in the Pink Loggia
The loggia is a gift for this kind of moment. The arches repeat into the distance, the walls are a soft, warm pink, and the light falls in evenly from the open side, so there’s no harsh sun on anyone’s face. Miraj, in a blue suit, knelt in the middle of the colonnade, in front of Simryn in a white dress. I shot it tight and wide so they’d have the emotion and the place. Then came the ring box from over her shoulder, her smile as the ring went on, and a laughing frame with her ring hand pressed over his face.
After the Yes
Once the ring was on, the adrenaline turned into something softer. Then I gave them space. They stood together at the end of the loggia, and Simryn leaned on the railing while the gardens showed through the arches behind her. Finally they walked toward me, laughing.
Across the Ringling Estate
We finished outside on the grounds. Miraj held her close from behind by the windows, her ring hand rested on his navy jacket, and they walked hand in hand across the courtyard and posed in an arched window of the pink wall. The last frame is pure joy: Miraj jumping in the air out of focus, with Simryn’s ring hand sharp in the foreground. It’s the most honest picture of how they felt.
Planning a Proposal at The Ringling
The Ringling is a 66-acre bayfront estate in Sarasota, and it’s one of the most beautiful places in Florida to propose. There are rules, though, and knowing them in advance is what keeps a surprise a surprise.
- A photo permit is required: a portrait or engagement photoshoot is $300 plus tax for up to 10 people plus one photographer. The photographer books it online at least seven days ahead and pays in full.
- Time slots: two hours, starting at 10 a.m., noon or 3 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. There are no photoshoots on Mondays.
- Sunset option: a Thursday evening permit ($400 plus tax, 5 to 8 p.m.) covers the bayfront gardens at sunset, but not Ca’ d’Zan or the galleries.
- Outdoors only: no photos inside the Museum of Art, Ca’ d’Zan or the Circus Museum, and no drones.
- Staff help: The Ringling also offers a staff-assisted proposal package if you want help with logistics.
- Hiding the photographer: we plan where I’ll stand and what signal you’ll give. The loggia’s columns make that easy.
More couples: see Raj & Priya’s engagement session across Downtown Tampa, the University of Tampa and the Hindu Temple of Florida.
FAQ
Do you need a permit to propose at The Ringling?
For a photographed proposal or engagement shoot, yes. The Ringling requires a portrait photoshoot permit booked by the photographer at least a week ahead.
Can you photograph a surprise proposal without being noticed?
That’s the plan every time. We scout the spot, agree on a signal, and I stay out of sight until the moment, then capture the proposal and a full session afterward.
Can we take photos inside Ca’ d’Zan?
No. Photography for photoshoots is outdoors only, though the grounds, loggias and gardens give you plenty to work with.
Simryn and Miraj, congratulations, and thank you for letting me be part of the biggest moment so far. Planning a proposal or an engagement session? Check my availability.