Costa Rica LIFETIME photos

      Costa Rica Proposal & Engagement Photographer

      From the surprise to
      the portraits afterward.

      Picture the moment your partner realizes why you brought them here. I’m Fabián, a Costa Rican photographer. For surprise proposals, I’ll help you choose where to stand, when to ask, and how to keep the surprise. If you’re already engaged, we’ll choose a setting that fits your trip and take portraits at a pace that feels right for you.

      Ask about your date
      A surprise proposal An engagement or couples session

      La Fortuna & Arenal · Across Costa Rica · English & Spanish

      A surprise proposal in La Fortuna, with Arenal Volcano and the couple reflected in the pond.

      01 / The surprise proposal

      Planning your surprise proposal in Costa Rica

      Tell me what would feel right for your partner: a waterfall, a view of Arenal Volcano, or a stretch of beach. We’ll talk through the light, the walk to the spot, and how you’ll arrive without giving away the surprise.

      After the proposal in Puerto Viejo, a barefoot portrait beside the flowers on the beach.
      With the waterfall rushing behind them, he opens the ring box and she smiles.
      01

      Give the outing a natural reason

      A walk, dinner plans, or a couples photo session can give the outing a reason that feels natural. We can also talk through what to wear and how to carry the ring discreetly.

      02

      Know where to stand and when to ask

      Before the day, we’ll agree on where to meet, how we’ll recognize each other, and a signal for when you’re ready. Once you reach the spot, you can focus on your partner.

      03

      After the question

      I’ll photograph the question and the reaction that follows. Once you’ve had a moment to yourselves, I’ll guide you into portraits, starting with something simple like a walk or an embrace.

      Tell me about your proposal

      02 / Engagement & couples sessions

      Engagement photos that feel like the two of you

      A barefoot walk in Manuel Antonio or a quiet moment by the turquoise water at Blue Falls can feel very different in photographs. Tell me what feels like you, and we’ll choose a setting that fits your trip.

      LGBTQ+ couples are welcome. These sessions are also for couples celebrating an anniversary, a honeymoon, or a trip together.

      If you feel awkward in front of a camera, we can start by walking side by side or holding hands. I’ll help with where to stand and what to do, then give you room to settle in together.

      Ask about an engagement session
      Turquoise water and lush rainforest make Blue Falls in Costa Rica feel like a romantic hideaway for two.

      A proposal I helped plan

      She asked.
      They married the next day.

      In a red dress beside La Fortuna Waterfall, she asked the question she’d planned for months.

      He thought they were going to La Fortuna Waterfall for couples photos. After years of sharing a home, she wanted to be the one to ask him to marry her.

      Before the session, she and I agreed on where they’d stand and when she’d ask. We started with portraits on the walk down. At the falls, she took his hands and knelt in her red dress.

      The next day, I photographed their wedding at Arenal Kioro, with the volcano behind them.

      If you’re planning a proposal and a wedding on the same trip, we can talk through how the photography and any agreed coordination fit across both days.

      We’ll define the arrangements, providers, responsibilities, and costs together. Wedding photography and event planning are quoted separately from a proposal session.

      Explore wedding photography

      If you’re planning your own surprise, tell me where you’re staying and what you’d love your partner to remember about the day.

      Tell me about your proposal

      Real proposals and engagement sessions

      Where to propose or take engagement photos in Costa Rica

      Start with the photos that make you pause. You might picture asking with Arenal Volcano behind you, walking barefoot along the Caribbean coast, or sharing a quiet moment under the rainforest canopy. Tell me where you’re staying, and I’ll help you narrow down the settings that fit your trip.

      A surprise proposal in La Fortuna, framed by red and white flowers with Arenal Volcano in the background.
      Barefoot beneath the palms in Puerto Viejo, a quiet embrace after a beach proposal on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast.
      A surprise proposal at La Fortuna Waterfall, with a rainbow catching the light in the mist.
      A quiet moment on the bridge, with water cascading through the gardens at Costa Rica’s hot springs.
      The moment he asks, halfway across a hanging bridge in the rainforest.
      A kiss at La Paz Waterfall Gardens, with tropical flowers around them and waterfall mist drifting behind.
      A red dress stands out against the rainforest as the couple pauses on a footbridge between waterfalls in Bajos del Toro.
      A moment together at Nauyaca Waterfalls, with mist rising from the rocks and the roar of the falls all around.
      A surprise proposal in Monteverde, Costa Rica, on a terrace scattered with rose petals as dusk settles over the trees.
      A sunset embrace on the beach by Los Sueños Marriott near Jacó, Costa Rica, with the last light reflecting off the wet sand.
      A lakeside engagement session in Costa Rica, with ripples at their feet and a forested shore across the water.
      A quiet pause on a winding trail, surrounded by towering trees during a rainforest engagement session in Costa Rica.

      La Fortuna & Arenal

      For a proposal in La Fortuna, we can look at Arenal Volcano viewpoints, gardens, and rainforest settings. We’ll consider access and choose an alternative if clouds cover the volcano.

      See an Arenal Volcano proposal at Los Lagos ↗

      Beaches & your destination

      The palms of Puerto Viejo and the sunset light near Jacó offer very different backdrops. If you’re planning a beach proposal or couples session, tell me where you’ll be staying so we can consider the light, access, and travel time. Optional décor and picnics are quoted separately.

      Ask about a beach proposal or couples session →
      Fabián Murillo · Costa Rica LIFETIME photos

      Your photographer

      Meet Fabián Murillo, your Costa Rica photographer

      I’m based in Poás de Alajuela and photograph couples across Costa Rica, with a focus on La Fortuna and Arenal. You’ll work directly with me from your first message through your session.

      When I photograph a proposal, I think through how you’ll arrive, where I’ll photograph from, and how to give you room for the reaction. For portraits, I’ll suggest small things to do together so the photos feel like the two of you.

      More about working with me in Costa Rica ↗

      Photography coverage & proposal packages

      Proposal and engagement photography packages

      Photography experiences from $350. Choose how much time you’d like for your proposal or portraits. I quote longer coverage individually based on the time, locations, and logistics. Your quote identifies applicable travel, entrance fees, venue requirements, and optional services before you reserve.

      1 hour

      Her smile as he opens the ring box, with a Costa Rican waterfall rushing behind them.

      One location, time for the moment

      Choose one setting and make the most of it. For a proposal, we’ll plan the question, photograph the reaction, and leave time for portraits afterward. For a couples session, we can find a few different angles in the same place.

      2 hours

      A pause for portraits halfway across a hanging bridge, surrounded by Costa Rica’s rainforest.

      More time for portraits together

      After the proposal, take a moment to celebrate before we start portraits. With two hours, we can try a different spot at the same venue or explore a nearby setting, like a rainforest trail or hanging bridge, if access and timing allow.

      3 hours

      A playful couples portrait beneath a Costa Rican waterfall, with a rainbow in the spray.

      Room for a longer outing

      Three hours gives us more room for the walk, the portraits, and any transfers we agree on. We can build the session around a setting you’d love to explore, such as a waterfall, and consider another stop if access, travel time, and conditions allow.

      Your coverage time includes the walking, transfers, and photography we agree on. Before you reserve, we’ll decide whether to stay in one place or plan a route that fits your time. Your quote lists any applicable entrance fees, transport, venue fees, and extras separately.

      Your photography experience

      • Planning the location, timing, and photographs together
      • Proposal photography or a couples session, as agreed
      • Direction for portraits, with room for natural moments
      • A private gallery of selected, edited high-resolution photographs for personal downloading, printing, and sharing, according to your agreement
      • Sneak peeks in 1–2 days; gallery in 15 business days*

      What we’ll confirm in your quote

      Flowers, décor, musicians, meals, venue reservations, and other providers are separate unless expressly included in your quote. Availability and costs must be confirmed.

      If you’re unsure how many hours to choose, tell me which setting you like and what you want time for. I’ll help you work out what fits.

      Find the right coverage for your plans

      *Business days are Monday–Friday, excluding Costa Rican holidays. Your written agreement confirms delivery terms; existing individual agreements take precedence.

      Optional touches, planned around you

      Optional details for your proposal setup

      Think about what your partner would notice first: flowers at the spot, a familiar song, or a table waiting after the question. I can prepare some details myself and coordinate local providers for others. We’ll agree on what’s involved and what it costs before you reserve.

      Flowers & proposal décor

      Tropical flowers frame a quiet spot on the beach.

      I can offer a simple floral arrangement or basic décor suited to the plan. For a more elaborate setup, I can coordinate with experienced florists. We’ll confirm the design, installation, venue rules, and removal.

      A photograph from the existing portfolio, shown as a design reference. Your own setup is planned and quoted individually.

      Flying Dress

      An orange Flying Dress sweeps across the frame and reflects in the water, with Arenal Volcano behind the couple.

      The orange dress in the Arenal photo shows how much movement fabric can bring to a portrait. If you’d like a Flying Dress, we’ll confirm sizes, colors, a place to change, assistance, and the time needed.

      An engagement picnic

      An engagement picnic beneath a canopy, with tropical flowers and a table set for two.

      A picnic gives you somewhere to sit together and take in what just happened. We can discuss the food, drinks, flowers, and setup, with costs itemized for the experience you choose.

      A romantic dinner for two

      A candlelit dinner for two, with rose petals and a heart of candles leading to the table.

      If you’d like the evening to continue over dinner, we can talk through the setting and confirm what the venue can arrange, including candles or flowers.

      Drone photographs

      Aerial images can add a wider sense of place. Drone coverage is quoted separately and depends on weather, airspace rules, venue permission, and the conditions on the day.

      Live music

      A violinist, guitarist, or another suitable musician can be coordinated for the proposal or the celebration afterward, subject to availability, venue approval, and the agreed schedule.

      Sparkling wine & glasses

      A bottle of sparkling wine and glasses can be arranged for a toast after the question. We’ll confirm your preference, service, venue rules, and any restrictions on glass or alcohol.

      Video coverage

      If you’d like to hear the question again and see the reaction in motion, I can help coordinate an independent videographer. Coverage, deliverables, responsibilities, and payment terms are confirmed with the provider.

      Hotel & location arrangements

      I can help coordinate the access, reservations, and provider arrangements included in our agreement. Entrances, venue fees, travel, and any requested transport are confirmed separately.

      These are optional services, not standard inclusions. Availability, responsibilities, costs, and any deposits are confirmed for your date and location. The photography agreement does not automatically reserve a venue or third-party provider.

      Ask about adding something to your proposal

      A few things you may be wondering

      Questions about proposals and engagement sessions

      How do we keep the proposal a surprise?

      We’ll agree on a meeting point, how to recognize each other, and a signal. At a public spot, we’ll plan where to stand and how to keep things discreet around other visitors.

      What if it rains or the volcano is covered?

      We’ll talk through timing, access, and an alternate spot before the session. If clouds cover Arenal, for example, a garden or forest setting may still suit your plans. Waterfall conditions, rainbows, and volcano views depend on the day.

      Can we take portraits after the proposal?

      Yes. Tell me if you’d like a few portraits where you propose or time to walk somewhere else afterward. We’ll plan that within your agreed coverage, including any walking and travel time.

      Do you offer a complete proposal setup?

      Photography and planning the photographic moment are the starting point. I can offer basic décor myself and coordinate experienced florists or other providers for more elaborate requests. Explore the optional services, then tell me what you imagine. We’ll confirm the responsibilities and separate costs before you commit.

      How do we reserve a date?

      Send your preferred date, destination or hotel, and the type of session. I’ll check availability and prepare a quote. After we confirm availability, coverage, and logistics, the agreed booking retainer secures a new reservation and counts toward your total. See pricing and booking details. Existing individual agreements take precedence.

      When will we receive our photographs?

      For proposals and couples sessions, sneak peeks are included in 1–2 days, with the gallery in 15 business days. Business days exclude weekends and Costa Rican holidays. Your written agreement confirms the terms for your session.

      Share your plans with Fabián

      Ask about your proposal or engagement session

      Send your preferred date, where you’ll be staying, and what you’re planning. If you’re still choosing a place or deciding between 1, 2, or 3 hours, tell me which photos caught your eye. I’ll use that to check availability and help you choose coverage that fits.

      Ask about your date on WhatsApp ↗

      Choose your experience, or tell me you’re still deciding.

      I’m planning a…

      Your selection will be added to your message. Tell me your hotel or destination there, too.


      Ask About Your Date