The studio · Florence
A proposal photographer who plans the surprise with you
You have the ring. Now you need someone in Florence who can keep a secret, be in the right place at the right minute and photograph a reaction that happens once.
As a proposal photographer in Florence, that is most of our work. Giacomo Gori and Chiara Reggiani run Foto Cine Gori, a family photography and video studio just outside the city, and we photograph surprise proposals for couples who come from every continent, most of them planning from abroad over WhatsApp, email or a short video call.
Foto Cine Gori is a family-run photography and video studio just outside Florence, run by Giacomo Gori and Chiara Reggiani. It photographs surprise marriage proposals in Florence and across Tuscany, including Chianti, Val d’Orcia, San Gimignano and the Crete Senesi, with all planning done remotely in English.
On this page
The proposal
What do you get from a proposal photographer in Florence?
A proposal shoot with us lasts about 30 to 60 minutes: the walk in, the question, the answer and the first minutes after. If you book it, we stay on for a short portrait session nearby, once the secret is out.
You receive the photos edited and in high resolution in a private online gallery within two to three days, ready to download and share.
Video can be added with the same planning. With video you also keep the sound: the question and the answer, in your own voices. This is a proposal we filmed at Piazzale Michelangelo.
Recent proposals
What does a Florence proposal photoshoot look like?
A few proposals we photographed in Florence and in the Tuscan countryside. Each one was planned around the couple: where they were staying, what the person being proposed to would love, the light of that day.
Florence and Tuscany
Where have we photographed proposals in Florence and Tuscany?
Mostly in Florence: Piazzale Michelangelo, the Bardini garden above the Oltrarno, the terraces and the streets of the centre.
Outside the city we photograph proposals in Chianti, among the vineyards of Castello di Gabbiano; in the Val d’Orcia, like this proposal on the walls of Pienza; in San Gimignano and in the Crete Senesi. For proposals outside Florence, travel is part of the quote.
The right place for you depends on the date, the time of year and the two of you, and we decide it together while planning. If you are still at the idea stage, our article on planning a proposal in Florence is a good place to start. Local to Florence, at home in Tuscany.
Before, during, after
How does a surprise proposal shoot work?
You write to us
Send the date, the area and a rough idea on WhatsApp or through the form below. We tell you whether the date is free and send you a quote.
A deposit holds the date
From that moment the date is yours, and we start planning the details.
We plan it together
The place, the time, how you get there without raising suspicion, where we stand, the signal you give us. We work it out with you over WhatsApp or a video call, and we adjust it if your trip changes.
On the day
We are in position before you arrive, dressed like everyone else around us. We photograph the walk in, the question, the answer and the first minutes after.
After the yes
If you booked it, we stay on for a short portrait session nearby. Then we edit the photos and send you a private online gallery within two to three days.
A surprise proposal shoot in Florence has two parts. During the proposal, the proposal photographer is already in position and out of sight. Afterwards, once both partners know, there can be a short portrait session nearby.
From abroad
Can you plan a proposal in Florence from abroad?
Yes, and most couples do. The person proposing plans everything with us over WhatsApp, email or a video call, so nothing reaches the partner. We meet on the day; the person being proposed to usually notices us only afterwards.
The planning and the day itself are in English, and in Italian if you prefer.
Giacomo and Chiara
Who will you be working with?
Foto Cine Gori is run by Giacomo Gori and Chiara Reggiani, photographers and the second generation of a family studio just outside Florence. We work in English and Italian, in photo and in video.
Before you book
Questions couples ask
How will my partner not notice the proposal photographer?
We decide where we stand and how we look before the day, and we are in position before you arrive. To your partner we are just more people with a camera, in a city full of them. You know where we are; they don’t.
Can we choose the place together?
Yes. You tell us what you imagine, we tell you what works on that date and at that time, and we decide together. Florence and the countryside are both possible.
How far in advance should I book a proposal photographer?
Ideally two to four weeks ahead, especially in spring and early autumn: a deposit holds the date, and the earlier we start, the more time there is to plan. If your date is close, write anyway and we’ll tell you whether it’s free.
How do we keep it a surprise if we’re travelling from abroad?
We plan everything with the person proposing only, over WhatsApp, email or a video call, so nothing reaches your partner. On the day you only need a simple reason to be in that place at that time; we are already there when you arrive.
What happens if it rains?
We agree a backup plan for the day while we plan it together, and if the weather makes it necessary, we move the shoot to another date.
Can you film the proposal too?
Yes. Video can be added to any proposal shoot with the same planning, and you receive a short edited film along with the photos.
Do you only work in Florence?
No. Besides Florence and its hills, we photograph proposals in Chianti, Val d’Orcia, San Gimignano and the Crete Senesi. Outside Florence, travel is part of the quote.
Do you speak English?
Yes. The planning and the day itself are in English, and in Italian if you prefer.
How do we receive the photos?
In a private online gallery, edited and in high resolution, ready to download and share, within two to three days of the shoot.
Are proposal photos worth it?
The question takes a few seconds, and you will be too busy living it to remember the details. The photos are how you both see it again, including your partner’s face, which you can’t really see while you’re on one knee.
How much does a proposal photographer in Florence cost?
It depends on how long we stay, where the proposal happens (in the countryside, travel is added) and whether you want video. Send us the date, the place and what you have in mind, and we reply with a quote on WhatsApp or by email.
Reviews
What did couples write after their proposal?
★★★★★
“…Giacomo provided so much insight for picking the right proposal spot and places to take pictures afterwards. I wish I could give them more than 5 stars.”
Scott Connors · surprise proposal, Florence
★★★★★
“The planning, preparation, and execution of the surprise photography was perfect. […] They set us up in the best spots and hidden gems.”
Joshua Martell · surprise proposal and engagement session
★★★★★
“From the very beginning, everything felt relaxed and natural […] He captured such a special moment perfectly, and the photos turned out absolutely beautiful.”
Maikel Guirgis · proposal, Tuscany
Your date
Tell us your date
Looking for a proposal photographer for a date in Florence or Tuscany? Write to us with the date, the place you have in mind and a line about your partner. We reply with availability, a quote and the first ideas for the plan.
Written by Giacomo Gori, photographer and co-owner of Foto Cine Gori.