Press · since 2011

The story, told in headlines.

Since founding the company in 2011, ex-paparazzo James Ambler has become the leading expert in secret proposal planning and surprise engagement photography. His approach to planning and capturing marriage proposals has not gone unnoticed.

10national features
2013pitched on Shark Tank
10,000+proposals since 2011
As seen on
✦ Shark TankCBS Sunday MorningThe Today ShowThe InsiderBridesDaily MailPIX 11ABC NightlineNBC Nightly NewsWindy City Live ✦ Shark TankCBS Sunday MorningThe Today ShowThe InsiderBridesDaily MailPIX 11ABC NightlineNBC Nightly NewsWindy City Live
The timeline

How a paparazzo became a proposal planner.

2011

The beginning

New York City

James Ambler puts down the celebrity lens and points it at something better: the half-second a stranger says yes.

Paparazzi Proposals is founded, the first company built entirely around secretly photographing marriage proposals.

2013
The big one

Shark Tank

ABC · Season 5, Episode 8 · 8 November 2013

James Ambler pitching Paparazzi Proposals on Shark Tank
Two Sharks, Lori Greiner and Kevin O’Leary, made an offer on air, inspired by his ingenuity.

James pitched the idea of the hidden proposal photographer to a national audience. The company has grown independently ever since.

2015

The Insider

Television interview

The leading expert in the latest proposal photography trend: surprise engagement photography.

James is interviewed about the trend he helped invent.

2015

Michael Yo’s proposal

Daily Mail · Brides.com · July 2015

The moment the host of The Insider stunned his Miss Wyoming girlfriend with a surprise proposal, caught secretly on camera.

A client’s proposal becomes national news on both sides of the Atlantic.

Today

40+ cities

And still hiding in plain sight

10,000+ proposals captured, and not one of them saw us coming.
See where we work →
On air

Where else we’ve turned up.

CBS Sunday Morning

James provided insight on the rising trend of proposal planning and surprise engagement photography.

The Today Show

What goes into planning and capturing that picture-perfect proposal moment.

ABC News Nightline

The paparazzo turned proposal planner who helps couples pop the question in a big way.

NBC Nightly News

With Brian Williams. The company featured on the evening broadcast.

PIX 11 Morning News

James discussed the inspiration behind Paparazzi Proposals.

Windy City Live

Chicago. A guest appearance that ended with an audience member being surprised with a proposal.

Writing about proposals?

We’d love to hear from you. Learn more about the company, the founder, and our incredible proposal stories.

Call +1 (929) 377-1181