Part 2: Washington Park, Albany, NY - The Proposal: The Argus Hotel, Secret Signals, and a Rainy day

Previously on “Washington Park, Albany NY The Proposal” Tyler reached out to me through Instagram with a plan to surprise his girlfriend Rachel with a proposal. After weeks of coordination, scouting, and planning, we landed on the perfect setting — Washington Park in Albany, with photos starting at their favorite spot, The Argus Hotel.

The morning of the shoot arrived gray and drizzly — one of those soft November days where the world feels wrapped in mist. The weather didn’t dampen the mood one bit; if anything, it added a touch of romance.

That weekend also happened to be extra special for me personally — it was my wedding anniversary. My husband and I had left the day open in case we wanted to celebrate, but when our plans didn’t solidify, I offered the Saturday to Tyler as a possible backup date for better weather. It felt like fate that I’d end up spending that weekend surrounded by love stories — both mine and theirs.

When I arrived at the Argus, the couple was already bustling with excitement. Rachel knew we were doing a couple’s photo session but had no idea that Tyler was going to produce a ring. Tyler and I had prepped for the secret signal: two fingers (peace sign) behind his back would let me know it was time to propose.

Before heading out, we started with photos inside the hotel — them playing backgammon, sharing drinks near the bar, and laughing between shots. The Argus has this timeless charm, like stepping onto the set of a mystery movie, and it couldn’t have been a better backdrop for the start of the evening.

We made our way into Washington Park, umbrellas in hand, following the winding path near the bridge where Tyler planned to propose. I could tell his nerves were kicking in, but his excitement was stronger.

And then it happened — the moment before the moment. As Rachel reached for his hand, Tyler’s right hand slipped behind his back, holding a small ring box. With his other hand, he quietly flashed the signal — two fingers — to let me know it was almost time.

Click.

I took the shot.

And that’s exactly where we’ll pick up in Part 3 — when the secret becomes the surprise.