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Paparazzi Proposals is a unique business that provides a service centered around capturing special, often candid moments, particularly marriage proposals.
Paparazzi Proposals was founded by James Ambler, a former paparazzi photographer, who repurposed his skill of discreetly taking high-quality photographs to a more personal and emotionally impactful field.
The main service offered by Paparazzi Proposals is surprise engagement photography. The idea is to have a professional photographer discreetly follow a couple and capture the intimate moment of a marriage proposal. This allows the magic and surprise of that special moment to be preserved forever.
The services of Paparazzi Proposals can be tailored to the couple’s unique story and preferences, ensuring a personalized experience.
| Company Name | Paparazzi Proposals |
| Entrepreneur | James Ambler |
| Product | Photography for Surprise Proposals and Engagements |
| Investment Asking For | $250,000 for 20% equity in Paparazzi Proposals |
| Final Deal | $50,000 For 30% equity in Paparazzi Proposals + $200,000 Loan |
| Shark | Kevin O’Leary and Lori Greiner |
| Episode | Season 5, Episode 8 |
| Business Status | In Business |
| Website | Paparazzi Proposals Website |
What Are Paparazzi Proposals?
Paparazzi Proposals is a professional photography service that captures the intimate moments of individuals’ marriage proposals. Established to provide high-quality photographic services with utmost discretion and professionalism, Paparazzi Proposals has been a leader in the industry for quite a while.
With an experienced team of trained professionals, Paparazzi Proposals ensures that every moment of the proposal is captured precisely, allowing couples to relive the moment repeatedly.
The photographers employed by the company are skilled in the art of being discreet while simultaneously capturing every special moment throughout the proposal process.
They pay attention to every detail throughout the photoshoot, ensuring the perfect shot. Paparazzi Proposals captures the full range of emotions experienced by the partner during the proposal, from the initial surprise to the ecstatic joy and the celebratory champagne.
Paparazzi Proposals prides itself on capturing a unique, personal, and memorable moment and presenting it to the couple in a beautifully crafted format. Paparazzi Proposals is the perfect choice for individuals seeking a perfect proposal experience.
You can plan your proposal with Paparazzi Proposals, brainstorm ideas, select a venue, and help with logistics. The most important thing is to permanently tell the story and relive the moments through candid photographs. Nobody captures the moment more perfectly than Paparazzi Proposals.
Who Is The Founder Of Paparazzi Proposals?
James Ambler is the founder of Paparazzi Proposals, a pre-engagement photography service that discreetly captures couples’ proposals. In 2011, James Ambler came up with the idea for Paparazzi Proposals after proposing to his wife.
The idea of Paparazzi Proposals was conceived when James proposed to his wife. He recognized that these intimate, life-changing moments could be immortalized with professional help, so he applied his professional experience with the paparazzi to create a unique business model.
James has leveraged his photography skills and the paparazzi’s larger-than-life presence to create memorable experiences. Paparazzi Proposals offers a unique service where people can rent a paparazzi team for various events or occasions.
The main goal is to allow clients to feel like a celebrity, having all the attention and cameras focused on them. It gives people a taste of the celebrity lifestyle, with photographers capturing their every move.
However, the business model goes beyond just the appeal of living a day in the life of a celebrity. Ambler also identified a niche where his service could provide a more practical benefit.
He realized that one of the most important moments in a person’s life, their marriage proposal, could be captured in detail by professional photographers. Paparazzi Proposals also offers planning services to help create the perfect atmosphere for the proposal, including a staged practice walk-through.
Before appearing on Shark Tank, Paparazzi Proposals aimed to establish itself as a one-stop shop for all marriage-related services, starting from the proposal and extending until the marriage itself.
James Ambler provided various services, including tips like helping figure out the ring size of the bride-to-be. The business was initially branded as “Pap the Question” in 2011 before being rebranded as Paparazzi Proposals.
Despite the fascinating business idea, there was some concern about the name “Paparazzi Proposals,” given the notorious reputation paparazzi have with celebrities.
However, the unconventional nature of the service, coupled with the unique approach to capturing personal moments, offered an intriguing business proposition.
The company also offered a service called “Rent A Paparazzi,” which gave clients an A-list treatment with their paparazzi for an allotted time, adding to its appeal and novelty.
James was 14 when he and his friends took pictures of who could do the most complicated skateboard tricks. He took photographs with his father’s old Pentax camera when he went to Thailand and Nepal to see his friends. This led him to take photos when he went to Thailand and Nepal.
Paparazzi Proposals was the result of two wake-up calls James received. The first was when he was 28 and had open-heart surgery because of a blocked artery. The second thing was that he didn’t have a picture of him proposing to his now-wife, Kate.
How Was The Shark Tank Pitch Of Paparazzi Proposals?
The company’s founder James Ambler presented the Shark Tank pitch for Paparazzi Proposals. Ambler, a professional paparazzi photographer, came up with the idea for the service after he proposed to his wife.
He walked into the Tank seeking an investment of $250,000 for 20% of his company, valuing Paparazzi Proposals at $1.25 million. The service he pitched was comprehensive. It involved planning the proposal event and capturing it with professional photography.
James explained that his package assists prospective grooms in choosing the most romantic location and setting to pop the question and then capturing this memorable moment discreetly.
He creatively presented his business proposal to the Sharks, even getting down on one knee to mimic a proposal and offering an origami dollar bill shaped like a diamond ring.
However, Kevin O’Leary, known as Mr. Wonderful, was more interested in the financial details. He wanted to know why James needed the investment.
James explained his intention to expand into other cities and needed the funds to market his business. He had been advertising through jewelers, encouraging them to recommend his service to their customers via a kick-back program.
This strategy stirred skepticism among some Sharks. Robert Herjavec questioned why James was concentrating on jewelers, and Mark Cuban opined that expanding too quickly could overwhelm the business, considering the swift growth that partnering with big jewelers like Kay’s and Jarrod’s could bring.
There were mixed opinions about the scalability of the business, and Kevin O’Leary had concerns about the $2.25 million valuation, leading him to withdraw from the deal.
Mark Cuban and Barbara Corcoran echoed each other’s sentiments, suggesting that James should focus on growing his business in New York before expanding into other cities. Both of them also bowed out.
On the other hand, Lori Greiner found the concept appealing but thought the company didn’t need to spread to other cities or even require investment. She offered $250,000 for a hefty 50% equity stake, citing a high valuation as the reason for the significant equity request.
Then, Kevin O’Leary stepped back into the picture, partnering with Lori Greiner to offer an investment of $50,000 for a third of the company, with the option to provide a $200,000 loan as needed.
Robert Herjavec came in with a similar proposal, raising the investment to $100,000, but he quickly withdrew his offer.
Finally, James agreed to the deal Lori Greiner and Kevin O’Leary proposed. He accepted $50,000 for a 30% stake in his company, Paparazzi Proposals, with a $200,000 loan provision.
This decision marked the end of an intense negotiation and discussion that showcased the potential and challenges of scaling the unique business concept of Paparazzi Proposals.
Final Deal: Kevin O’Leary and Lori Greiner agreed to invest $50,000 for 30% equity in Paparazzi Proposals.
What Happened To Paparazzi Proposals After Shark Tank?
After appearing on Shark Tank, Paparazzi Proposals, a photography business specializing in capturing secret moments of marriage proposals through paparazzi-style photography, experienced significant growth and success.
During their appearance on Shark Tank, James Ambler, the owner of Paparazzi Proposals, seeking investment to expand his company’s unique engagement photography service nationwide.
Although there was skepticism from some of the Sharks regarding the company’s valuation, Lori Greiner and Kevin O’Leary made an offer of $50,000 for 33% equity and a $200,000 loan, which was later negotiated down to 30% equity. However, Ambler eventually decided not to proceed with the deal.
Despite not closing the deal with the Sharks, Paparazzi Proposals expanded its operations and thrived in the market. The company has grown from a New York City-based business to operating in nearly 40 cities, including Paris. It now offers a range of services as a boutique engagement concierge, with packages starting at $495.
The company’s revenue has surged from under $100,000 to over $13 million. Paparazzi Proposals has also received media attention and featured on shows like CBS Sunday Morning and The Today Show, highlighting the benefits of exposure from appearing on Shark Tank.
Paparazzi Proposals has been successful and continues to offer its services in various cities across the United States, including Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, and Minneapolis. The company has expanded to approximately 36 locations worldwide and is currently valued at $10-$15 million.
According to some sources, James Ambler did not sign the deal Lori Greiner and Kevin O’Leary made after appearing on Shark Tank.
However, Paparazzi Proposals has achieved significant growth and success independently of the Sharks’ investment, expanding its operations and increasing its revenue substantially.
Paparazzi Proposals Shark Tank Update
James Ambler, the founder of Paparazzi Proposals, appeared on Shark Tank in season 5. He was seeking $250,000 in exchange for 20% of his company. Lori Greiner and Kevin O’Leary offered him $50,000 for 30% of the company plus a $200,000 loan. Ambler accepted the offer.
Since appearing on Shark Tank, Paparazzi Proposals have grown significantly. The company has over 36 locations worldwide and generates over $13 million in annual revenue.
In addition to photography, Paparazzi Proposals also offers proposal planning services, such as finding the perfect location, hiring a videographer, and coordinating with the couple’s friends and family.
Ambler has said that the exposure from Shark Tank was a major factor in the company’s success. He has also credited Greiner and O’Leary with providing valuable advice and guidance.
In 2021, Paparazzi Proposals was featured on the Today Show and CBS Sunday Morning. The company has also been featured in publications such as The New York Times, People Magazine, and The Huffington Post.
Ambler is now the CEO of Paparazzi Proposals. He is married and has two children. He lives in New York City. Paparazzi Proposals has become a thriving business.
Paparazzi Proposals even offer to send a photographer anywhere in the continental United States within 24 hours. Paparazzi Proposals is still in business with a strong base, generating $13 million in annual revenue and growing tremendously.
What Is the Net Worth Of Paparazzi Proposals?
Paparazzi Proposals’ valuation was $1.25 million after securing a deal from Lori Greiner and Kevin O’Leary on the Shark Tank show. The net worth of Paparazzi Proposals is estimated to be between $10 million.
