A Gorgeous Susquehanna State Park Engagement
Jillian & Robbie
October is off to a wonderful start! Yesterday, we met up with Jillian and Robbie at Susquehanna State Park for their engagement session. We met with them a few months ago, and we immediately were in love with them. They are so sweet, and getting to know them during their session was such a joy.
We kicked off their session in the field that Robbie proposed in (which was even documented by another photographer). I love that they chose this spot in Susquehanna State Park, because it holds such a special memory for them. Photos can feel really weird if you aren't in front of a camera for a living, so being in a location that is "yours" can make everything seem natural. As we approached the field, I was completely blown away. When Jillian described the field at our meeting, I was thinking of a typical, small, flat area with not too much going on. I couldn't have been more wrong about it. This field is humongous. There are hills, hay bales, trees lining the horizon - it is perfect. Watching Jillian and Robbie interact in their spot filled me with so much giddiness, I swear I just kept squealing with glee.
As we moved deeper into the park, the scenery completely changed. Susquehanna State Park has a little bit of everything: fields, historical buildings, beautiful trails, and river front views. The most interesting thing about the park is how the main trail is an old...
Engagement Session Preparation
Tips & Tricks
It is always a little daunting to have photos taken. It's not something that is normal for day-to-day life and can be one of the hardest things to prepare for. For me, I instantly clam up when a lens is pointing at me. Spending so much time around cameras does not prepare me for being in front of the camera. I know that most couples feel the exact same way as I do. The great thing is, there are ways to prepare for your engagement session that will greatly put your mind at ease.
Engagement photos can feel very strange and it can often times seem like your relationship isn't accurately portrayed in them. When we chat with our couples about their engagement shoot, one of the most common thing is someone in the couple not understanding the point of these photos. They don't care, they hate their photo taken, or they just want to hire us for the wedding and be done. Unfortunately, that's not how this all works. We want to experience your relationship in advance. With our photos, we get really wonderful emotion because we don't just show up on the wedding day. Our bond with the couple is what creates a genuine interaction and ability for them to show us who they are.
Your photos are important, and we want everyone to feel something when they look at your photos. The following advice to prepare for your engagement session all go hand-in-hand together. If each...
Beautiful Sunset Engagement at Great Falls Park
Aimee & Mike
Shawn and I explored Great Falls Park last month, which you can read more about here. From the very second we set foot in this gorgeous National Park in Virginia, we knew it was the perfect place for Aimee and Mike's engagement session. Not only does Great Falls Park have stunning overlooks of the Potomac River, but it also has tons of lush greenery. Pairing that with Aimee and Mike's adorable interactions, this spot is a photographer's dreamland.
We met with Aimee and Mike over a month ago on Skype. Even though we weren't meeting in person, we still got to know them a little bit. Shawn and I could tell that they have such an easy and calm relationship. They fit with each other so well, and watching them giggle through the retelling of the proposal story was the cutest thing. Speaking of the proposal story, I just have to say that Mike is a definite winner. He not only got down on one knee in New York City, but he created a monogram necklace with the geo location of the exact spot that he would ask Aimee to be his wife. It's a tremendous keepsake and story that gives me chills every time I think about it. Even over Skype I think I just aww'd for about 5 minutes to them, haha!
Meeting these two in person at Great Falls Park was such a joy for us. The most adorable thing was Mike helping Aimee over every...
Overcoming Social Anxiety
Personal
I have struggled with social anxiety since as early as I can remember. Any time I've been in situations that require me to interact with people, I become nervous, I stumble over my words, and my hearing starts to feel like I'm in a tunnel. I became afraid of talking to people because I have this overwhelming feeling that they are judging everything I say. My attempts to communicate with people can best be described as a car trying push through through a concrete barrier. The car is my words, and the barrier is my brain blocking my voice.
How social anxiety has affected my life
Social anxiety has made me a doormat over the years. Someone who can't defend themselves because they are terrified of speaking up. I've lost potential friendships because of this fear, and I don't want to be like this anymore. I'm envious of the people that can freely chat with someone who they haven't met before. People who can make a phone call without needing a script. Even people who can write a blog post without having to psych themselves up. I want to show my goofy and fun personality to people, and I want to make friends genuinely. But my normal interactions are seriously stunted to the point I just clam up and stay quiet.
It's been especially critical in my job as a business owner and photographer. There's no way I could continue to grow my business and be successful if I wasn't...
A Breathtaking Wedding at Flora Corner Farm
Sara & Charlie
When Shawn and I met Sara and Charlie a year ago, we knew instantly that they were special. From the way they look at each other, to the way they speak to one another. They are sweet, loving, and, above all else, perfect for one another. Getting to know their personalities at their engagement session filled us with so much anticipation for their wedding day. Shawn and I had no doubt their wedding at Flora Corner Farm was going to be fantastic. What I did not know was how many wonderful emotions would be present in their day.
Arriving at their gorgeous venue, excitement was pulsing in the air. The only time that Sara's smile faded from her face was when she read the beautiful note that Charlie had written for her. I'm pretty sure that Sara didn't even get through the first line before tears began to fall. The most adorable part of this story is that, across the venue, Charlie was reading the note that Sara had written for him. He also only got a few words in before needing to pause to compose himself. Shawn and I were well aware that we were not leaving this wedding without shedding a few tears ourselves.
Everything for this day was magnificent. From the bouquet to the music, Sara and Charlie were enveloped in so much life and love. The chic romantic ambiance that Flora Corner Farm has is unbelievable. The gorgeous ceremony site is framed with vintage chandeliers...
Sara & Charlie Engagement Spotlight
Mount Aventine
I'm not sure if I can harness the excitement I have for Sara and Charlie's wedding day, but I'll try. We met these two over a year ago, and from that first meeting, we knew they were something special. That was reinforced at their engagement session in Mount Aventine a few days later. The day was warm and typical for July, but Sara and Charlie came ready to cuddle despite the heat.
When you meet a couple that just loves being in each other's arms, you know that you are in the presence of a great relationship. Sara and Charlie spent every second laughing and enjoying this moment in their engagement. Walking around Mount Aventine with them and their dog, Hazel, is something that I want to do every day. I'm serious when I say they have one of the best relationships. Charlie is the jokester and Sara is sweet beyond belief. They balance each other so well, and they are really adorable. Reading over their questionnaire, I couldn't help but smile and tear up over the evolution of their relationship. Everything about these two is thoughtful and respectful of one another. It's amazing to hear about and it's even better to see.
I know I said in their engagement post that I was starting their wedding countdown early, and I totally did. Luckily the days passed quickly enough to the point that we are only 1 day from wedding bells. I'm giddy and a bit teary over...
Alexa & Eddie
Centennial Park Engagement Session
The best thing about any engagement session is walking away from them with new friends. Getting the opportunity to interact with people that we may not have had the pleasure to otherwise meet always makes me so incredibly happy. On Saturday, we met up with Alexa, Eddie, and their pup, Benji, at Centennial Park. I love this spot, It is seriously one of my favorites because of how gorgeous it is. Centennial is a beautiful park with a lot of green, but tons of variety. It's perfect, and I was giddy the second Alexa and Eddie chose it.
Their engagement shoot had been planned for months, and I was eagerly looking forward to it from day one. Chatting back and forth with Alexa, I got the sense of how sweet and genuine her relationship with Eddie is. Getting the chance to see them interact with each other reinforced everything I already felt for them. When a couple spends their entire engagement session cuddled up with each other and giggling, you know it's going to be a fabulous shoot. That is exactly what these two did from the moment we arrived at Centennial Park. They have such a strong connection that is evident from just a few seconds of being in their presence.
Wandering around Centennial with these two and getting to know them was an absolute joy. We loved hearing about their adventurous date nights under the stars. Spending the evening with them and Benji capturing all of the...
Katelyn & Zach
An Intimate Annapolis Court House Wedding
We have been so excited and ready for Katelyn and Zach's wedding at the Annapolis Court House. We worked with this couple before with family portraits a couple years ago, and have been looking forward to their wedding ever since. It was wonderful being able to see them again, and meet the rest of their family. Their wedding was small and intimate, with just the immediate family in attendance. That didn't make the day any less exciting for these two, though. Both of them were just as nervous as every other couple. Emma, their daughter, was especially adorable and seemed to be just as excited for them. She handled the responsibility of standing up next to them during the ceremony, and was sure to never stop grinning. You could tell how much she loves Katelyn and how happy she is for her dad.
The sweet and concise ceremony packed in a lot of emotion, while providing lots of time for the celebration afterwards. Before they went off to Sorrento's with their family, though, we took the couple and Emma to the Maryland State House. They have such an aura of calm around them, which was the perfect style for the day. It almost felt like we were just spending a warm day in Annapolis with friends. Getting to share this experience was a wonderful change of pace from our normally hectic and exhausting weddings.
This day was no exception to reminding me how much I love taking photos in Annapolis...
The First Look Explained
Tips & Tricks
Whenever the question of a first look comes up, we are almost always met with an excited bride and confused groom. It's no fault of the groom that he doesn't know what this wedding trend is. We generally give the bride the chance to explain it, if she is familiar. But it's still kind of difficult to find the right words to describe it. When we explain it, we want to be informative and still give all the sweetness that is involved. The benefits and trade offs are not always immediately obvious.
It takes both people to decide if a first look is right for them. Having to find the right words to make a confident choice is a challenge. We want to give you the resources that allow you both to be at peace with your options. So we are excited to give you the information about a first look, and the tools to know if it should be a part of your wedding day.
What is a first look?
The easiest way to explain a first look is that it's a chance for the couple to be with each other before all of the craziness starts. It's an intimate moment that you two get the chance to share on a day that is all about your love. A first look is never rushed or forced. It's honestly the most exciting time during the wedding, besides the declaration of marriage.
The process of this romantic event starts...
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