Jun
09
We often say that engagement sessions are like double-dates, except we have cameras. After all, there’s a lot of laughter, we go to beautiful places, and we generally have fun. Our e-session with Maren and Steve was no exception, plus their session included dinner and dancing to boot.
We started off in the North End, for a really beautiful and quaint bit of Boston. We were lucky enough to enjoy near-perfect weather. So we wandered and strolled and found some quiet nooks and a few more public spots for a wide variety of surroundings.
Monday was a great night for the shoot as it also happens to be the night that many restauranteurs take a break. We had the doorway to this little Italian restaurant all to ourselves.
At the edge of the North End, you also get a unique view of Boston.
We then took the Charlestown Ferry across the river at sunset. The light was beautiful, the wind cool, and the views amazing. I am so glad Dave suggested this- what a great way to enjoy the water and the cities on both sides.
Once in Charlestown, we walked along the pier and captured a few images of Maren and Steve enjoying the scenery, the breeze and each other.
Among the boats.
We took a break as the dusk turned to night and enjoyed a meal at a favorite Tavern overlooking the water. Then ventured out for a few more on the pier.
As promised, there was dancing.
It was so hard to choose which ones to share. These two can not take a bad photo. Definitely check out their slideshow for more photos.
We can’t wait for their wedding at the Glen Manor House near Newport.
May
28
Who says rain is a bad thing? A little rain, or actually a lot of rain in this case, truly a full-on downpour, was nothing short of perfect for our engagement session with Christina and Vincent.
We had a great time dodging puddles and Christina and Vincent were adorable cuddling up in doorways. Besides it actually is perfect that a little weather reared its head as Vincent is a weather afficionado, a storm tracker, if you will. So the day ended as it should with a show of Mother Nature’s wonderous ways and the four of us laughing a lot.
Of course, the rain also helped clear out the extra people who normally hang out in Beacon Hill. We had some of the busiest streets all to ourselves.
Still, we weren’t upset that we started off the portrait session with lovely weather and beautiful light. We had free reign and no umbrella for the first bit. So here are a few faves from the earlier part of the session.
Christina and Vincent live in St. Louis and weren’t exactly sure where they wanted to do their session. When we came up with the idea of Beacon Hill, it seemed a great fit. Quintessential Boston and beautiful buildings, a nice match for Christina as she is from the Boston area and works as an architect.
Total sweetness. Check out his smile as he kisses her.
And the cool factor.
And tons more sweetness.
This one makes me giggle.
I still can’t believe how quickly those clouds turned the sky to black. What an adventure! And such fun. Many thanks to Christina and Vincent for weathering the storm with us. Can’t wait for your wedding at the Boston Harbor Hotel this summer.
If you would like to see more from Christina and Vincent’s e-session, definitely check out their slideshow.
May
09
She’s energetic, sassy and fashionable. He’s cool, calm and collected. His wild side gets its chance to shine when he rides his motorcycle (a beautiful Harley Davidson); her creative juices get flowing when she talks style. They are a perfect match. And they are so fun to be around.
We met up with Donna and Jimmy at a little park in quaint Ashland, Mass. We were amazed at the options in such a small space, but the lake, the budding flowers of early spring, the bridge and waterfall and of course, Donna and Jimmy gave us so much to work with. So here’s a taste of their engagement session.
Want a few more? Check out their slideshow. And check back later this summer for images from their wedding at the Exchange Conference Center in Boston.
Apr
19
Last night, Jackie and William came over for the premiere of their engagement session photos. The viewing of the photos was a central part of the evening to be sure, but honestly I just had so much fun getting to know them better. I knew their story, the story of how they met, that is; and a good bit about their wedding planning. But now I feel like I know so much more about them, such as that they love good food and they enjoy cooking together. So then they tipped us off to a great Boston secret- a culinary school for average folk in Cambridge. We can’t wait to try it out.
But I digress, this entry is really about their engagement session, which was a blast! We journeyed down to Princeton University where they met while attending a reunion. It was the perfect location to do their engagement session. We were happy to oblige and found a weekend in early April that worked for everyone, including Naomi and Jack of Generations Cinemastories, who came down to film their story.
With a backdrop as beautiful as Princeton’s campus, we were truly experiencing an embarrassment of riches. Add to that all of the connections that they have to their school and we ended up shooting for hours. We would have kept on going if the daylight hadn’t left us.
We wandered around campus with Jackie and William pointing out favorite spots from their time at Princeton as well as the important locations from the weekend when they met and fell in love.
They saw each other for the first time in this amazing library in Chancellor Green.
In the courtyard outside the library.
William’s dining club from his year’s at Princeton, called Tower, also happens to be one of the places where they met up during the reunion weekend. The light shining through the doorway was glittery and magical when we popped in to look around.
Naomi and Jack took a few moments to interview Jackie and William.
Of course, early April on the East coast is hit or miss as far as weather goes. Clearly Jackie and William have done something right with their lives, because we were so lucky. They had the most perfect weather and all of the stars were aligned for trees full of blossoms. I am a magnolia fanatic so this was heavenly.
For mom….
For our fabulous couple….
Apparently Princeton has some very fun traditions, and Jackie and William were holding out on us until the very end of our session. It is customary for each class to have their own reunion uniform when they come back for reunion weekend. Celebrating the school’s colors- orange, black and white- and their mascot- the tiger- Jackie and William donned the outfits they wore that weekend for a few photos around Princeton’s landmark tigers at Nassau Hall.
I just have to close with one image that’s a bit more abstract, but I think it expresses what it must have felt like for Jackie and William to find each other. They were in what I imagine was a somewhat crowded space attending a reunion party and somehow they saw each other; the world slipped away. I created this in the library where they met for the first time and the effect is done completely in camera.
Of course this is only a glimpse of all the fun we had, so if you want to see a few more, definitely check out their slideshow.
Mar
17
We’ve been holding out on you. I apologize. It’s true. We have a few weddings, engagement sessions, and portrait sessions from 2009 that we haven’t shared yet, not to mention tons of inspiring details from our fabulous couples. It wasn’t from lack of desire, trust me, because what I have to show you is amazing. We just ran out of time this fall with so many great events going on. But don’t worry, we will hold out no longer.
I am going to start with one truly awesome engagement session to kick off the season of sharing. Judy and Burgess are a ton of fun. Dave met up with them just a bit before their wedding to make sure they had a chance to do their engagement session and get a little practice in front of the camera. As it turns out, they needed no practice whatsoever. These two were totally at ease and looked great from every possible angle.
San Francisco‘s Golden Gate Park offers a plethora of backdrops and opportunities. One of our faves is the tower in the de Young Museum- a super cool space with great views of the city and the bay.
Of course the landscape surrounding the museum isn’t bad either.
Playful rockstar look. They totally have this down.
And a few more romantic images.
I love how playful they are together.
If you want to see more of Judy and Burgess, check out their engagement PicFlick and stay tuned for photos from their wedding at Blackhawk Country Club.
Feb
01
We met so many great couples during the bridal shows. Your stories were romantic and inspiring. We hope to get to know many of you even better. If you would like to set up an appointment to visit with us at our studio, please email us and we will find a time that works for you.
And now, the winner of our free engagement session is…. Alex Wyrondek. Congrations, Alex. I will be sending you all the details in an email, but feel free to contact us if you have questions.
Happy wedding planning to you all!
Want to see more engagement sessions? Check them out on the blog here.
Nov
27
Fall in New England is a truly stunning time of year. When Pamela and Albert chose the season for their engagement session, we were happy to accommodate. The next step was choosing the location. We couldn’t imagine a more perfect option than the bridge in Cambridge where they got engaged. We love this bridge and have wanted to shoot there for a while now. Plus the trees and surrounding areas are so pretty- great views of both Boston and Cambridge. We completed our portraits in Beacon Hill, another favorite area of theirs and ours.
This is the actual spot where Albert proposed- literally on the bridge. He woke up Pamela before sunrise to take her to this spot near her apartment. What a way to start the day- a beautiful view and a very happy "Yes!"
More smiles and fun in and among the leaves.
The Charles River makes a gorgeous backdrop for this moment.
This path was so pretty with gorgeous trees on both sides. It felt magical.
In Beacon Hill, we avoided the busiest alley ways and found this stunning wall. It was like a rainbow of leaves.
One of my favorites from the portrait session. It’s amazing how such a busy city (and it was really busy that day) can feel so private.
And I am really excited to share their PicFlick. They sent us the romantic Chinese song as the background music. You can check it out here.
Oct
29
We could not have had a more perfect afternoon with Lindsay and Alex for their engagement session- perfect puffy clouds against blue skies, not too cold, not too hot and the fabulous backdrop of Boston. We had such a lovely time, we really didn’t want it to end, which might account for our venture into Match for drinks and mini-burgers. Lindsay and Alex were just so great to talk with- I loved chatting about their possible honeymoon destinations, about their love of wine (have to get that list of Napa vineyards to check out) and their enjoyment of cooking.
I truly can’t wait to celebrate with them at the Copley Plaza next fall. Do I really have to wait almost a whole year?
We started off their engagement session on the Cambridge side of the Charles River, for some great views of the city.
As it happened, we came across this enchanting forest. The trees were so cool. Lindsay and Alex look right at home.
Dave’s view….
My view…
Then we headed into the city for a few more urban images in their old ‘hood. Dave’s turn for a kissing moment…
But I got the smiles and laughter.
So sweet how they smile just after a kiss.
We walked over Soldier’s Field Road to get to the Boston side of the River. We had hoped to get a spot on the dock, but there were people enjoying the day on every corner of it. As it turns out, we found an even better spot amidst the trees.
Then under the willow trees. It was a pretty magical place. And I absolutely love the way Lindsay and Alex are enjoying the moment.
We had such an amazing afternoon. Thank you guys! It really was Sweet.
And if you would like to see more, check out their movie.
Aug
26
This weekend, we snuck in an engagement session with Jess and Ivan, whose wedding is in just over a week. We wanted to make sure we had this chance to get together in a relaxed setting before the wedding. And also, to share the photos with them and get their feedback before the big day. The weather had been less than cooperative for our initial plans, but this day was perfect. As was the location.
With the Back Bay as our playground, we enjoyed the wealth of possibilities our fair city has to offer. Gotta love Boston!
We actually know Ivan and Jess pretty well already. Ivan and Dave had been roommates in college at UMass Amherst; as soon as we moved back to the Boston area, we got together with them. We instantly adored Jess.
And of course, playdates with Max and their pup Noodle were a must. Both dogs love the tennis ball and neither is agressive about having it. Excellent playmates.
Perhaps my favorite thing about heading out on a photographic double date with Ivan and Jess was pausing to watch them interact with each other. They laugh so much!!!
And my other favorite thing was watching them play with Noodle- who is totally absolutely adorable. Such a happy family.
And so cute, Noodle watching Jess and Ivan. Like he wants to join in.
All around a great morning! Thank you both- we had so much fun.
We really can’t wait for your wedding at the Harvard Club. It is going to be amazing. And we are totally going to take you up on your offer to hang out and dance for a bit after we are finished shooting!
If you want to see more, check out their slideshow.
Aug
03
And now it is time for the second engagement session from our awesome Sunday of SF shooting.
Jilanne and Doug came up from San Jose and met us at the Crissy Field Center Cafe for a quintessentially San Francisco shoot. We immediately headed into the Presidio to start around the historic buildings. The Presidio is one of our favorite places in the Bay Area. The building structures are varied and have great character, plus there are many green spaces.
Taking a walk in the woods by the Golden Gate Club.…
Then over to Fort Point, another of our favorite places to shoot in San Francisco. Not only is it historical, it also has kick-ass views of the Golden Gate Bridge. The brick always provides an excellent background, and although it is typically chilly out there, it never fails to provide beautiful light.
Oh, and Fort Point was the site where Kim Novak jumped into the San Francisco Bay in the movie Vertigo. I note this only because while Jilanne and Doug aren’t particular Hitchcock fans, they are getting married at the Mission San Juan Bautista, where James Stewart watched Kim Novak jump from a tower (there isn’t really one there) to her supposed death in the same film. I just think the tie-in is kind of fun.
But I digress… Fort Point is really great photographically. Add to that backdrop our gorgeous couple and you get ….
Did I mention they tango? So talented. Look at their form.
Jilanne and Doug, thank you for this truly amazing shoot. Dave and I had tons of fun with you guys. You are so totally perfect together. We love your sense of style and your playfulness. Not to mention your willingness to weather the chills of Fort Point. We can’t wait for your fall wedding at the Mission San Juan Bautista and Leal Vineyard. It is going to be gorgeous.
Want to see more? Check out their slideshow.
