Angie & Matt’s eSession – Boston, MA

Angie & Matt were in town a couple weeks ago for a weekend of wedding planning excitement, so we met up downtown for their engagement session.  We had no idea if it was going to pour down rain or not, but we took a chance and it ended up being a great (and HOT) afternoon!

We started off at the Boston Harbor Hotel under the archway…

Boston Engagement Session

They’re pretty cute

Boston Engagement Session

Boston Engagement Session

A gnarly iron bridge seems like a perfect place for photos, if you ask me!

Boston Engagement Session

Boston Engagement Session

We hopped a cab over to Beacon Hill for a little more of a classic Boston feel

Boston Engagement Session

Boston Engagement Session

And then it started to rain, so we ducked into a little cafe.  A crowded cafe with no air conditioning, I might add.

Boston Engagement Session

Boston Engagement Session

Then the rain stopped… it IS Boston after all.  So we walked towards the river and found all sorts of great spots along the way!

Boston Engagement Session

Boston Engagement Session

This might be my favorite…

Boston Engagement Session

Boston Engagement Session

Boston Engagement Session

Turns out these two met at a sailing class here on the Charles River!  We had to go revisit the scene :)

Boston Engagement Session

Boston Engagement Session

Boston Engagement Session

Angie & Matt – it was so great to finally meet you two!  Thanks for a fun afternoon and for putting up with all the heat and rain to get some great photos.  The wedding is going to be a blast, I’m totally looking forward to it!  :)

If you’d like to see more of my favorites from this shoot, check out my Facebook Fan Page!

Sylvia and Ricky’s eSession – Black and White FILM

When we were planning Sylvia & Ricky’s engagement session down in New York City, Sylvia ask me to help her surprise Ricky with a little treat.  They’re both super excited about the black & white film we’re going to shoot at their wedding, so she decided to have some shot at their engagement session too!  I, of course, loved the idea!  So, here you go, Ricky!  I hope you enjoy your surprise :)

The first two images were shot with my Widelux

NYC Engagement Black & White Film

This one’s my favorite :)

NYC Engagement Black & White Film

I shot this one with my Holga.  For a toy camera, it sure gives me some of my favorite film images!

NYC Engagement Black & White Film

And this one was shot with my Nikon F100

NYC Engagement Black & White Film

Sylvia, I hope you guys love the film and I hope Ricky likes his surprise!  :)

Sylvia & Ricky’s eSession – NYC

Just before the holidays, I went down to New York City to photograph Sylvia & Ricky’s engagement session.  I love the City, so it was totally a great excuse to go down for a quick trip!  Plus, it was fun to shoot in a new place with such a different feel from the usual Boston-area eSession.  Not to mention that Sylvia & Ricky are awesome, and totally fun to hang out with!

Sylvia wrote me right after the shoot…  “I just wanted to write and say thank you so much for coming down to NYC to shoot our engagement session!!!  We had *so* much fun shooting with you … and on our drive back today we were talking about how it actually kind of felt like a (v. non-traditional) date!  We’ve been kind of bogged down with work and wedding planning stuff … so it was a really refreshing and much-welcomed break.  I can’t wait for May 1!!”

I loved that!  I hadn’t really thought of an engagement session as a date before, but it really is.  A chance for us to hang out together and get to know each other, and a chance for the couple to hang out and focus more on each other than on the wedding, or on the busyness of life.  These sessions are really fun for me, and for my couples.  Not to mention how helpful it is on the wedding day to have shot together already.  This is why I make engagement sessions “mandatory” for all my couples!  ;)

The original plan for the day was to walk around their old neighborhood and hit up some of the locations that have been important to them in their relationship.  Then we realized that we were just going to be hopping from one restaurant to another ;)  After scouting out the area a bit more, we decided to start out at Milk & Cookies in the West Village and just walk around from there.  It was a cute little bakery, and the cookies were DELICIOUS!  However, I didn’t get a ton of photos there because I was stuffing my face ;)

NYC Engagement Session

After stuffing our faces with chocolatey goodness, we walked around the neighborhood and found some cool buildings to use as backdrops

NYC Engagement Session

NYC Engagement Session

Haha!  These guys are so much fun!

NYC Engagement Session

After a little walk, we jumped in a cab (and no, it did NOT turn out to be Cash Cab), and headed over to the High Line. I was basically in love with the sunlight coming in over the tall grass.  You can ask my friend Lauren who came down to assist, I was totally giddy!

NYC Engagement Session

NYC Engagement Session

NYC Engagement Session

NYC Engagement Session

I can’t totally put my finger on why I love this shot so much…  It’s the light, and the color, the depth of field.  But also the stoic, motionless feeling – even though they were walking away from me.  There’s just something about it!

NYC Engagement Session

These guys were awesome!  Two random older gentlemen sitting on a bench, painting in the sunset…

Two guys painting

And now, back to our regularly scheduled engagement session…

NYC Engagement Session

NYC Engagement Session

We got off the High Line and walked around the Meat Packing District a bit.  I’d never visited that area of New York before, but I totally liked it.  If I had millions of dollars, I’m sure I’d shop around there all the time…  haha!

NYC Engagement Session

NYC Engagement Session

haha!  These guys crack me up!

NYC Engagement Session

So sweet!

NYC Engagement Session

Oh, I loooove my 50mm f/1.4!

NYC Engagement Session

Love is the answer, you know

NYC Engagement Session

It’s nice that when the sun went down, the buildings provided me with plenty of light :)

NYC Engagement Session

Sylvia & Ricky – thank you so much for taking me down to NYC, and for the yummy cookies, and for the fun afternoon!  Lauren & I still talk about how much fun the whole day was :)  It was wonderful getting to know you both better, and I am SO looking forward to the wedding this Spring!!!

To view more of my favorite images from this shoot, check out the album on Facebook or Flickr.

Katie & Joe’s eSession – Londonderry, NH

I met Katie & Joe about a year ago, down in New York City.  They lived there at the time, and I was in town for a conference, and it was just great timing.  Now they live over in Pennsylvania, and their wedding is going to be in Boston…. so naturally we met up in New Hampshire for their engagement session!  Ha!  I love how many states are involved in that!

Katie worked at Mack’s Apples when she was in high school, so we decided it was the perfect spot to grab a few photos while they were in town.  So we met there one morning before they opened, and had the place pretty much to ourselves!

Mack's Apples Engagement Session

They’re totally cute!

Mack's Apples Engagement Session

Mack's Apples Engagement Session

The apple orchards were down the road from where we met, so we shot with the pears instead :)

Mack's Apples Engagement Session

Mack's Apples Engagement Session

Great morning light!

Mack's Apples Engagement Session

Mack's Apples Engagement Session

Mack's Apples Engagement Session

Mack's Apples Engagement Session

Oh, I just loved the barn!  Stacked floor to ceiling with empty crates, covered in 2 inches of dirt…  it was the perfect place for photos!

Mack's Apples Engagement Session

And you know I love shooting people’s feet!  Especially when they look as lovey-dovey as these feet do :)

Mack's Apples Engagement Session

Katie & Joe – thanks for a great morning at the orchard!  My sister and her kids met me there after and we had the BEST time – and honestly, the Honeycrisp apples were AMAZING!

I can’t wait for your New Year’s wedding!  It’s going to be so much fun!!

To view more of my favorites from Katie & Joe’s eSession, check out my Facebook Fan Page!

Sara & Steve – Rehearsal Dinner

Like many of my couples this year, Sara & Steve don’t live in the Boston area.  They live out in California, and we weren’t actually able to meet until the night before their wedding.  I “require” all of my couples to have an engagement shoot before the wedding so we can spend some time getting to know each other in front of the camera – it just makes it SO much easier to get great portraits on the wedding day.  Since we didn’t get a chance to meet earlier, we captured some portraits before their Rehearsal Dinner.  I met up with them at their hotel in Portsmouth and we went for a walk…

Portsmouth Engagement Session

Portsmouth Engagement Session

Portsmouth Engagement Session

Portsmouth Engagement Session

Steve does NOT like to have his photo taken.  He said that he didn’t think I could get a good photo of him – that I couldn’t get a natural smile from him.  Haha!  Don’t test me, people!   ;)

Portsmouth Engagement Session

Portsmouth Engagement Session

Portsmouth Engagement Session

Portsmouth Engagement Session

Portsmouth Engagement Session

Portsmouth Engagement Session

Portsmouth Engagement Session

After our portrait session, we drove up to Sara’s parents’ place on Gerrish Island for the Rehearsal Dinner.  Driving down their street, I spotted this little guy out my window.

Gerrish Island Rehearsal Dinner

Steve’s Dad was walking along the shore behind the house, looking for rocks.  Totally endearing :)

Gerrish Island Rehearsal Dinner

And some of the boys were throwing rocks.  I loved how synchronized they were!

Gerrish Island Rehearsal Dinner

Steve & Sara spent the rest of the evening laughing and enjoying a some time with their friends and family.  It was a fun and very relaxed party!

Gerrish Island Rehearsal Dinner

Gerrish Island Rehearsal Dinner

Stay tuned for the photos from their gorgeous (and soaking wet) wedding!

Elena & Dan’s eSession – Walden Pond

I remember reading Walden in high school, and really liking it.  Ever since I moved out to the Boston area, and realized how close I was to Walden Pond, I’ve been dying to go there.  I have this little fantasy that I’ll go one day and walk around the pond and then sit on a blanket and read the book…  but that hasn’t happened yet and probably won’t happen anytime soon.  I did, however, go to Walden recently for Elena & Dan’s engagement session.  I was totally excited to see it finally, and was equally excited to meet Dan and see Elena again!  We met up just before sunset and had a chance to walk around the pond a bit, and spend some time letting them get used to me and my Nikon :)

This one is my FAVORITE!

Walden Pond Engagement Session

They are totally cute!

Walden Pond Engagement Session

Walden Pond Engagement Session

Walden Pond Engagement Session

Walden Pond Engagement Session

Walden Pond Engagement Session

Walden Pond Engagement Session

Walden Pond Engagement Session

Walden Pond Engagement Session

Elena & Dan – it was great hanging out with you two and getting to know you both a little better!  I’m really looking forward to the wedding next weekend – it’s going to be beautiful!  Enjoy the last week of your engagement and I’ll see you soooon!  :)

Pamela & Bryan’s eSession – Cambridge, MA

Pamela & Bryan are getting married this Fall in Albany, NY, where they recently moved.  Before they left the area, we spent the morning shooting some engagement photos at some of their favorite spots around town.  We met up at their home in Somerville and went from there…

Cambridge Engagement Session

First we took the puppy for a walk to the park.  We had to get some family photos!

Cambridge Engagement Session

Cambridge Engagement Session

The puppy was a little distracted by the tennis ball, but Pamela & Bryan were pretty well-focused ;)

Cambridge Engagement Session

Sometimes you find great spots in between locations.  We saw these green church doors as we walked to the T, and I had to shoot them!

Cambridge Engagement Session

waiting for the train to Harvard Square

Cambridge Engagement Session

We walked down by the Charles River.  I’m still amazed that we were able to get a shot that makes it looks like they were all alone out there (this path was so busy that day)!

Cambridge Engagement Session

Cambridge Engagement Session

On the steps of the Library at Harvard.  I’ve shot in this spot at least 3 times now, so it’s always a fun challenge to get photos that are different from the ones before.

Cambridge Engagement Session

Cambridge Engagement Session

I love this little archway!

Cambridge Engagement Session

Cambridge Engagement Session

After a delicious lunch, we hopped back on the T towards Davis Square.  This is one of my faves from underground.

Cambridge Engagement Session

Pamela & Bryan, it was so great hanging out with you guys and getting to know you both a little better!  Thanks again for lunch, and especially for the ice cream :)  I hope you’re adjusting to life and work in Albany.  I’m totally looking forward to the big wedding weekend up there in a couple months!

Sarah & Peter’s eSession – Lexington, MA

I’ve taken portraits for Sarah’s family a couple of times – once even before I moved out to Boston.  So, I was totally excited when she decided to have me photograph her wedding as well!   But before I shot Sarah’s wedding, I had the chance to photograph her and Peter for their engagement session.  We went over to The Great Meadow in Lexington and walked around a bit.  I’ve wanted to shoot there for a while, so it was cool to finally get there and see what it’s like.  Well, it’s more forest than meadow, but it was rather lovely!

Sarah & Peter tell me they were nervous, but I couldn’t tell at all.  They were total naturals!

eSession in The Great Meadow

eSession in The Great Meadow

eSession in The Great Meadow

eSession in The Great Meadow

eSession in The Great Meadow

eSession in The Great Meadow

eSession in The Great Meadow

After we had been eaten by mosquitoes and almost gotten lost, we decided to head into Lexington center for some less nature-y shots.  These two went to Yale, and have spent more time walking around New Haven than walking through the woods… so this was a bit more natural for them.  We found this very cool rock wall that made for a nice backdrop and a bit of shade.

eSession in Lexington

eSession in Lexington

eSession in Lexington

At that point, I thought we were done, and we went inside the building with the rock wall to find a restroom and some water.  As it turns out, we were at the Library!  Like I said, they went to Yale, so they’ve spent a lot of time in libraries.  And the light in there was gorgeous.  So, we had to stay a while and shoot among the books!  These ended up being some of my and their favorite images of the day!  I love it when that happens :)

eSession in The Library

My FAVORITE!

eSession in The Library

eSession in The Library

Oh yeah, the library was the best!

eSession in The Library

Sarah & Peter – It was great spending the morning with you two!  Thank you for being good sports and having some fun with it – you made my job very easy.  I hope you love the engagement images!  Wedding images will be along in a few weeks – yay! :)

Anne & Sean’s eSession – Hingham, MA

Anne & Sean are yet another of my couples who live in NYC but are getting married in the Boston area. Anne grew up in Hingham and they’re having the wedding there this September. It’s going to be a very cool day with lots of little colonial touches that will give the day a lot of character. For our engagement session, we decided to meet down at Anne’s parents’ house and take a tour of the town and see where everything will be on the wedding day. We basically ended up just going on a nice long walk and hanging out for the morning – it was great!

Anne & Sean had these neat little toy airplanes, and we had to test them out!


Hingham Engagement Session

Hingham Engagement Session


While we were hanging out at the house, playing with airplanes and frisbees, Anne’s Dad gets out this massive antique flag and lays it in the yard. It was so cool! We had to take a few shots with it :)


Hingham Engagement Session


After that we walked into town and made lots of stops along the way…


Hingham Engagement Session

Hingham Engagement Session


The Old Ordinary


Hingham Engagement Session

Hingham Engagement Session

Hingham Engagement Session

Hingham Engagement Session


Walking in to town


Hingham Engagement Session


We also walked through the Hingham Cemetery, just for kicks, and found this headstone. It was too appropriate not to take advantage! Creepy though it is, do you see what gorgeous eyes Anne has?!


Hingham Engagement Session

Hingham Engagement Session


After the cemetery, we ended up at the harbor


Hingham Engagement Session

Hingham Engagement Session

Hingham Engagement Session

Hingham Engagement Session

Hingham Engagement Session

Hingham Engagement Session


And my absolute favorite part was when they agreed to jump off the rocks onto the beach!


Hingham Engagement Session


And then we walked back to the house. Pretty fun way to spend the day, if you ask me!


Hingham Engagement Session


Anne & Sean – thanks so much for a fun afternoon – and for my exercise for the day :) I had a great time hanging out with you guys and totally can’t wait for the wedding!!

Meaghan & Steve’s Fishing Engagement Session – North Reading, MA

When I first moved out to Boston, my sister insisted that I had to be friends with this girl named Meaghan. Kyla told me how hilarious and awesome this Meaghan was, and she wasn’t kidding. She’s got this dry sense of humor, and is just the kind of person that you can’t help but like. Meaghan was part of my LIFEgroup at GENESIS for almost 3 years and has become a very dear friend. When she & Steve started dating, it didn’t take any of us very long to realize that they were perfect for each other. I’m not sure if I’ve ever met two people better suited for one another. And what’s even better is how ridiculously happy they are together!! I was totally pumped when they asked me to shoot their wedding because I couldn’t wait to capture that joy :)

When planning their eSession, I told them (as I tell all of my clients) that we should do something that’s very “them.” I try to make the Engagement Session like a snapshot of the couple in real life. My hope is to capture them doing things they like to do together, and just being themselves. For Meg & Steve, I knew that we had to go fishing! These two go fishing all the time, and I find that so fascinating since I haven’t fished in like 20 years :) Steve thought that was the best idea ever, so a couple weeks ago we grabbed their rods and headed out to the pond…

Fishing Engagement Session

Meaghan

Fishing Engagement Session

and Steve :)

Fishing Engagement Session

He had to show us his “big catch”

Fishing Engagement Session

Fishing Engagement Session

Fishing Engagement Session

Fishing Engagement Session

Honestly, this next photo says more about their relationship than I can express. The way they’re holding each other and still holding their own poles, the subtle smile on their lips as they kiss, every little detail speaks to who they are and what their life is like. I’m tearing up just looking at it – it’s just so THEM!

Fishing Engagement Session

After we caught a few fish, they let me take a few portraits in the nice warm light.

Fishing Engagement Session

Fishing Engagement Session

They’re so cute :)

Fishing Engagement Session

Meg & Steve, I love you guys! I’m so happy for you I could burst :D