There are times when you just know, and that is the case with Wes + Rachel. I have not only had the pleasure of photographing them, but they have accompanied me for a few weddings this summer to second shoot. When we planned their session we made it a priority to incorporate an activity and make it more of a date. I always recommend thinking about photos in that way since it gives you a context to plan within. You no longer show up just to take pictures, but you show up to go to a waterfall and then go canoeing… and that’s just what we did. Love is wonderful to document, and I hope you enjoy this session that took place practically in my backyard.

standing up in a canoe while floating down a river was not easy – but they were up for the challenge. In fact, they didn’t tip at all but they did lose a paddle that Wes quickly rescued.

every session should be this fun. congrats again w+r!

Today is Sarah + John’s anniversary, and it just happened that yesterday I photographed them for what can truly be called an anniversary session. Here’s a little present guys, a preview from yesterday and congratulations on three years!

That final scene in Pride and Prejudice always gets me. The early morning fog has rolled in and dew covers the ground as Elizabeth and Darcy confess their love for each other and the sun slowly rises and wraps them in a warm glow. It’s beautiful. As Becca and I planned her engagement session we discussed how amazing it would be to step into a scene like that and how we could make it happen. While shooting in the early morning would be our best bet for fog we decided it would be too hard to predict and could achieve similar results with gorgeous light in the evening. With the inspiration of Pride + Prejudice in the back of our minds we planned a session with personality that focused on landscapes, light and a tea party picnic under a grove of trees. We wanted the images to have a bit of Scotland – Bobby’s home, and where these two got engaged – and with the lush green grass and perfect light it came together beautifully. We photographed it yesterday and I can’t wait to share the rest!

I have good news and I have bad news. The good news is that I photographed the engagement session that I gave away through the inspiration board contest. The bad news is that our original winners conceded their win to second place, which means Sophie and Peter’s are the new winners with their trains + travel themed board. After contacting them about the change we decided it worked out perfectly to photograph their session while I was down in DC. They arrived with a car filled with props and details and we photographed a fun and personal session that really tells their story. I can’t wait to share it with you so look for it on the horizon soon!

The blossoms have bloomed in the nation’s capital and it is one of the most gorgeous times to visit. That would also make it a perfect time for engagement photos, which I took for Liz and Matt this morning. After an early flight we got right to shooting to avoid the coming rain and it really paid off. The cloudy skies set the stage for romantic and moody images with soft light all around. They have been most gracious hosts and even took me by Georgetown Cupcake for a birthday treat! I love to visit this city – can I stay longer?

This weekend I was busy photographing out in the snow and despite the cold it was totally worth it. I photographed two engagement sessions and a wedding shoot; two of the sessions I collaborated on with Sassafras Flowers and a few other wonderful vendors to bring to life. It was a pleasure to be a part of and I’ll share more of the story soon. For now I’m happy to be inside by the fire working on some of the images I captured and here’s just one!

Proposals seem to take one of two forms. They are either expertly planned and romantic endeavors that leave others imagining being in those shoes… or they are a chain of events gone wrong, an unexpected surprise that takes happens early out of nerves or later due to foiled plans. While Katie and Chris might have had the latter, they are certainly not alone (I fall in to the second category as well) and they have perhaps a more entertaining tale of proposal.

Letchworth is a favorite location of mine to photograph at, and when Katie and Chris contacted me to shoot a winter engagement session we quickly settled on the location. It was snowy but thankfully not freezing and we ventured out into the winter landscape and this is what I captured:

If Chris and Katie are anything, they are fun. It’s only right that their engagement pictures show that, don’t you think?

Pumpkin spice lattes, Bakerella, and good pictures drew Kathleen in. When she emailed me to plan an engagement session and told me about the different things we had in common I couldn’t believe it. Besides having similar interest in the aforementioned things, she was from Rochester, New York (close to where I live now) and her fiance Ryan is from Bloomfield Hills, Michigan (close to where I grew up). They met in college their senior year, and it didn’t take long before they were inseparable and falling in love. They now live in Chicago and are trying to figure out where to have their wedding – Michigan, Rochester, NY or the Adirondacks – one of Kathleens families favorite vacation spots. I can’t wait to see what they decide, but first their engagement photos.

Since Ryan and Kathleen started dating in the fall and have a lot of “firsts” in this season it was fitting that it also set the stage for their pictures. Letchworth State Park was the perfect location so we met on a sunny afternoon in November. I love Letchworth – not only do I live really close – it has endless backdrops and inspiration and never gets old. So what do you get when you combine a rustic setting, plaid, wool blankets, apples, marshmallows and two people in love? Look and see…

You guys look so good together – and effortless in front of the camera

a classic Pendleton plaid blanket makes sure everything is cozy and warm

seriously… you make a rock staircase look real good – you two are going to be fabulous on your wedding day!

to end, a few pictures by the gorgeous falls… oh, Letchworth. Ryan + Kathleen, I’m so glad we were able to take these pictures and I hope you enjoy! Can’t wait to hear about your wedding plans as they start to take shape.

It started at West Point. They were introduced by friends and began their own friendship which was continued at a few Army related schools after graduation. During their time at Fort Bliss they started dating and were eventually deployed together to Kuwait. You might have read earlier on this blog about their challenges of wedding planning while deployed and since that time Amanda had to take medical leave for a back injury so now they truly have a long distance relationship.

Wes came home as scheduled for a 2 week leave and it was during that time we were able to meet up for their engagement photos. It was the first time that Wes was able to visit western New York and see how gorgeous it can be. All of the other times it had been snowing (too much) or raining and we were all thankful for the perfect weather. Blue sky beckoned us to be outside among the colorful leaves at Chestnut Ridge Park, near Amanda’s hometown of Orchard Park.

They were casual, relaxed, and in love. Since they now spend more time apart it was so good for them to be together, and I can’t wait for their May wedding which will take place at Asbury Hall in downtown Buffalo. Until then they’ll be able to enjoy all of the pictures I captured and I hope you do too!

do you guys have to be so good looking? I can’t wait for your wedding day it’s going to be gorgeous! W

Amanda and Wes, you both know how to work it. I love that you had fun in front of the camera and were confident – is that part of your Army training?

Amanda’s Carolina Herrera sweater was fabulous, and added a little bit of detail and sparkle to her outfit.

just a step back changed the light and added some softness and flare. We ended the session with a little hot cocoa and a cozy picnic.

Nothing like letting the one you love keep you warm. Wes and Amanda – if I didn’t say it enough let me say it one more time – I’m soo glad these pictures worked out so perfectly. You guys are fabulous and so easy to photograph and I’m really looking forward to May!

Serendipity best describes the planning of Jason + Jen’s engagement session. They had contacted me about shooting their Rochester, NY wedding but weren’t sure how it would work to fit in engagement photos since they lived in North Carolina. Of course, I could hardly believe I was saying this, but I was planning a trip to North Carolina for a wedding. Everything fell in to place and we tossed around a few ideas before settling on Liberty Park as our location.

After safely making it down to North Carolina, the day for the shoot arrived and I headed to the park to meet Jason and Jen. From the minute we started I could tell we were going to have a great session. Jason + Jen are the kind of couple that not only have fun but welcome other people to join with them and I couldn’t be more grateful that they invited me to document their lives. Their wedding day will take place at the Inn on the Lake in Canandaigua and since Scrabble is a favorite of these two it made for a perfect save the date.

They look so good together!

They planned a little picnic for the park and enjoyed the shade of this weeping willow – the image below is one of my favorites from the session

I also pulled out the lensbaby for a few shots to end the session with something different. Jason + Jen, I hope you enjoy the photos and I’m so glad we were able to spend some time together and meet in Charlotte! All the best with your wedding planning and I can’t wait for next summer!