Zöe & Matt | Longwood Gardens Engagement Session

This is a fresh engagement session. And by “fresh” I mean that Matt & Zöe (IG: @queendom.code) were literally engaged the week before the shoot! I’m not going to get into the details, but Matt & I were originally planning an elaborate scheme so he could propose to Zöe on-site at Longwood Gardens. Instead, that week and in the moment, Matt proposed to Zöe in their home together and she excitedly (and tearfully) said “yes!”.

With a background in Art Direction, Zöe brought me a mood / inspiration board for the shoot (which I’m totally open to). I love when clients collaborate with their own thoughts and ideas to create an engagement shoot that’s truly “theirs”. Longwood Gardens was a perfect backdrop and Zöe completely blew the doors off with that dress and look!

Much love to Matt & Zöe! Truly honored to be able to capture this moment in your lives together.

Marti & Clayton (+ Cooper!) | Lancaster Engagement Session

We’re driving into the middle of nowhere….bouncing around in Clayton’s SUV…somewhere by the Susquehanna River as far as I can tell. Clayton is adamant. Marti & I, (and Cooper most likely) are a bit more reserved and uncertain.

“Is this it?” - Marti

“This is it!” - Clayton

We pop out of the 4Runner and take in the scene that’s been given to us. There’s an inlet from the Susquehanna, a stream, plenty of forest, and a slightly intimidating hiking trail with about a 45° pitch heading up to a rock face. We head down the initial path, Clayton confidently leading, Marti & Cooper confidently following.

We shoot by the water, we shoot by the stream, we explore the opportunities given to us by nature.

As we’re shooting and exploring, I remember something Clayton said to me about when he & Marti were dating. “She reminded me of my Grandmother”, which was an odd thing to hear at first take, but as we dug deeper I understood what he meant. He was speaking of Marti’s ability to love, to care, to give him the security to be himself, vulnerabilities and all. That familiar feeling was important.

We head up the pitch to the rock face. Somewhere along the trail is a fallen tree. Clayton sits down and Marti joins him on his lap. For a sweet moment they’ve forgotten about the shoot and are just enjoying each other. There’s a sense of connection that everyone can feel, myself included. They’re in a moment of gratitude. Appreciation for finding each other, appreciation for where they’re going, and appreciation for being together….and just being.

“Let’s keep that going” - me (the only direction I wanted to give)

Lindsay & Will | Lancaster Engagement Session

Lindsay & Will, Will & Lindsay. I’ve known these 2 from afar for over 10 years and am really enjoying the process of getting to know them better (and vice-versa). I’m really good friends with Will’s brother Garrity (an accomplished local Wedding Videographer) and Will has always been down to grab a beer or some wings at ABAG. Recently, we took a MTB trip together and over the course of the weekend, I really got a feel for his drive and analytical mind. Fun Fact: Will tends to mash the parking brake at every opportunity, and I now do the same, lol.

I’m really enjoying the process of getting to know Lindsay. She works at her family business, Filling’s Clothing, by F&M in Lancaster. She also makes me laugh with her little quips and it’s a joy to make her laugh as well. As long as I remember, Lindsay has always been there with Will. They’ve always been one of those “constant couples” in my mind; easy-going, always moving forward in life together, one step at a time.

For Lindsay & Will’s engagement session, we took a leisurely stroll through Lancaster City on a Fall day to see what we could find. There were plenty of laughs and natural chemistry that gave me all the feels.

Bonus: they were totally up for the Drone shot at the end.

Lindsay & Will are getting married at Lancaster Country Club on June 5th, 2021. Moving one more step forward, hand in hand.