Charlie and Alysse: NYC Engagement

In 2010, my sophomore year of college, I met the one and only Alysse Papkoff through a mutual friend (looking at you KP). Back then, I didn’t even realize we’d become friends, much less the kind of forever friends that plan weddings together and talk weekly about things that mean nothing and things that mean everything. I probably have more text’s than I can count over the past few years from her that say something like “Lets have a wedding” or “Who’s gonna get married so we can have a wedding?” (a great excuse for the whole college gang to be in the same place at the same time). So, when Charlie proposed to Alysse outside of their King Street Apartment in Soho, the only necessary response was “WE’RE HAVING A WEDDING!”

Not to make this an Alysse love fest, but…I love Alysse, so that’s what’s going to happen. (You’re fine too, Charlie, but I’ll get to that in a second.) There are SO many reasons why I value my friendship with Alysse. First of all, she’s hysterical – just ask her. In truth, I have never left time spent with her without laughter. Even times that are tearfilled or difficult, she finds a way to get a laugh out of others. She’s strong. She’s had more than a lot of people’s lifetime of hardships, but she absolutely makes it through beautifully, gracefully and with admirable strength. She’s kind. She’s dramatic (in the best way). She’s a beauty for sure! She make sure I feel valuable as a friend and as a person, so I’m sure she offers that to others, and that is an invaluable quality to have in a friend.

I first heard Charlie’s name over 5 years ago in a Rugged Ware House shoe aisle (you may have heard this story, but i’ll tell it again for the newbies). Alysse declared she may buy this pair of Vans (or converse..it’s up for debate) for her boyfriend, Charlie, to which Amanda and I replied. “What?!” – and that’s how we found out she had a boyfriend, in true Alysse fashion. They have lived in New York for a while now, so I don’t get to see Alysse and Charlie interact on an everyday basis, but spending this weekend with them was SO much fun, and it’s comforting to see how good they are to one another. Charlie is patient – He’s the kind of guy who walks all the way back to the apartment while we get coffee so Alysse can have flat shoes to walk in instead of heels. He’s the kind of guy that doesn’t complain about it. He’s the kind of guy who stops by the store on the way home and grabs snacks for the 5 girls overtaking his apartment to visit Alysse. These are little things, but they matter. Charlie, thank you for loving my friend!

Now usually when someone says, “Let’s take pictures in the brightest of bright blinding parts of the day” (I’m paraphrasing) I usually say, “That lighting is the worst. let’s not” HOWEVER – we had one window of unbooked time on this NYC trip (and try saying “no” to Alysse Papkoff, I dare you.) so, we faced the sun on a building top (because we wanted to be extra close to it, ya know..) and made this engagement session happen! Charlie’s mom gave us access to her apartment rooftop and then we traveled through the west village and down to the waterfront to capture these images of Alysse and Charlie in the place they call home. I’m so thankful I got to do this. It really doesn’t feel like work when this is who you get to work for. Enjoy these, you guys!! I love you so much and I can’t wait to be back in your neck of the woods. WE’RE HAVING A WEDDING!!!

 

Shoutout to Amanda Miller for being the BEST photographers assistant for this shoot and  carrying all the things while simultaneously taking behind the scenes photos and video. ❤

 

 

 

Charlottesville Homecoming

When DeAnne contacted me about photographing her daughter, Delaney, for senior homecoming, I did not expect the story that was to follow! It’s ridiculously cute and added so much excitement to this session. Delaney’s family was vacationing at Virginia Beach this past summer and while swimming in the ocean she met a boy. *swoon* Delaney told me he taught her how to surf and they spent the next few “days in the waves and nights on the boardwalk” as DeAnne stated. Vacation came to and end and Kyle (afformentioned boy), returned to his home…in OHIO..and Delaney and her family returned to Virginia, both never really expecting to see each other again.

As we all know, there are a million ways to keep up with each other these days and that is precisely what Kyle and Delaney did. They have been in touch every day since they met and formed such a special relationship. Delaney wanted Kyle to be able to accompany her to her senior year homecoming at Charlottesville High, and she got her wish. Kyle FLEW FROM OHIO to attend the dance with Delaney and take these portraits with her (good move, Kyle. Am I right?!?).

This session was so sweet (and nostalgic..I loved high school – weird I know – and it was fun to be in the midst of that again.). Kyle and Delaney were PRECIOUS and so caring toward one another. It was so obvious that what they have built since the summer is very unique. Some of Delaney’s friends from school came to join the shoot with their families at Boars Head Inn (which is a BEAUTIFUL location as you’ll see below!). It was such a pleasure to meet the Tharp family and capture such a sweet story. Delaney is as sweet as she is beautiful, and is it just me or does Kyle look exactly like actor Grant Gustin who plays The Flash?! They sure did look like a movie!

 

 

Wes and Laura: Engaged

This is not the first time I have captured this BEAUTIFUL couple. Laura was a bridesmaid in a wedding I shot earlier this year, and I snagged a few photos of her and her fiancé, Wes, on the dance floor. At the time I had no idea who they were (the coolest couple ever – thats who) or that in just a few months I would be shooting their engagement session in Washington D.C. Let me tell you, I was SO DOWN to shoot int D.C. This wasn’t a destination shoot for them. They live and breath this city, so it was so fitting to have their session in the midst of it. Wes is the manager of the Hyatt Place Washington D.C/White House and Laura works for the Nations Parks Service for the White House. I told you they were cool, didn’t I?! Laura was giving off some major Olivia Pope vibes in that white dress. People on a tour bus even started pointing, staring and taking pictures because they looked like movie starts and I was following them around with a camera.

Wes and Laura are so incredibly sweet, funny, full of life and kind! We had so much fun. There was a lot of laughter in this session which was mostly me making fun of Wes (sorry..) and fawning over Laura because she’s perfect. Wes is an avid Eagles fan and Laura is INSANE at yoga, so we incorporated that into their shoot! Laura, Wes and I have been talking about this shoot for a while and I LOVED that they came into it with vision and excitement. Afterward they took me out to lunch (so sweet, I know) where we had GREAT sushi and got to know each other even more. It’s not every day or every business that you can have lunch with your clients and really feel like you’re just hanging out with friends talking about life. They were so encouraging and just plain good to be around.

It took a lot of will power to not share every single image from this shoot with you, but there were literally hundreds, and I want this to be a blog post of reasonable length! Congratulations Wes and Laura! I truly can not wait to capture your wedding next year. If this is your engagement shoot, I can’t imagine how gorgeous your wedding will be!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Katherine and Bill: Engaged

Katherine and I have been talking via e-mail and phone about her wedding preperation for months now, but I didn’t get to meet her and Bill until our Sunday evening engagement session at Lake Fairfax and Reston Town Center in Reston, Va. I am a people person, but there is always a slight nervousness that comes with meeting new people. I imagine there was nervousness on their end too, especially as I was about to have a camera in their faces for the next two hours, but Katherine, Bill and I were chatting, laughing and capturing these moments within in seconds of meeting!

We got to know a lot about each other in those two hours, and it honestly flew by so quickly! I hear this quite a bit, but in one of our “get to know you” emails Katherine had mentioned that they may be awkward or it may not feel so natural to pose for a camera. I hear this A LOT  – but they truly we’re so easy to work with and get great images! Within minutes they were just being themselves together and THAT is what makes great pictures. I loved hearing Bill say “this isn’t bad at all” about 10 minutes in!

This is a sweet couple, y’all. They were so kind to me and to one another. They looked at each other with warmth and admiration. Katherine has been such a sweetheart to work with and I have to give Bill props for his cooperation – most guys are over it by the first hour, but Bill stuck by Katherine and never once showed and ounce of the “lets get the pictures over with” emotion that tends to break the surface. I am even more excited to spend their wedding day behind the camera documenting the love story of this sweet couple!

Katherine and Bill,

July will be here before you know it! Thank you for choosing me to be a part of this time in your lives. It has been so great to get to know you two and I am truly looking forward to your wedding day. I hope the time between now and then in sweet and slow and cherished. Congratulations!

Emily

Andrea & Hunter: Engaged

Andrea and Hunter – I don’t even know where to start. The beginning is usually a good suggestion, so lets go back a bit. I have known Andrea for pretty much my entire life. We were introduced through our home church, and her cousin has been my best friend for eternity, so my family and hers have intertwined for quite a long time! Growing up, Andrea started out as “my best friends little cousin”, but as time went on and we were together in dance classes, family gatherings, church plays and singing groups, she became more than my best friends little cousin – she became my friend. One of the best adventures Andrea and I had together was serving in Guatemala on mission trip. I have so many memories growing up with her, and all of them have one thing in common – lots of laughter. Andrea has never failed to make me (and most people around her) laugh. If I dug through all of those memories right now, you’d be here for a while. This day with Her and Hunter was no exception! We laughed our way through this shoot, and though it had been a while since Andrea and I had been together, this did not change!

Hunter has been a familiar face for years as well, but this shoot was actually the first extended period of time that I had spent with him, or them as a couple! I was living out of state when they started dating, but the wonders of social media made it very clear that Andrea and Hunter were on a beautiful path that led them here! As soon as we hopped in the truck to head up the mountain to one of our shooting locations in Piney River, Hunter was talking to me like we had been friends for as long as Andrea and I had been! I’m a fan of conversation (most of you know..), so getting to immediately dive into who Hunter is and who they are together made this day so much fun.

On this day I “got” a lot. I got the proposal story (ask Andrea how she ruined it…or ask Hunter if he cried..then ask Andrea the same.). I got to laugh with an old friend and laugh with a new one. I got shocked (twice) by and electrical fence – Gotta get that ring shot, ya know?. I got stuck in the mud in a creek, but luckily Andrea had brought wading boots with her, so I was safe. I got images that will last these two a lifetime and hopefully bring back memories for years of this time in their lives – the start of their life together. Most importantly, I got to witness a sweet friend be in love. I got to feel joy for her.

Andrea & Hunter, I am so honored to be a small part of this journey you two are starting together! I hope you have fond memories of this day. I hope you remember Who holds your lives together and honor Him in every step you take. I hope you look at how in love you are in these photographs 30 years from now and think “well that was nothing compared to how I feel for you now!” Congratulations, friends! You are so loved.