It’s a lie to call this an “engagement” session.  Joan and Jay are getting married this Saturday, and they’ve been engaged for a while now.  We almost had this session at the beginning of the summer when they had flown in from their home in Seattle,  but they both chickened out  were  jetlagged.  I am so glad they decided to give it a go because this photo shoot was a blast.  Originally I’d planned on shooting at Fort Williams, but after talking with Joan we decided to go for something a bit more edgy.  Into the Old Port we headed.  Yeah, I know, it’s not really an urban jungle, but we worked with what we had.  I am thrilled with the results.  Thanks for pushing me to think outside my usual comfort zone, Joan and Jay.  You two really rocked it and fearlessly tackled some very public locations.  Can’t wait for Saturday!  Don’t forget to practice smiling with your eyes!

I am often asked why a couple would want to do an engagement session.  In theory, an engagement session should be scheduled shortly after you get engaged.  The images could then be used for an engagement announcement or a save the date card.  In reality, we are often doing this shoot a couple of months before the wedding.  So why still do it?  You might decide to have me use the images to create a custom designed book that your guests can sign at your wedding reception.  Or maybe you simply would like to have some really nice informal photos of the two of you.  But more importantly, an engagement session is a great opportunity for us to get to know each other and for you to get some experience in front of the camera.  The time we spend together on the shoot lets us establish a rapport that will help make getting great shots on your wedding day a snap.

Kim and Chris are getting married in October at Camp Hammond in Yarmouth, ME.  They hired me over the winter and wanted to wait until summer for their engagement session.  After one cancellation due to torrential rains, we picked another day and crossed our fingers that this kooky Maine summer weather would give us the break we needed to get outside and shoot.  We scored a perfect day and headed over to Fort Williams in Cape Elizabeth.  There’s not much to complain about when your job is to photograph a fun, laid back, and fearless couple.  They willingly climbed rocks, stood at the cliff’s edge,and braved ravenous mosquitos.  It was a busy day at the park  yet somehow they managed to ignore the people around them and give me some of the sweetest and most intimate shots.  Choosing just a couple of images to share here was a huge challenge.  Can’t wait for the wedding!

I’ve lived in the Portland area for five years and am ashamed to admit that last week was my first trip out to Peaks Island.  I’ll be photographing a wedding at the Inn on Peaks later this summer and have been a bit anxious about dealing with the ferry.  When Kristina and Derrick suggested heading out to Peaks to scope out the wedding venue and shoot their engagement photos, I jumped at the opportunity.  No surprise — the ferry is totally easy and no big deal and the island is adorable with stunning views from just about everywhere.  

Anyone who is lucky enough to know Kristina and Derrick knows what a loving, kind, and FUN couple they are.  Photographing them was super, and I can hardly wait until September for the wedding.