Barbara + James :: Elizabeth Park West Hartford Connecticut Engagement Photography

These dear ones are set to get married in early May up in Massachusetts, where I will gladly put on my wedding guest hat and dance my post-baby booty off. But first, let me share my favorites from their Elizabeth Park engagement session in West Hartford. Barbara has been a dear friend since the summer of 2001, the same summer I met Sean, and I am so thankful I can call her a friend. She and James are so sweet and funny and natural together, which made our time hanging out doing photos super easy for me.

Go over there and snuggle? No problem.

Twirl her around and make her laugh that big Barbara laugh. Got it. 

Look at each other like you simply adore each other. Oh, you're already doing that. Yay!

I was pumped to spend a beautiful September day with them at one of my favorite local parks. Even though it was technically fall, the air was warm, the sun was golden and there were still gorgeous blooms everywhere we turned. I swear, this park is magic. 

Molly + Sam :: Duxbury Massachusetts Engagement Photography

Oh, my dear friends...Molly and Sam are two of my friends from home, and it was such an honor to photograph their engagement photos in Duxbury, just down the road from the street they grew up on. I've had the joy of watching them get together, fall in love, face growth and change and pain, and overcome it stronger than before. I am so incredibly happy that they are getting married next summer!

They chose a special place for their engagement photos, a field at the end of the street where they grew up. In high school, they would walk together to this field, sit under the tree and talk; it's their place. It's where their love formed. Imagine the talks that big tree has witnessed, keeping their words safely protected in it's old branches. 

I wish my friends so much happiness in their life together. I am proud to share these photos with you today from their engagement session. 

Ross + Renee :: deCordova Sculpture Park Lincoln Massachusetts Engagement Photography

Oh, I just adore these two. Somehow I am lucky enough to connect with couples who are so sweet and unafraid to love on each other. And they aren't just putting it on for the camera, they just naturally show each other love and affection in a way that is authentic and genuine and you can't help but just smile and fall a little in love with them. 

Yes, I fall in love with my couples. I can't help it! They are rockstars. 

I spent a quiet fall morning with Ross and Renee at the deCordova Sculpture Park in Lincoln, Massachusetts, and if you've never been here, you must take a trip! What a cool place! We just kind of wandered around finding fun ways to use the artwork within the photos, but the property itself is so perfectly New England. Tall pines, lots of foliage. It doesn't feel over landscaped, it's just this little slice of artsy, laid back Massachusetts that you would not expect in this small suburban town. 

I was so inspired by this shoot, I need to come back here in every different season. I'm not sure if and how often they change out the art, but I could spend all day here and probably not see everything they have to offer. 

I am so excited for Ross and Renee's wedding in March. They are getting married at the Willowdale Estate in Topsfield, which will be a new venue for me. But more importantly, I can't wait to see these two say their vows and spend the day surrounded by their friends and family.

How lucky am I to get to witness so many beautiful beginnings of families?

Liz + Nathan :: Elizabeth Park West Hartford Connecticut Engagement Photography

Liz and Nathan met up with me at Elizabeth Park in West Hartford Connecticut on New Year's Eve for a wonderfully snowy, winter engagement session! They will be my first wedding this spring and I am so thrilled to be working with them. They are sweet, kind, funny, and fell in love over shared geekery, which just makes my heart flutter. I'm so thankful they have chosen to work with me and trust me with their wedding day photography. If their engagement session was any hint of what's to come, their wedding day is going to be so much fun!

Here are some favorites from their engagement session!

Amanda + Zach :: Collinsville Connecticut Engagement Photography

I love discovering new places, and Collinsville, Connecticut is definitely a gem of a small town that I look forward to exploring! Amanda and Zach introduced me to this sweet town where Zach proposed to Amanda. They showed me all their favorite places, and we did a little exploring along the river until we found a cool spot to wade into the water. It's such a tucked away little town in Farmington Valley, you'd never know it's there. But you'll fall in love with it, from the small shops to the old New England homes and the river area that is bustling with swimmers, kayakers and boaters. 

It was a gorgeous summery day with these two, and I was so happy to spend it outside in great company. Here are some of my favorites from our time together. 

Emily + Tom :: Yale New Haven Connecticut Engagement Photography

I love shooting at Yale. Love, love, love. I walked around campus for Emily and Tom's engagement session and was just awestruck by the architecture, the little nooks and crannies and the stonework - oh, the stonework! Everywhere I turned was a new angle I wanted to shoot. And I will admit, I definitely imagined what it would be like to be Rory Gilmore and be walking around campus as a student. It felt good!

Emily and Tom are so incredibly sweet, and Emily and I actually went to high school together, so I was thrilled she reached out to have me photograph their engagement pictures. They currently live down south, but were back up in New England for the holiday and we made it work!

I loved Emily's dress choice for the shoot. I adore yellow in all it's cheerful glory and I thought it just popped so nicely against all the cooler tones buildings. 

Emily and Tom are incredibly sweet together. I feel like I'm hitting the jackpot getting to meet so many genuinely nice, kind couples who truly care about each other. It makes my job easy, so much that it doesn't feel like work at all. It's more like hanging out with friends. 

So I hope you enjoy Emily and Tom's summery Yale University engagement session!