Rustic Pennsylvania Engagement Session | Kellie and Matt

Engagement, Love, Stories Documented  //  28th March 2013

Even though we grew up in the area, we never imagined how beautiful this rustic Pennsylvania engagement session would be! Yes, the creek, snow covered woods, frozen pond, random wood piles and everything about the environment made this session remarkable… but it definitely was the beauty of Kellie and Matt’s love that made the session unforgettable!

We have known both Kellie and Matt for quite some time. We all grew up in the same small town and got to know each other through different avenues of life! (For example, Ryan worked with Matt during high school and was in many of the same school classes as Kellie… starting all the way back in 2nd grade!) When we received an email from Kellie sharing her excitement that she and Matt were planning their wedding, we could not have been more excited! We couldn’t wait to hear more about their love story and how this beautiful world brought them together!

Although we knew both Kellie and Matt growing up… it wasn’t until after graduation that Kellie and Matt got to know each other! In fact, it took a blind call from Matt to Kellie to start their relationship off! Matt’s cousin was looking out for him and suggested that he give Kellie a call! After just a few dates, they knew they had something special!

When Kellie and Matt are together, their love radiates from their smiles! We loved spending some time with them at a local hunt club in Pennsylvania over the weekend! It was such a beautiful and peaceful setting… the perfect place for Kellie and Matt to escape the busyness of their lives and soak each other in!

Kellie and Matt… thank you for sharing such a beautiful day with us! Your peaceful love and happiness radiates and is a joy to be around! We are so excited for your wedding and so grateful this beautiful world brought you two together!

 

 

Photo Contest: Win a FREE Photo Session!!!

Engagement, Life, Love, Stories Documented, Wedding  //  1st January 2013

Happy New Year!!!  Wahoooo! We just did a little cheers with our mimosas and good friends Natalie and Hugh…to making 2013 the most AMAZING year yet! We are so excited to think about 2013, but first we are taking a good look back at 2012 with hugely grateful hearts!

It is so incredible to look back over 2012 and think about all of the AMAZING couples who have touched our lives in such a special way! Every single photo session that we have done has left a special mark on our hearts. We always take so much away from each session… unconditional love and joyful happiness are two of our favorite takeaways! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for trusting us as your wedding, engagement and anniversary photographers! This year we even took a sense of adventure away from many of our sessions!  It is crazy to think that we photographed in Paris, Barcelona, Mexico, Punta Cana, Southport, NC, Annapolis, the Eastern Shore, Baltimore, Altoona, PA, Montoursville, PA, Rye, NY, Winston-Salem, NC, and so so so many more locations! Wow! We are so so so grateful for every couple we have had the honor of photographing and for the every adventure they have taken us on!

This year, we wanted to do something EXTRA special for our couples to say THANK YOU for such an AMAZING year! We are hosting a Facebook Photo contest (that is live now!) and we are giving away (not just 1) but 2 photo sessions!!! We pulled 1 photo from every couple’s session we photographed this year and put them on Facebook. The photo that gets the most votes by Monday, January 14th will win a FREE photo session that can take place anywhere in the United States! ;) (Yes! We will travel to wherever our couple would like to go! Who knows… maybe if they talk us into it we would even go abroad?! ;)) The official rules are on the Facebook Contest site. And there is something AMAZING in this for all of the voters too! We will choose 1 person from all of the voters at random to win the 2nd FREE photo session! AMAZING, right?!  Honestly, we are so so so grateful for all of the AMAZING people our business has brought into our lives, this is just our little way of giving back to all of you!

Now, don’t wait… please go vote! And share the contest with all of your family and friends too… maybe if they win the photo session they would share the love with you!?! Who knows!

Thank you again for making 2012 such an AMAZING year! Our hearts are so full of gratitude! Happy 2013!

Love Story: Susan and Fred’s Rustic Field Engagement Session

Engagement, Love, Stories Documented  //  15th November 2012

For some, it may be “just” a hill. But for Susan and Fred, this is a hill where their dreams will one day come true. Since Susan’s early days, her parents have owned this property. And since that day, Susan has dreamed of living in a home on the hill.

As Susan and Fred make the final decisions that lead up to their wedding day, they have something extra special in the back of their minds. Their dream of starting a family and building a home on this hill is getting closer to reality each and every day.

Susan and Fred… we are so excited to have been able to spend our afternoon with you on this very special hill and we can’t wait to come back in the future and visit this very special home of yours! ;)

Love Story: Heidi & Tristan’s CT & Watch Hill, RI Engagement Session

Engagement, Love, Stories Documented  //  7th November 2012

A few months ago when we began planning Heidi and Tristan’s engagement session, Heidi expressed her concern about the cold weather. They were a little concerned with what the weather might be like in late October in New England. Understanding their concern, Ryan and I quickly remembered back to that same weekend last year when we found ourselves in a huge snowstorm in Boston. What are the chances that would happen again? Thinking the chances were slim, we planned ahead promising to make the most of whatever the weather may be. Little did we know, Sandy had a challenge for us.

As we arrived in Mystic, CT, last Sunday (a day earlier than planned), we turned the corner and saw Heidi calmly resting on Tristan’s shoulder.  No one else was in site in this absolutely adorable coastal town.  As we parked our car and opened the door to a huge wind gust, we were greeted by a police officer with a megaphone warning us (and all of the other people who had already left town) of the mandatory evacuation that was in order for 7:00 p.m. in that exact area.

Ryan and I looked at each other. After a minute of silence where I think we finally came to terms that Sandy was actually real, we looked at each other and said, “are we crazy?!” The real answer is probably yes… but it was also at that exact moment that I found myself thanking God for the adventures in our lives and for placing Ryan by my side to show me calmness whenever I start to worry.

We met up with Heidi and Tristan on the street corner in front of Bank Square Books. We had a very similar moment where we all acknowledged the fact that we were a little crazy! But, at the same time, we promised to make the most of it as we recognized how blessed we were to have those few hours ahead to soak in the gorgeous New England coast. We took in the beauty right along with Heidi and Tristan as they shared a cozy date at the Watch Hill Yacht Club that included some of their New England favorites… Dunkin Donuts, of course, along with hot cocoa!

We finished up Heidi and Tristan’s engagement session with a glass of wine and hot cider at the Ocean House in Watch Hill, RI. We reflected on the beauty of the area with a sense of nervousness of what Sandy may bring. However, we left with a sense of confidence that whatever Sandy delivered, the loved ones beside us are the only things that truly matter.

I have to admit… I am a little emotional as I write this post. Knowing there are so many people who are still deeply impacted by Sandy… our hearts are heavy. Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone who was affected by Sandy. It is our prayer that everyone (especially those that were affected by Sandy- and especially especially those in the Mystic, CT and Watch Hill, RI areas) can use these images as a source of inspiration and hope as they work to rebuild the beautiful surroundings in their lives! But most especially, we hope the images provide a source of comfort in knowing that all that really matters are the people by your side.

Heidi and Tristan… we are so grateful for you. Thank you for sharing your favorite New England treasures with us on this incredibly memorable adventure!

Love Story: Amanda and Bobby’s Veritas Vineyard Engagement Session

Engagement, Love, Stories Documented  //  22nd October 2012

The very first time we met Amanda and Bobby, we bonded over our love of wine and cupcakes and everything rustic chic! Let’s just say, we found a lot that we have in common! ;) They mentioned they found a favorite winery in Virginia, Veritas Vineyard, that was just gorgeous and we absolutely had to visit sometime!

As we planned their perfect engagement session, Amanda and Bobby threw around a few AMAZING ideas of things they like to do together… like camping, cooking together, wine tasting, going to Oriole’s games, etc. All of the above made us jump up and down, but we kept thinking back to that vineyard that they mentioned during that first meeting!  We had to check it out!

As we walked up to the door at Veritas Vineyard, Amanda said, “You are going to love this!” Ohhh my goodness!!! I walked inside and I am pretty sure my mouth was wide open for a good twenty minutes! WOW WOW WOW! Veritas Vineyard is absolutely gorgeous! It is rustic chic at its finest and I literally just fell in love. Immediately! Seriously… a winery that screams LOVE as soon as you walk in the door with a cozy fireplace, leather couches, and rustic wood tables!!!…YES, please! It was AMAZING and we are so grateful Amanda and Bobby introduced us to the magicalness!

Here’s the thing though… Veritas Vineyard was made even better because we had the chance to share it with 2 AMAZING people who are so in love! Amanda and Bobby brought along the perfect little picnic to enjoy amongst the vineyard (including Georgetown Cupcakes!!! ;) ). They had the cutest little Save the Date props and Love banner. But what we loved the most about what Amanda and Bobby brought to the session was their love! It was so easy for them to forget about the craziness of life and just soak each other in! Their excitement for their upcoming wedding and becoming husband and wife was so visible!! and we LOVED every single minute of capturing that excitement!

Amanda and Bobby… THANK YOU so much for sharing your love of Veritas Vineyard with us! We can’t wait to go back! ;) And thanks for just being yourselves and soaking in every single minute of this AMAZING life together! Your love and happiness is inspiring!