joslyn + andrew | pizza, skeeball + patterson park pagoda engagement
/When you live across the street from the best place to get pizza, beer AND play skeeball near Patterson Park, your engagement session essentially designs itself!
Joslyn and Andrew, are two of the most fun-loving, relaxed and kind humans… they also own Dexter, a lovable beagle who made a short and sweet appearance during their engagement photos but was a rockstar from every angle.
We had so much fun walking around the park and pagoda together! The trees were showing off with their early spring blooms, Joslyn’s floral heels added the perfect pop of color and pattern to their classic navy wardrobe and I simply loved watching how J+A interact; they were up for anything and overflowing with joy!
Joslyn + Andrew, if your engagement photos are any indication of how much fun your wedding day is going to be… your guests are in for quite a treat and I’m so honored and excited to document it all!
xo,
Naomi
jessie + will | a Bmore Licks, Patterson Park + Fells Point engagement
/“Moving away has shown us how much we love the city! We are really looking forward to kicking off our return to Baltimore, starting with our wedding…”
As soon as I first chatted with Jessie and Will, I learned 4 things very quickly:
We share a love of cheese, pizza (from Verde), and ice cream (from Bmore Licks of course!)… all of the most important dairy-filled foods!!
They love to make each other laugh and are one of the most down-to-earth couples to be around. I honestly wanted to hang out with them ALL DAY - they are ADORABLE, gorgeous and the perfect compliment to each other.
I am honored and incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to document their love story. Seriously, how did I get so lucky with these two!? #couplegoals 100%
The vision for their Mt. Washington Mill Dye House wedding is one that will celebrate their amazing sense of style in a simple, elegant, genuine and fun way…
They chose to focus their engagement session in and around my 2 favorite neighborhoods in Baltimore: Patterson Park and Fells Point… there was no shortage of genuine fun! ;)
I absolutely love their love story and had to share it with you…
“We both went to Loyola. Will was a year older, finishing up his extra semester and coaching golf, and I was a senior. We had never met or really even crossed paths during our college careers until early in the school year of our last year. Will bravely introduced himself on the dance floor of Ropewalk Tavern on a Thursday night out (Thursdays were always our favorite night in college and boy do we miss them!!). After exchanging numbers at Ropewalk, the weeks to follow were filled with many anxiously typed texts back and forth trying to make the perfect impression. We started to spend more and more time together and cross paths on campus after the night we met. We aren't ashamed to say that many of our early moments together were in Ropewalk Tavern or Zen West Cantina, two of Loyola's best known bars, having a little too much fun but that's what senior year is for! Over several months our relationship evolved from the guy or girl we both hoped to run into at the bar to each others best friends. As the end of senior year approached and Jessie had plans to go to dental school at Creighton in Omaha NE there were many difficult and teary eyed decisions which ultimately ended in Jessie moving to Nebraska and Will working and living in Baltimore. We spent more weekends in airports that first year of dental school than either of us ever anticipated. The weekly Omaha to Baltimore commute became evident that we had something really special. As hard as that year was, for as many tear-filled phone calls, and for all the heavy hearts as we flew back to our respective places we grew A LOT and learned even more about each other and how much we were in love. After tons of job applications many that seemed to be pushed aside considering the difference in location, Will finally landed a job at Gallup in Omaha and moved this past May. We are now happily living together and learning even more about each other every day. We feel extremely lucky that we "found" each other and will be forever thankful for dance floors way too late on Thursday nights in Baltimore.”
I remember when they described the proposal to me… it brought tears to my eyes and warmed my heart (and stomach). ;)
“After I moved to Omaha and we were settled in our new apartment; the timing truly felt right. We spent an entire year commuting back and forth every weekend and it seemed fitting to take some time to cherish how far we had come. On the morning of July 3rd, Jessie went for a run and when she came back I had made a full breakfast that was ready and waiting for her. I knew this was the time and I was so excited for the feeling of this step forward that I could not wait any longer. I don't think either of us actually remember what came out of my mouth while asking to Jessie to marry me, but I will never forget the feeling that we had that day. A big part of what made it so special was our commitment to each other during challenging circumstances and an unwavering belief that we had each others backs through anything.”
We had the best time together walking, laughing, dancing, eating ice cream and enjoying a beautiful day in Baltimore… these lovebirds are THE BEST. They were nervous at first (I know that’s hard to believe!) but chose the cutest set of outfits and I can honestly tell you, they were MODELS every step of the way!!
Jessie and Will, your love for each other is an inspiration to so many! You are destined for big things together and I can’t wait until you’re back in Baltimore to officially become husband and wife in front of so many friends and family - your wedding day can’t come soon enough! For now, I hope you enjoy all the memories of your favorite Baltimore spots!
xo,
Naomi
36 ideas for where to take your engagement photos in Baltimore
/The most common question I’m asked after a couple books Urban Row Photography as their wedding photographer is…
WHERE SHOULD WE TAKE
OUR ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS?
So, I’m devoting an entire series on the blog specifically to help answer this and demystify the process of where to take your engagement photos in Baltimore! Starting with my list of favorite locations in Baltimore first, but a separate post is in the works for locations in the greater Maryland, DC and PA area to plan your engagement session since there are so many incredibly picturesque spots outside of Baltimore!
I want to show you how to make your engagement photos memorable, fun, un-awkward and full of important aspects that are meaningful to you both. Without further ado, here’s a list of 36 locations to take your engagement photos in Baltimore (those with a $ next to them require a permit + nominal fee):
Patterson Park: pagoda, lake, hilltop views at sunset…
Lake Roland: trails, lake views, gorgeous leaves in the Fall
Union Craft Brewing: a series of bold, graphic and colorful murals
Bmore Licks: fun murals + pupsicles for your #urbanrowpup!
Druid Hill Park: especially in the spring with all the pastel blooms, Druid Hill Park shines! It also happens to be the home to Rawlings Conservatory… more on that below! ;)
Henderson’s Wharf / Broadway Pier: one of Baltimore’s oldest warehouse buildings and public spaces full of charm, character, lots of brick and amazing waterfront views… and breezes! This esesh is also a fun one to relive!)
Frederick Douglass Maritime Museum: views of the iconic Domino Sugar factory sign are unmatched from this pier!
Harbor East waterfront: a fun, chic waterfront spot
Canton waterfront: sunset views from here are wide open and shimmery!
Sandlot: as beachy as Baltimore gets… drinks, sunset views, sand and cafe lights with views of the downtown skyline
Streetcar Museum: if you share a love of transportation and/or met on a subway (one of my couples did!), engagement photos at the Streetcar Museum would be such a unique way to commemorate it!
The Guinness Brewery: Baltimore is home to the only Guinness location in the US?! Helloooo fellow beer lovers! There’s tons of outdoor space, a fun mural and beautiful design to incorporate as you sip a freshly poured pint of yummy beer!
Charmery (the OG location in Hampden): a turquoise mural on the corner of this iconic and quirky Baltimore ice cream shop with some of the most unique flavors you’ve ever had make it a really fun place to start or end your photoshoot!
The Ave in Hampden: all the kitsch with lots of fun, independent shops and storefronts
Cylburn Arboretum: a historic old mansion, enormous old trees, tons of nature to explore and gorgeous no matter what season…
Rawlings Conservatory ($): a lush, tropical greenhouse oasis in the city
Maryland Zoo in Druid Hill Park: your portraits could include penguins, polar bears and pygmy goats! What else could you want?! ;)
AVAM: mosaics, ivy covered brick walls and lots of fabulous, fun sculptural art
Federal Hill Park: one of the most iconic views in Baltimore, overlooking the Inner Harbor - sunsets here can be cinematic!
Artifact Coffee: rustic, cozy coffee shop near Hampden + Clipper Mill
Clipper Mill: love the industrial grit here… think loading ramps, rusty window panes, fire escapes…
Brewer’s Art: a brewpub in Mt. Vernon with craft beers and a unique atmosphere - the windows near the main bar overlook bustling Charles Street and have a really cool, classic + vintage vibe
Mt. Vernon Place: feels like you’re in Europe without the travel! ;)
Rye Street Tavern: cocktails on the lawn with water views and clean, modern design… Baltimore perfection.
Under Armour HQ / Tide Point: views of the Inner Harbor skyline along a waterfront promenade and industrial buildings… bonus if the Domino sugar boat is docked at their factory next door!
Fort McHenry: for the history buff who loves big trees and green spaces and the water’s edge… a relaxing picnic on a summer’s day here would be perfect!
Bromo Seltzer Clock Tower ($): a historic clock tower in the heart of downtown Baltimore that evokes another era and is like nothing you’ve ever seen before!
Sherwood Gardens: this spot is best during spring blooms when the tulips are at their peak! Typically peak bloom occurs the last week of April through the first week in May, depending on weather conditions. In the heart of the Guilford neighborhood, this community park and rolling lawn were designed by Olmsted and has beautiful vistas at every corner.
BMA Sculpture Garden ($): lush garden oasis in the city adjacent to Johns Hopkins Homewood campus with modern sculpture throughout.
Pratt Library: love the architecture of the historic main branch facade downtown - where are my book nerds?!
Graffiti Alley: an ever-changing alley of colorful graffiti; the graffiti walls make for a really fun contrast of a backdrop when paired with formal attire and long/flowy dresses!
Mt Washington Tavern: a modern tavern with crisp, clean and inviting architecture, bright spaces and a fun neighborhood feel
Monument City Brewing: local Baltimore craft brewery in a warehouse space adjacent to Haven Street Ballroom and Urban Axes… such a fun date spot!
College campuses (Loyola, JHU, UMD…): quintessential higher-ed vibes with beautiful quads and tree-lined brick paths; love this idea if you met at college!
Ceremony Coffee: Mt. Vernon (urban city vibes) and Harbor East (glassy and minimalist modern) are my 2 favorite locations!
Cross Street Market / Broadway Market: recently renovated in the heart of Federal Hill and Fells Point, grab a drink at your favorite spot and explore these picturesque main streets together!
Other unique engagement photo ideas in Baltimore… if you have access to any of these, let’s do it!
A sailboat
A rooftop deck
A carriage house / loft for a cozy in-home session
Bring some bubbly to pop and enjoy no matter where we go!
Bring your #urbanrowpup. Don’t worry, we will get good photos no matter how excited your dog is!
If you have your heart set on a location that’s not on this list, even better - I love discovering new spots to bring my camera! The most important thing to remember when choosing a location is to make sure you’ll be comfortable there. If you’re most comfortable being outdoors together in nature, let’s find the perfect park setting. If you love going out to eat and grabbing a drink, let’s take your photos in and around that bar or restaurant; urban signage and historic streetscapes can make really unique portraits!
Hope to see you in front of my camera soon, friends!
xo,
Naomi
ashley + nat | a patterson park + fells point sunset engagement
/Ashley + Nat are huge soccer fans… so much so that they traveled to London to watch their favorite team play a match which (unbeknownst to Ashley), was the same trip Nat was going to propose on! So, naturally they began their engagement session in Patterson Park wearing those same soccer jerseys and Chucks… the perfect way to lend a carefree and energetic feel to their date night in the park with me tagging along!
Movement and an active lifestyle have been a part of their relationship from the beginning: “We me while Ashley was working at the gym - she was behind the front desk on the days that I went to work out. One of the first things I remember, is her kicking me off the squash courts while I was playing with a friend. From there, we met randomly out on Halloween weekend in 2013 and I knew that I wanted to be with her…”
6 REASONS THIS PATTERSON PARK AND FELLS POINT ENGAGEMENT SESSION WILL MAKE YOU SMILE:
Their smiles say it all. Ashley + Nat were so fun to be around and relaxed together while exploring the most photogenic parts of Patterson Park! The pond, the pagoda and the boardwalk are such perfect late summer evening spots.
Their outfits created such a fun pop of bold, vibrant color against the greenery within the park and the Fells Point waterfront.
Ashley wore chucks since she’s most comfortable in them (always DO YOU!) and will be wearing them at their wedding too!
What Nat loves most about Ashley: “…her loyalty to me through thick and thin, her constant support for me and no matter her age, she is still a child at heart. She is funny and doesn't know what makes her funny... I love to laugh with her.”
What Ashley loves most about Nat: “the way he goofs around with me and watches all my silly shows. He is my go-to when I don't know how my outfit looks or even what to wear that day. But most of all, I love that when I have a bad day at work or I am sad, he gives me a big hug and everything seems a little bit better.”
We ended our time in Fells Point on the Broadway Pier with the marquee ‘city pier’ sign at the Pendry in the background; it felt like they were all alone in Fells at that moment, illuminated only by the streetlights!
Here’s the proposal story in Nat’s words; I love how much it shows off both of their personalities and their genuine excitement for this fleeting time in their lives!
”We went to London to see our favorite soccer team play a match. We decided to make a long trip of it and go to London for 4 days and Paris for 3 days. On the second full day in London we went to Westminser Abbey in the morning and I had purchased tickets to go on the London Eye. Late in the evening the night before, I decided that I was going to purpose on the Eye. So I purchased the VIP champagne experience. We were escorted to our capsule and got right on. About a quarter of the way up, I worked up the nerve to do it. At first, she had no idea what happening. All of the sudden she figured out what was happening and started crying which made me emotional; finally I got down on one knee and opened the box. Ashley being Ashley...she reached in and grabbed the ring from it before I could put it on her. We then got to celebrate the rest of the ride with champagne and a complete view of the city. I spent the rest of our trip telling everyone that we got engaged. It didn't matter who they were, they were finding out.”
We can’t wait to be at Wyndridge Farm to celebrate with you, exactly 2 months from today!!!
While we’ve documented weddings at Wyndridge before, this will be our first time taking advantage of The Inn for all the getting ready portraits… so excited for all the spaciousness, natural light and endless views from the patio!
xo,
Naomi
10 tips for natural, non-awkward and real engagement photos
/Ready to hear something crazy? Engagement sessions aren’t really even about the photos themselves. The photos are a bonus. Yup, I said it.
So what the heck are they for, then?! And how do we get those candid and unposed moments to our engagement photos? Hint: READ ON…
What are engagement photos really for?
Establishing a relationship between the 3 of us so you don’t have a stranger documenting the most intimate (and stressful!) days you’ve ever experienced.
Why would you want to have the first time you meet the person you’ll spend the most time with on your wedding day other than your partner, be the afternoon of your wedding?
Building trust… between the 3 of us but also for your immediate family to see photos we took together, to know my style and work in advance.
Once they do, they will know they can relax on the wedding day and trust us to work our magic and be creative while also capturing everything important to them, as it happens.
Enjoying a lighthearted night out together during the stress of wedding planning.
An excuse to spend an hour outside together having fun with the person you love the most in this world during one of the most exciting times in your lives? Yeah, it could be a lot worse.
As a wedding photographer who prioritizes real moments, natural expressions and genuine laughter, my goal whenever you’re in front of my camera is to allow you to feel comfortable enough to laugh, cry, smile, kiss, hold hands and embrace the way you would (and do!) when no one’s watching. If there’s anything I hear time and time again, it’s one of these statements:
“We’re really awkward.”
“My fiance doesn’t like having his/her picture taken.”
“We don’t need engagement photos because we already have them / my friend / uncle / sister took them for us right after we got engaged…”
“Where should we take them? We don’t live in Baltimore and don’t know any places that would be meaningful to us.”
“What should we wear? We’re casual people and it’s not our style to get dressed up.”
I’m excited to share this list of 10 tips with you so that taking engagement photos doesn’t have to be something you dread. Instead, it can and should be fun, memorable and refreshing. If you think of it as just another date night, wouldn’t you jump at the chance to do it?
Without further ado, here are…
10 tips for achieving candid and non-awkWard
engagement photos (in other words, cheesy and overly posed is not my style either)!
Read it, save it and share it… and then read it again right before we meet up. ;)
DO YOU. If you take nothing else from this list, stop putting pressure on yourselves to be models or pose a certain way. None of my clients are and NO ONE KNOWS WHAT TO DO WITH THEIR HANDS WHEN THEY START! I’ll worry about how you look in front of the camera and give you tips, direction and confidence as needed, as long as you worry about having fun with your boo.
Wear what you feel best in and you will automatically feel less awkward. If your groom doesn’t go anywhere without wearing a hat, bring the hat (we’ll take it off for a few, I promise).
Put your ‘fancy’ clothes on. I personally feel that we don’t have enough reasons to get dressed up these days (hellooo, people used to get dressed up to ride trains!), but refer to no. 1... fancy can mean whatever you want it to. Maybe it’s just red and cute heels or new and crisp, dark denim!
Bring the champagne. Shake it up… magic! I don’t discriminate though and highly encourage all types of liquid courage to be enjoyed! ;)
Don’t wear your Fitbit. Take off your ️Apple watch. Give me your keys (but just remind me I have them when we’re done)!
Eat a snack before we start but save the meal for after. No one does well with a grumbly belly and dinner at your favorite spot will give you something to look forward to.
Choose your location strategically. Think through the places you’re most comfortable in together and the things you like to do in your free time.
Weave in your personality and story. Did you meet in college? College campuses are THE MOST photogenic. Do you brew your own beer? Let’s start at your fave brewery. Was your first date at a winery? Bring a bottle of that wine to enjoy. Do you run together? Let’s stroll the trails. Do you own a ️boat? Tell me when and where and I’m there.
Don’t bring extras... as in parents/friends. Unless they’re coming to bring home your pup once we’re done with them, I like being your one and only third wheel. Adding others is when it can actually get awkward.
Don’t rush the process. I’ve found one hour to be the sweet spot for getting comfortable and used to having a camera near you, having fun and having a bunch of conversations about anything and everything that will allow your wedding photos to be that much more natural and full of real emotion... because that’s the ultimate goal in the end, right?
After reading all of this, 1. you deserve a sweet treat and a glass of wine and 2. I hope you’re looking forward to your engagement session! If you have any questions, leave them in the comments and I’ll share my thoughts and answers ASAP!
katie + zach | a bmore licks + fells point engagement
/When I first spoke to Katie and Zach, one word kept coming up in the conversation: relational. In all honesty, I’d never heard one of my couples use that word as often as they did. After learning how Zach proposed to Katie, hearing how they finish each other’s sentences, and watching them interact together as we started at Bmore Licks for their engagement session, I immediately got it…
Their upcoming wedding at Rosewood Farms is going to be quite the celebration - after you read more about these two lovebirds below, you’ll understand why!
4 reasons why these Fells Point / Patterson Park locations were so meaningful for Katie + Zach’s Baltimore engagement session:
Ice cream with rainbow sprinkles (Katie’s favorite ice cream topping) was part of Zach’s proposal scavenger hunt which started and ended in Fells Point…
Zach proposed to Katie on the same bench we ended at on Bond Street Pier in Fells Point
It’s their favorite way to spend a Friday night: with a walk by the water, ice cream and cuddles. But Katie also added, “as long as … our two future golden retrievers are there”. (#urbanrowpup love at its best)
This last fact has nothing to do with where we took their engagement photos, but has everything to do with how thoughtful Zach is. He designed and created the wooden ring box he presented to Katie WITH her Dad’s help since he is an incredible woodworker and it was something they could bond over and create together, leading up to the proposal.
Katie radiates joy and Zach described it perfectly: “When Katie smiles, she smiles so much that her eyes close shut.” I believe that they’re both incredibly relational as they highly value thoughtful, meaningful moments and gestures in their relationship and it’s apparent as soon as soon as you are around them.
In Zach’s words, how they met:
“We met early on in college at Johns Hopkins. Katie was the star point guard on the basketball team and I rode the bench on the football team (kidding, sort of). Needless to say, I definitely noticed Katie first. We were both a part of Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) at Hopkins, and I distinctly remember telling a buddy of mine “she’s my kind of girl”. I was drawn to Katie from the very first moment.
One night while at dinner with FCA, Katie mentioned that she likes to bring a cupcake to friends for their birthdays. I jokingly (read: pleadingly) asked her if she would do the same for me. Katie, being the sweet, relational person that she is, agreed. She was pretty surprised to learn that my birthday was in fact the very next day! I think the fact that Katie actually brought me one the next day is more of a testament to the person she is than any interest she had in me at the time. Needless to say, I like to think it all started with a cupcake.
…during finals week, she let me meet up with her and walk her home from the library every night. I even surprised her with her own cupcake on her birthday. Finally, we went on a few more dates!”
In Katie’s words, how the proposal unfolded:
“Zach made the decision at the end of his third year of medical school to take a year off so that we would be in the same class and would be eligible to apply for a couples match for residency. It was since we made that decision that I knew I wanted to marry this man and he later asked me to marry him in the most perfect proposal ever: a scavenger hunt to all of our favorite places in the city.
[By the end] I was so stinking excited that all I wanted to do was finally see Zach. I was then given the last clue that sent me back down to Fells Point, to a particular park bench overlooking the harbor that Zach and I have sat and talked at many times. Only tonight, our favorite park bench was decorated with jars of lights and looked even more perfect. It was there that Zach got down on one knee and asked me to marry him and with a great big smile on my face, I said “YES”. We had a few minutes to ourselves to just soak in the moment, walking around by the water before finding our hidden photographer who had captured the whole thing. After that, Zach and I went to a nearby bar where so many of our friends, as well as Zach’s family were gathered, many of whom had traveled many hours to celebrate with us. As Zach mentioned, I am a pretty relational person so it meant so much to me that Zach incorporated not only so many of my favorite things, but also so many of our favorite people in the proposal. All I can say is that he set the bar pretty high for himself for any future anniversary or celebration.”
I have loved getting to know you both so far and admire how heartfelt your relationship is. I already have tissues ready and waiting for your wedding day because I know I’m going to be crying all the happy tears throughout the day as you become husband and wife and never have to say goodbye on a Sunday again… I can. not. wait. for your spring wedding at Rosewood Farms!!!
xo,
Naomi
7 tips for taking better candid engagement photos
/So, you said YES (or you asked someone if they’d say yes) and now you’re engaged! Once you’ve had a chance to pop multiple bottles and share the news with everyone, the first official act of your new status as an engaged couple may be to take your engagement photos… the most common concern I hear as a photographer is that you don’t take good photos together / hate having your photo taken / want candid moments together that don’t look posed or staged…
I get it! No one is naturally photogenic when told to “SMILE!”… seriously think about it. I’d rather ask people to lick noses since that elicits more of a genuine expression than asking you to smile on command ever will. ;)
Here are 7 do’s and don’ts that hopefully help get you in the right mindset when it comes to taking photos together!
Do feel confident.
Shop for a fun new outfit or go to an old classic you know you love the way you look in. Make an appointment to get pampered (meaning, scheduling a hair/makeup trial for the day of your engagement session can kill 2 birds with 1 stone!) if it’ll give you an extra boost of confidence. If not, just do you!!
Don’t worry about how you look.
That’s my job. I’ll tell you if something’s out of place and remind you to empty your pockets. ;) You don’t have to be models! The quality and range of emotion real couples have and want to celebrate together, is why I love what I do.
Do think of our time together as a rehearsal for your wedding day.
Having casual and everyday photos of you both that aren’t phone selfies is wonderful and something I think more couples should absolutely have, but the main goal of our time together is to get to know each other. I want to feel like a good friend that happens to have a professional camera by the time you’re saying ‘I Do’… not some random person you can’t remember the name of who asks you to smile in my direction. I want to see how affectionate you naturally are together and learn what inside jokes you make that result in nose crinkling laughter and eyes smiling so brightly, it’s unmistakable that your love is unique and special.
Don’t worry if one of you is more enthusiastic about taking photos than the other.
Just being a good sport and going along with the crazy ideas your fiance has or the prompts that may be out of your comfort zone will encourage them to love you that much more for it… and if nothing else, will earn you a beer right after we’re done.
Do hold hands.
Touch noses, faces, fingers, hips, hair, neck. Seriously, you’re getting married! You found your person!!
Don’t overthink it.
If thinking of it as a photoshoot makes you nervous, think of it as a date and pretend I’m not there!
Do eat before (nothing good happens on an empty stomach) and drink during.
I’m a huge supporter of liquid courage in whatever form that takes! We can start at your favorite bar, break open champagne when we start or enjoy a fun cocktail halfway through... why not?
Don’t look at Pinterest poses.
The light, the location and your love are not the same as that super posed adorable couple who’s flowing hair took more time and setup to capture than it looks like. However, this leads right into my next tip…
Do communicate if you have a strong vision for what you want.
I love it when couples not only choose a location with meaning but also have an idea of the kind of images they want out of their engagement photos. Are you an outgoing couple that want your photos to reflect a lot of movement and more candid action? Or are you most comfortable at home in a more private spot to allow you to be comfortable getting cuddly and close together while barefoot and quiet?
Don’t lose sight of why you’re doing this in the first place.
You met online… or at college… or at work… or at a bar during a night out with mutual friends. However the stars aligned, the fact is that they DID. Millions of tiny decisions, conversations and choices lead up to the moment you met and when you stop to think about it all, it’s pretty miraculous and deserves to be celebrated.
Do bring your dog!
I’ve captured the fastest moving hyper little pup and the sassiest 100lb. Great Danes. I was a boxer mom, we have 2 kids and I have plenty of experience and tricks up my sleeve. Besides, slobbery wet kisses make for the best expressions!
Don’t choose a location you’re not comfortable in or familiar with.
Meaning and good vibes are everything. Your location should hold both... and if you can’t think of the perfect spot, I’m happy to share my favorites that may resonate with you!
Do embrace your awkwardness.
At least for the first 10 minutes. It means you care and you’re doing it right... I promise. Remember your first date? Pretty sure those first 10 minutes were awkward too... and look how that ended up.
Don’t bring an audience.
Other than a friend or family member meeting us to help take the dog home if you bring yours, this is one situation that is best as a party of 3.
lauren + matt | patterson park golden hour engagement
/All of my couples have such personality and fun-loving stories, but I can’t get over how much Lauren and Matt have in common with each other (and with me)…
Read Moremegan + chris | patterson park pagoda engagement
/When I first met Megan, I knew we were soul sisters for a few simple reasons…
Read More