ali + cody | candid, elevated, elegant night out downtown

…an elegant + chic night out starting at Ali + Cody’s apartment with champagne near the fireplace, kisses outside their Mini Cooper and cocktails at the Ivy Hotel’s bar in Mt. Vernon, Baltimore…

who says engagement photos can’t be sophisticated AND full of personality?

I loved Ali’s vision for these photos: Cody in a fitted black suit with a skinny tie, a strapless tulle dress with pearl accents followed by a strapless, deep plunging white dress with a high side slit, mainly black and white candids, lots of steamy romance…

Ali + Cody, you have my heart and then some!!

xo,
Naomi

emily + tristan | a chic, modern waterfront engagement at dusk

The way Emily describes her favorite thing about Tristan is not only true, it’s adorable. You two have the sweetest love story and make an incredible couple — you compliment each other in every way.

“Tristan is the nicest, sweetest, most likable, loving and caring person you will ever meet. I have never heard anyone say anything bad about him. Everyone loves him! It is actually kind of annoying! Haha.”

We had the best Fall weather during their engagement photos along the water in Baltimore and as the sun started to set, all the light from the buildings across the harbor appeared to twinkle just for them. I can’t wait for you to enjoy these as much as I did taking them!

So glad there are no rules anymore… Emily and Tristan’s meet-cute was perfect for them! And, I love the Bluebird Cocktail Room for a first date spot: so romantic and delicious.

“Tristan and I meet November 2020 through the dating app Coffee Meets Bagel with our first date at The Bluebird Cocktail Room in Hampden. Tristan was a bit quiet, reserved and I showed up at my normal 11 on a scale of 1-10! I actually ordered an Absinthe Drip! Probably not the best idea on a first date, but it was 2020 and there were no rules anymore at that point, haha!

At the end of the date, I thought that maybe I was a bit too much for him, but he texted me later and asked to schedule a second date. We had our second date at Sally O's and we've pretty much been together ever since!”

I love their proposal story, as told by Emily…

“We spent the day at the BMA and went to dinner at La Cuchara. It was a nice night out, so we went on our normal walk around the harbor when we got home. We were walking along the water by the Ritz Carlton when Tristan decided he wanted to sit down on one of the benches. I thought this was weird b/c it's not something we normally did, but once I sat down, he turned around with the ring and proposed! I was so confused as to what was happening (I'm sure the 3 gin & tonics I had a dinner had nothing to do with that!) and just kept yelling "what is happening!" Hahaha. Tristan was actually planning to propose a couple weeks prior when we were in Cartagena, Colombia, but the ring didn't come in time ("supply chain issues"), so the next plan was to do it in Turks & Caicos during our birthday trip at the beginning of June, but once the ring arrived, he couldn't wait and did it in the spur of the moment. It was very sweet, but it's also a bit blurry.”

Emily + Tristan, I can not wait to see you two married on Saturday! You’ve been patiently waiting and planning for this day for such a long time, it’s going to be your best day yet… but believe me, the best is yet to come. ;)

See you in T-4 days… here’s to ending the year with the best celebration!!!

xo,
Naomi

kim + kyle | fall engagement photos in old town alexandria

Kim and Kyle’s love story started many years ago, simply and sweetly… :)

“We met in eighth grade on the bus. His friends were messing around and caught my attention. Later he got my number from a mutual friend and we’ve been talking ever since!”

These two have such a beautiful, natural connection built on a strong foundation, being together since middle school. Since Kim and Kyle live close to historic Old Town, Alexandria, VA, we spent our time exploring all the cobblestoned alleys, the waterfront that had this amazingly perfect public art installation up (we got so lucky with the timing as it was only going to be up for a few more weeks), the colorful rainbow ALX mural and Wilkes Street tunnel in addition to the most adorable and quaint homes along Prince St.

We could have easily spent the whole day together in Old Town -- talk about photogenic — I can’t handle it!!

They got engaged at home with wine in hand and a favorite dinner ready, thanks to Kyle (it happens to be my favorite too!)…

“Kyle had two of my friends keep me out after work on a Friday afternoon. When I got home, he was dressed up with dinner made (tomato and feta pasta, one of my favorites!). We went out to our balcony to eat, which he had decorated with lights and a beautiful bouquet of flowers. Before pouring a glass of wine, he pulled the ring out of his wine glass!”

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Kim and Kyle, I can not wait to celebrate your long-awaited wedding day (…decades in the making!!) with you and document all the love and happiness surrounding you at Rust Manor House in the Fall! It’s going to be absolutely incredible.

I’ll see you soon, lovebirds!
xo, Naomi

caroline + brian | a colorful mural engagement in dc at alethia tanner park

As soon as I learned Alethia Tanner Park in DC has a huge variety of creative murals and Caroline + Brian live within walking distance, I knew their engagement photos in DC were going to be fun, relaxed, colorful and joyful!

We met up on a warm and gorgeous June evening where we had most of the park to ourselves other than a few bicyclists strolling by; while these cuties enjoy going on nature walks, they are city people at heart and felt the bright, energetic vibe of this spot made them feel most at home… I couldn’t have loved our time together more!!

Give me bright + bold color with a sweet couple to add adorable smiles to such unique murals any day of the week; enjoy these favorites from Caroline + Brian’s DC engagement session!

Caroline and Brian, I am beyond excited to spend the day with you celebrating your wedding at The Butterfly Room in Baltimore SO SOON! Until then, keep dancing together, visiting your favorite local spots and making each other laugh — it’s a recipe for the best memories!

xo,
Naomi

keri + joey | a cute, candid engagement atop federal hill at sunset

Down to earth, fun, thoughtful, stylish, kind, warm and genuine… if you were wondering what it’s like to be around Keri and Joey, it’s all of those adjectives and then some! You instantly feel at ease in their presence and like you’ve been friends with them for years.

Despite considering a lot of different locations for their engagement session both in DC and Baltimore, they ultimately ended up at Federal Hill and I’m so glad! This iconic Baltimore hilltop spot has incredible skyline views, a gorgeous grassy park feel with tree-lined paths and perfect golden light as the sun is setting just west of both Camden Yards and M&T Bank Stadium… it doesn’t get much more quintessential Baltimore than this!

“My favorite thing about Joey is truly that he is the most thoughtful person I know. Not in the over the top I’m going to spoil you way, but more about the small details that others would miss. He listens to everything I say even when I can bet he isn’t listening, he thinks of how something will make me feel and will then find a way to “make it happen”. ~Keri

“It is hard to name just one favorite thing about Keri. The first thing that comes to my mind is how selfless she is. She will go more than out of her way for her friends, family and coworkers. No matter how big or small she is always looking to brighten someone’s day or to help them even if it makes things harder on herself.” ~Joey

These two share a love of laughter, making pizza at home together while hosting friends, playing Triomonos while sipping wine and old-fashioneds and trying new restaurants in their hometown of Alexandria, VA — however, Baltimore holds a special place in their heart since Joey’s family lives nearby and they’re getting married at The Winslow, just a few blocks from Federal Hill!

We were so lucky to have the most incredible golden hour light during our time together and almost no one around in the park. I don’t know how it happened but I do know that Keri and Joey deserved every minute of the perfect radiant glow during their last few weeks as an engaged couple!

Keri + Joey, I can’t wait to document your love story and celebrate your wedding at The Winslow!! I know how excited you are to have all your people together in the same place with you — it’s going to be more memorable than your wildest dreams!

xo,
Naomi

rachel + daniel | a downtown ellicott city engagement with their dog

On a bright and beautiful Fall day, I explored downtown Ellicott City with Rachel, Daniel and Asher, their incredibly well-behaved and photogenic #urbanrowpup! We walked near the B&O Railroad Museum, downtown Main Street and some of my favorite woodsy spots along the old trolley trail.

I couldn’t get enough of our time together — Rachel and Daniel are so naturally at ease with each other and always full of the biggest smiles! We bonded over dog training conversations because Asher is the best and including him in their engagement photos was a priority! He’s also going to be at their wedding and I am SO EXCITED FOR IT! :)

The cutest story of how these two met and became soulmates, in Rachel’s words:

“As two chronically injured athletes, we were regulars in the athletic department's training room. Daniel was recovering from hip surgery while Rachel had stress fractures in her shins. The trainer who both helped us through our recoveries would always talk about the other person, trying to set us up. Over Thanksgiving break, Daniel had a friend to start a conversation on Facebook for him, starting with the smooth opening line: "Hey, haven't seen you around the training room recently" Luckily, Daniel eventually took over the conversation and we've never stopped talking!”

I love their proposal story, and how it happened during one of the things they love doing most: travel!

“After canceling so much travel in 2020 due to Covid, we finally were able to start traveling again, something we love doing together. We went out to California to see Big Sur and San Francisco. The day we were leaving the resort in Big Sur, we took one final picture overlooking the Pacific Ocean and next thing I know, Daniel was down on one knee! It happened so fast and right when it was over, we hopped in the car to drive up the coast to San Fransisco.”

Rachel and Daniel, the way you are together is so effortless, comfortable, confident and genuine — it’s been such a joy to witness your love story unfolding and I can’t wait to see you both officially married (with Asher there to witness!) at Historic London Town & Gardens!!

xo,
Naomi

kelly + colin | a relaxed and radiant sunset engagement at cylburn arboretum

Kelly and Colin make my heart so happy. They are 2 of the most incredible humans I’ve met… passionate, hardworking, kind, considerate, thoughtful, smart, funny, have impeccable taste in what they wear, who they surround themselves with and how they move through life.

Our time together at Cylburn Arboretum in late May was nothing short of MAGICAL. The gardens were showing off, the sun was golden and glowy and Kelly + Colin were easy, breezy and beautiful in love.

I can’t get over Kelly’s dress (from Lulu’s — always my favorite!) and how her gorgeous blonde hair fell in romantic, soft waves at her shoulders where the dress tied with the cutest long ribboned bows!

And their meet-cute story:

“The short version is through mutual college friends at the University of Maryland. The long version is this: Colin adopted his first ever dog, Goldie, the summer before our senior year of college. Kelly’s roommate at the time was a huge dog lover and as a good friend of Colin’s then roommate, would often take Goldie for walks or watch her on weekends that the boys were away. Colin would always come pick up Goldie after a play date or sleepover and would always take some time to sit and chat. After several of these Goldie-related hang outs, Kelly soon developed a crush on Colin. On a Saturday night out about a month before graduation (with some liquid courage on board), Kelly made the first move and planted kiss on Colin. The rest is history!”

Their proposal story is so incredible, I love it — who knew a day spent getting baby pee on you, paying taxes and getting a flat tire could end up being such a beautiful day!?

After almost 6 years together, Colin decided the time was right and started planning all the proposal details. He asked Kelly’s parents for permission, got the ring, and hired a photographer to capture the moment. He even got in touch with the student coordinator of Kelly’s anesthesia school program to sneakily give Kelly the day off from the hospital, with the disguise of Good Friday as the reason for the day off. Excited to have a rare day off, Kelly quickly decided to spend the day with her sister and 6 day old nephew to get in some baby snuggles. Kelly helped give baby Jett his very first bath, but not without getting a golden shower herself. Being the natural procrastinator she is, Kelly also had to file her taxes that day as it was literally the last day to submit them. This process brought on several frustrations and maybe a few tears. As the afternoon turned to evening, Kelly’s sister and parents kept asking when she was leaving to go home for her dinner date with Colin at Kooper’s Tavern in Fells Point. Kelly was enjoying her time with the family and jokingly said to them, “are you guys trying to kick me out or something?!” Spoiler alert: they were!

Heading to their home in Canton to change from the aforementioned baby pee outfit into something clean for dinner, Kelly wasn’t 5 minutes down the road from her parents’ house when she heard a hissing sound coming from her right front tire and an alert for low tire pressure. After pulling into a Dunkin Donuts parking lot and confirming she had the flattest tire of all time, she called Colin for an update, who said he was getting ready and would call back soon. Kelly also called her dad, who would stop the world to help her with anything. But to her surprise, he told her to just call AAA rather than coming the 5 minutes away to change the tire himself as she expected he would. She quickly let the thought pass since that is what AAA is for anyway. Behind the scenes, Kelly’s family had immediately began changing when she left in preparation to meet them downtown for the proposal and couldn’t show up in nicer clothes then they’d just been wearing minutes before. Colin called back and said he was going to come pick Kelly up to take her to dinner because he didn’t want to wait for AAA. After finally arriving to Fells Point and parking the car, Kelly and Colin started walking down by the water to head to dinner — Kelly still wearing the sprinkled clothes from earlier with no time to go home and change. Colin suggested a quick stop to sit on a bench overlooking the water to decompress after an eventful afternoon.

While sitting together and enjoying the moment, Colin got down on one knee and proposed! Kelly was in complete shock and the tears of happiness came pouring out. Shortly after, Kelly and Colin’s parents and siblings joined to add to the surprise. The next day, a scheduled brunch date turned out to be a surprise engagement party with all of our closest friends. It was an unforgettable weekend filled with so much love and happiness!

Kelly + Colin, I can’t tell you how excited I am for your wedding day!!

Ever since we first had the chance to connect, you’ve brought such a huge smile to my face. Your love story continues to inspire me in the way you both support each other and prioritize time together amongst such busy and successful careers! I can’t wait to celebrate with you and document all the love, joy and candid emotion at your Heron Room + Cosima wedding!

xo,
Naomi

rachel + matt | a rawlings conservatory engagement with dogs

Self-proclaimed nerds who love their dogs (2 of the cutest chihuahuas I’ve ever seen!), Taco Tuesday, vibrant color and all things Baltimore… so much to love about these cuties!!!

Rachel and Matt told me they weren’t photogenic at all and then these moments happened. I honestly gave them no guidance — they just stole my heart and were adorably cute and cozy from the minute we arrived at Rawlings Conservatory!

Rachel and Matt are getting married at Vignon Manor Farm later this month and I couldn’t be more excited for all they have planned — it’s the biggest honor when a fellow wedding photographer reaches out to ask me to photograph their wedding and trusts me with their vision!

I can’t tell you how much I’ve enjoyed getting to know them — from our constant pup convos to sneak peeks at the custom ring while they were designing it before it arrived, to sharing recipes and photographer problems, I never want our time together to end!

Rachel and Matt (+ Phoebe and Mia, #urbanrowpup(s)), I can’t wait to see you as Mr. & Mrs! You’re already such a great partnership, I can’t wait to see what comes next for you… :)

xo,
Naomi

ashley + jake | an avam + federal hill engagement full of love + bubbly

As a native Marylander, Ashley has a ton of pride for Baltimore (and Jake, a native Texan, is quickly learning how great it is here! ;)), so choosing to take their engagement photos at the American Visionary Art Museum then walking atop Federal Hill Park as the sun was setting, made for the most iconic Baltimore photos that I can’t wait to share with you!

If you want a glimpse into why these two are so special, cue the happy tears when you read the simple trait that is Jake’s favorite thing about his fiance:

“When she laughs, it lights up my day in an amazing way.”

I love the details of their college meet-cute! (and totally random fun fact: the architecture firm I used to work for, designed Turman Hall at Emory University where they first met… how’s that for a small world!?)

“Jake and I met in the very stereotypical way: we lived one floor apart from each other in the same freshman dorm, Turman Hall, our freshman year at Emory University. We both had kind of odd roommates, so instead of spending time in our dorm rooms, we both spent a lot of time in the dorm lounge at the end of the hall – myself and Nneoma (a girl in my hall who became my best friend and now bridesmaid) downstairs in the girls floor lounge, and Jake upstairs in the boys floor lounge, which was open to our lounge below. We spent sooooo much time in that lounge our first year, including one memorable night where the 3 of us legitimately stayed up from 6pm until 6am talking about anything and everything. Jake and I had very different experiences growing up. Our story-sharing provided a really great foundation of friendship that I was totally clueless as to any potential feelings starting to get involved until it came out that Jake was interested in me around December of our first year. It came as a total shock, but once I calmed down from my fear of the risk of hurting the friendship if something were to work out (always a concern but was even more terrifying as an 18-year-old at the time where EVERYTHING is a huge deal), I realized how well we could work. We spent all of winter break texting nonstop and I remember being so excited to go back to school in January to see him and start to try things out. We started “officially” dating the day after Valentine’s Day and have been together ever since – 10 years by the time we get married!”

And it just keeps getting sweeter — Ashley was serenaded during Jake’s proposal. You have to read their proposal story below!!!

“Jake and I spent a lot of time during the pandemic in Patterson Park in Baltimore, lying out on a picnic blanket and reading, people-watching, and just enjoying the sunlight (grabbing some ice cream from Bmore Licks or a pizza from Verde on our way out!). It definitely became a “thing” so it was only natural he worked it into the proposal. We were sitting on a blanket under a tree not far from the pagoda, and Jake got up to go “get something from the car” – and returned with a barbershop quartet who sang and serenaded us before he got on one knee and asked me to marry him! I was in an a cappella group in college (on top of many other choirs throughout my life), so the music was a nod to that and overall just the most charming thing – it was a group of four older men who traveled all the way from Reston, Virginia to come and sing for us, and they seemed almost as excited as Jake was! We got Bmore Licks and spent some time relaxing at home (Jake passed out on the couch from relief and I remember taking a picture of my newly-ringed hand next to his sleeping self lol) and celebrated with dinner at Fells Point that night. It was an awesome day.”

Ashley + Jake, honored and excited doesn’t even begin to describe how I feel about photographing your decade-in-the-making love story; you are very clearly meant to continue laughing together for many, many years! Let’s get you two married!!!
xo,
Naomi

tori + sam | a pizza + wine engagement at old westminster winery with their dog

Tori + Sam’s engagement session at Old Westminster Winery couldn’t have been more fun, picturesque and a feast for all the senses. I simply adore these two!! Their sense of style and down-to-earth, warm, genuine personalities and love of big dogs…

Peppery. Bright. Easy-drinking. “Aromas and flavors of lavender, green peppercorns, plums; blackberry, rosemary…”

Inside the intimate greenhouses at the winery, they sipped locally crafted Maryland red wine by the name of “Pepper” while their dog Brewer lied down beside them sipping his own wine ;) …his own wine bottle stuffie is his favorite toy! I KID YOU NOT! Unfortunately, their cat Brisket wasn’t able to make it out with us. Dinner was a wood-fired margherita pizza made fresh right on site brought to their private greenhouse.

But let’s just get right to their love story in photos, shall we?

Tori describes how they met… guys that follow through on a promise are keepers, if you ask me. :)

“We met during Dollar Beer night at Claddaghs in Canton! I was there with a friend, and Sam walked right up and said, "Hi I'm Sam, what's your name?" He then bought me (multiple) $1 beers, and I told him he could only have my phone number if he used it. Which he did!”

And Sam’s proposal incorporated lots of surprises on their rowhouse rooftop deck… :)

“Sam told me that we were going to a brunch for our friends 30th birthday (which was actually that weekend!) and to be ready to leave at 11am. Just before 11, he asked me to go onto our roof deck for a pre-brunch drink, which I happily agreed to! Once up there, Sam brought a speaker and played our song, got down on one knee, and asked me to marry him with the most PERFECT engagement ring. We had never talked about rings before, but he asked my friends what I wanted (an emerald cut) and designed it himself with two baguette diamonds from one of his great grandmothers rings (my favorite part!). After he proposed, he grabbed a bottle of champagne that he hid up there and our two best friends popped out from the roof deck next to us! We all celebrated for a few hours at our house, and then I still thought we were going to our friends birthday brunch. But we arrived to a surprise engagement party with all of our closest friends and family. Sam’s family came from Cleveland and my family came from New York and Nashville. We had friends fly/drive in from Boston, Philly, Chicago, and New Orleans. They brought all kinds of decorations and we had the best engagement part ever! Sam had been planning for months without me knowing. As he says, I'm the perfect person for this kind of surprise because I am so oblivious!”

Tori: My favorite thing about Sam is his general calm demeanor. He is always so laid back, go with the flow, and finds ways to enjoy everything life throws his way. His personality compliments my uptight self so well, and I think his persona is the first thing that really drew me to him when we met. That, and his incredible brown eyes!

Sam: Tori's smile :)

Could you two be any cuter?! Absolutely not. You are THE cutest lovebirds and I can’t wait to photograph your wedding day at Accelerator Space with lots of smiles, lots of family and lots of peppery and bright red accents. ;)

xo,
Naomi

cecily + stephen | candid and fun, urban industrial clipper mill engagement

When your time together starts with laughter like theirs, you know it’s going to be the best.

Cecily + Stephen are adorable, laid-back, loving, thoughtful and always up for having fun… which in my mind is the best recipe for genuine, candid engagement photos that show off both of their personalities! I’ve had the absolute honor of photographing the weddings of some of Cecily’s closest friends and family over the years which makes me even more excited for their wedding day at The Excelsior… if you’re not familiar with it, just picture exposed brick, ivy-covered walls, a chic yet historic industrial vibe and spaces full of natural light. It’s like if Clipper Mill in Baltimore got plopped down in downtown Lancaster, PA.

Can we also just admire their outfits for a sec? Cecily in a terracotta top with ripped jeans and nude sandals and Stephen in a black half-zip sweater, dark jeans and brown boots. I was lowkey obsessed. The perfect attire for trekking through industrial ruins and standing next to textured wood and raw brick walls. ;)

Cecily and Stephen, I CAN. NOT. wait for your wedding this weekend!! It’s been years in the making and I know your 3 pups are excited for their pawrents to finally make it official! :) Here’s to all the celeBraaten!

xo,
Naomi

laura + bryan | an artful engagement at avam with their dog

I met up with Laura and Bryan (and their #urbanrowpup, Marlow!) on a bright January day at the American Visionary Art Museum near the Inner Harbor and Fed Hill park. We chose this location knowing it was still very much winter outside and because of the mosaic facade at AVAM and all the harborfront views, you wouldn’t be able to tell there were no leaves on the trees or flowers in bloom!

I’m just so excited to be around these two - they have such a natural connection and are so sweet together, radiating happiness and love!

And here’s how the proposal happened - I love how they both had a hand in planning the proposal trip in their own way for each other!

Laura planned a fall trip to Asheville with very little input from Bryan. About a week before the trip, Bryan said he didn't know any details and wanted to know where we were staying, eating, and what exactly we were doing. Little did Laura know, Bryan was planning the proposal. He even had a new selfie stick shipped to the hotel in preparation for the moment. The day we were leaving, Laura happened to mention to Bryan that he never takes photos - setting Bryan up for the perfect excuse as to why he had a new selfie stick shipped to the hotel. Fast forward to our first full day of the trip, we had plans to go for a hike. After breakfast at a local spot known for their biscuits (where Bryan left the ring in the car...!), we headed to the mountain. Half way through, overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains, Bryan set up the new selfie stick to capture some photos. Right then and there he said "I have a very important to question to ask you"...and the rest is history!

Laura and Bryan, you have been so thoughtful, attentive, organized and fun to get to know throughout the wedding planning process, I can not wait to see how your spring wedding comes together at The Loom - the first wedding at this new Baltimore venue! Let’s go and get you two married!!!

xo,
Naomi

kylie + nate | a relaxed at-home kitchen engagement in baltimore

When Kylie and Nate approached me with the idea of taking their engagement photos at the new home they were renovating together, I was so excited for their plans!

We started in their kitchen to show off their love of cooking together and all the adorable and unique ways their relationship has grown — and then we went outside at golden hour to take in all the beautiful garden vibes on their street. Kylie and Nate, I could have photographed you both all day!

I arrived and everything was ready to start with; they had a personalized cutting board saying ‘Nate and Kylie’s Kitchen’ with fresh lemon, parmesan cheese and herbs set out that were incredibly fun to photograph with Kylie’s solitaire ring and some champagne to enjoy while cooking, of course ;) …I don’t think it gets better than this!! You two are so stinkin’ cute!

“We met at Johns Hopkins freshman year. Nate lived above me in our dorm. We had Calc III together and became friends doing homework together. We started dating a few months into college and have been together for over 9 years!”

“Nate proposed at a rooftop bar in Tampa. I was on a business trip in Tampa for the week and he met me down there on Thursday and we extended our stay through the weekend. He proposed on Saturday night and it was pretty cold for Florida so there were very few people outside on the rooftop. We had to go up to a group of strangers after he proposed to ask them to take some photos, lol!”

When I asked them their favorite things about each other, their words brought tears to my eyes:

“I love how smart and confident she is. She truly wants the best future for us together and is committed to making us both better to get there.”

“I love how dependable he is. I think the best possible attribute you could wish for in a partner is for them to be someone you can count on and that's Nate. He's my best friend and I love that he's always there for me no matter what it is.”

Kylie and Nate, your future is SO bright, I can’t wait to see what you continue to accomplish together! If your home renovations and cooking skills are any indication, you’re destined for amazing things!

Thank you for the honor and opportunity of sharing in the official start of your love story - we can’t wait to celebrate and party with you at the Belvedere this weekend!!!

xo,
Naomi

noey + peter | a locust point engagement with their corgi pup

Having met at Loyola their senior year, Noey + Peter share a deep love of Baltimore — buying a house in SoBo meant finding themselves in a new neighborhood to explore with their adorable dog Sasha…

Noey + Peter both have gorgeous, contagious smiles and a sweetness about their relationship that was so much fun to photograph; I was so excited when they decided to take their engagement photos in Locust Point near the Domino Sugar mural and factory, Little Havana and the waterfront promenade! Their stomping grounds are places that are very familiar and near and dear to me too since I used to work in Locust Point (during my architect days!) and love it when #urpcouples choose spots that are meaningful to them AND allow us to easily have their adorable pup involved!

“Peter and I met at Loyola University in Maryland. It was a relatively small school, so we were peripherally aware of each other since our freshman year, but we never spent time together or had the opportunity to become friends. But then Peter studied abroad in New Zealand with a few of my closest friends during our junior year (I studied in Spain), so we saw each other a lot more often at parties and social events when we all returned to campus for our senior year. After running in the same social circle for a while, Peter and I started talking, and the rest is history!”

And their proposal story as told by Noey!

“Peter's parents have a home in Long Beach Island in New Jersey; Peter and I spend every 4th of July weekend there with his family and friends. Last year, Peter invited my parents to join us up there for the holiday (this probably should have tipped me off that something was up, since they live pretty far away, but I didn't catch it!). We took that Friday off from work to enjoy the beach, but unfortunately, it was raining on-and-off, so we were a bit cooped up. Peter asked if I wanted to go for a walk on the beach, but it was raining, so I said no thank you (this should have been another tip-off, but nope!). A bit later, Peter's mom asked us to go to the beach to collect some shells for a baby shower we were going to the next day; I agreed since at least we had a reason to be out in the rainy weather now. So, Peter and I walked over to the beach in a mist of rain and wandered down to the surf to look for some shells. At some point, I walked ahead, and when I turned around, Peter was down on one knee! When he asked if I would marry him, I actually said "Are you sure?" instead of yes at first. Since it was raining, it was just us on the beach, which made it even more special. When we got back from the beach, the house had been decorated, and our families were waiting to congratulate and celebrate us. We spent the rest of the day surrounded by family and friends, and it will always be one of my most favorite days.”

“My favorite thing about Peter is the way his eyes crinkle at the corners when he smiles.” :)

”My favorite thing about Noey is her thoughtfulness and genuine kindness/care that she puts toward all aspects of her life.”

…those are my favorite things about both of you too! :) I can’t wait to photograph your wedding day at Loyola University and the Mt. Washington Mill Dye House with all your nearest and dearest family and friends coming together to celebrate. It’s going to be an amazing day in Baltimore!!

xoxo,
Naomi

jessica + mike | a vibrant engagement at the waterfront arches in baltimore

Jessica and Mike, your relationship is an inspiration to so many… I have a hunch that these qualities are part of the reasons why. ;)

Jessica: “My favorite thing about Mike is his total, complete lack of arrogance. It shines in so many contexts—in his curiosity for learning new things, from anyone he meets; his willingness to listen and empathize with people's feelings and experiences; his humility regarding his own gifts and talents; and his celebration of the people he loves and all their triumphs. There is not a self-serving bone in his whole body.”

Mike: “My favorite thing about Jessica is how she believes in me and us relentlessly. The way that she gives herself to people without expectation of reciprocation, and without bounds. The way that she can make you feel like the most powerful, capable, and loved man in the world but somehow still finds a way to remind you she's running the show, and you may suddenly remember how ludicrous the dreams you've now achieved sounded out loud before you met her. I love her persistence, her soft spots for those she loves, and how she allows me to see a little more of her that nobody's ever seen everyday.”

Here’s the story of their meet-cute:

“We met at a local gym—Mike was a personal trainer and Jessica taught yoga part-time. We crossed paths in the morning, when Jessica started noticing Mike reading books in the office, in between seeing clients. After a few inquiries, Jessica found out that Mike was recently single (and another coworker suggested that he "had a line" of women awaiting his attention). Jessica found that a little off-putting, but she gently touched his arm one morning after an awkward conversation anyway— which was perhaps the only sign that Mike registered as a potential indicator of romantic interest. Several days later, Jessica stopped going to the gym due to the emerging pandemic, but she had a book that Mike had loaned her and thought that she may see him again one day. After the gym shut down, Jessica noticed that the avatar on Mike's private-setting Instagram profile had changed from a photo of his late dog, Sophie, to a photo of his very handsome face. She took it as a sign that he was maybe ready to start dating, so she sent him a friend request and he immediately accepted and slid into those DMs. Two days later, Mike invited Jessica to stop by and take a break from the cold while she was on one of her COVID-season walks around the Inner Harbor. We ended up spending over three hours talking that first Sunday... and even though Jessica refused to touch any surfaces in Mike's apartment or come closer than six feet, we knew we had found a connection. We've been together ever since— with the exception of a couple "I might have been exposed, see you in 7 days" apart.”

And the proposal, which I can’t read without happy tears streaming down my face:

“In January 2021, Mike surprised Jessica with a birthday present... that would not arrive for 9 more months. He had planned a trip to Jessica's favorite place in the U.S.: Acadia National Park. At the end of semester, we set off on the trip, taking a long roadtrip to Maine. We spent two days hiking in Acadia and tent camping at Blackwoods Campground. On a rainy, foggy Saturday morning, we left the campground and headed into Bar Harbor, where Mike had booked a luxurious suite in Jessica's favorite bed-and-breakfast, the Saltair Inn. What could have been a very happy morning was actually quite grumpy for Jessica, who was tired and annoyed with some loud campers from the night before. Unbeknownst to her, Mike was walking around with the largest ring box known to man inside his shorts pocket. He kept looking for moments to propose, but Jessica kept spoiling each second with general grumpiness. It wasn't until Mike suggested they walk along the Bar Harbor Shore Path that her mood—and the rain clouds—started to lift. Mike asked to see her favorite rock—the one she used to crawl out to and spend her afternoons on when she used to visit Acadia on her own, several trips prior. They found the big rock and crawled out onto it and began to enjoy the view of fog-covered islands against a beautiful backdrop of purples, blues, and pinks in the sky. Then, Mike asked the most annoying question known to man: "Can I take your picture?" Jessica, who hates having Mike take her photo—because he loves her so much that she could be sprouting a mushroom-covered dinosaur from her head and he would still say she looks great—promptly refused. After Mike persisted and reassured Jessica that she didn't even have to look back at the camera, she begrudgingly agreed, looked out over the water, and waited. As she grew increasingly agitated, Mike got into position and then, in typical Mike fashion, poked her in the butt. Jessica turned around to find Mike waiting on one knee. When he asked her to marry him, she even forgot to say yes before she knelt down to hug him and began to cry.”

Jessica and Mike, I’ve been looking forward to your wedding from the first conversation we ever had. Jess, your love for food and your furbaby Waffle, vibrant color, organization, design, clarity and kindness in everything you do and touch is an inspiration (seriously, I don’t want our time together to end!) -- and Mike, you compliment Jessica in every single way with a genuine love and respect that makes it so clear to see why you’re soulmates.

I can not wait to celebrate you both and document every glance, moment, touch and festive twirl that your wedding day brings. It’s going to fly by so I recommend lots of deep breaths as you take it all in from the mezzanine at The Winslow. ;)

xo,
Naomi

diane + connor | candid, fun downtown annapolis engagement

Name a place and couple more adorable than Diane and Connor in historic, downtown Annapolis… I’ll wait!

On a gorgeous summer night, we explored Annapolis’s main streets together, stopping at my favorite mural (full of wisteria!), State House circle, the city dock and some of the really quaint and adorable side streets.

The colors, the light, the temperature, their outfits, their smiles… all were perfect in their own way!

How they met, in Diane’s words…

“Connor and I met on Bumble on June 1, 2020. We were both looking for serious relationships and our values seemed to align on our profiles. We chatted just a little before Connor asked me to meet up on the following weekend, June 6th. After we made our plans, I didn't hear from Connor for the rest of the week, so I thought that he would forget out plans. I actually ended up making plans for a date with someone else because I thought that he might have ghosted me. Turns out, he had never had any intention of cancelling or ghosting, he was just very busy with paramedic school! He texted me the day before to confirm our date and I cancelled on that other poor sap, lol.”

And how the proposal happened, in Diane’s words…

“Connor proposed on May 15th, 2022 at Early Mountain Winery just outside of Charlottesville. We had a trip planned to Big Meadows Lodge in the Shenandoah for the weekend after and he was planning on proposing that weekend. Connor suddenly lost a good friend from the military in a tragic accident, so we knew that we would be traveling down to Florida to attend the funeral, but we didn't know the exact date. Our trip to Big Meadows was in danger of being canceled, so he had to make an adjustment.

We went to Charlottesville for a friends wedding, and Connor suggested that we stop at a winery on the drive home. He had planned on eating lunch, then going for a walk around the grounds and finding and idyllic spot to propose. While we were sitting at the table, just after ordering our food, he had this weird smile on his face and he looked sort of awkward lol. He then said that he couldn't wait any longer, and pulled out the beautiful ring that we had picked out together from his shirt pocket, which was wrapped in a paper towel! I started crying right away, which made him cry. So he asked me and I, of course, said yes!

Even though we had been trying to be quiet, the waitress overheard and they brought us glasses of celebratory champagne.”

I couldn’t be more excited for your upcoming wedding at the Kent Island Resort this weekend, D+C! You’ve been so thoughtful about every detail and it’s going to be beautiful — mainly because you’re absolutely incredible partners who bring out so much genuine joy in each other.

xoxo,
Naomi

mekenna + nick | a fells point pier engagement with champagne

What better way to celebrate your birthday than spending the day getting pampered with your mom as you prep for your engagement photos and then walking hand-in-hand with your fiance along the waterfront on a quiet Tuesday night in Fells Point… it was cloudy and overcast but that didn’t stop the champagne and fun flirty looks flowing between these two!

In fact, the gray skies made it so much better: no squinting, no washed out colors and less crowds along the water… they had the entire Broadway Pier and Four Seasons promenade all to themselves! Consider it my birthday gift to you, Mekenna. ;)

Aren’t they such a gorgeous couple?!

When I asked them to share their favorite things about each other, they both didn’t know how to narrow their answers down… that’s when you know it’s meant to be. ;)

Nick: “There is not enough room on the page to write down all the things I love about Mekenna. I think what I love the most is how much attention and care she offers to those closest to her. She is truly the most amazing person I have ever met - strong, independent and brilliant. I am constantly in awe, and am not sure how I could ever be so lucky… she is also easy on the eyes. ;)”

Mekenna: “I also can't begin to narrow down my favorite things about Nick. I love that he can make me smile even when I'm in the worst mood. I feel safe and loved whenever I'm with him. He is the sweetest, most thoughtful, and the most genuine person I have ever met in my life. I can't believe I'm lucky enough to spend the rest of my life with him!”

Mekenna + Nick, I can’t wait for the honor of photographing your wedding! The way you love each other is not only inspiring but so full of respect, admiration, passion and genuine joy - it’s easy to see why you’re so adorable and perfect together!!

xo,
Naomi

kim + ryan | patterson park + gunther & co engagement with their adorable dog

To say I’m looking forward to Kim and Ryan’s wedding at the Belvedere would be an understatement!! These lovebirds are two of the most beautiful souls, inside and out… the foundation of their love story was built on kindness, respect, a love of good food and drink and being the best parents to Millie, their super sweet and adorable #urbanrowpup who will be with us for portraits on their wedding day — I CAN NOT WAIT!!

But first, let’s relive this beautiful Fall evening at Gunther & Co and in Patterson Park for their engagement photos. It was golden, glowing, and full of gorgeousness!

Their meet-cute is literally the cutest story I’ve ever heard… here’s how Kim tells it:

“I was out in Federal Hill with my girlfriends when one of them (Casey) introduced me to her cousin (Ryan) who had just moved home from New York. Over the next few months we kept running into each other, since Ryan and Casey have a very close relationship! We became very good friends. One day I was at Nordstrom Rack with another girlfriend of mine, Jenny, and I had asked her if she thought it was weird if I was starting to have feelings for Ryan. She replied, "Omg no, not weird at all! He's so cute!" A few more weeks pass, and Ry and my friendship grows stronger. Then, FINALLY, we are out to brunch with a group of our friends, and this older man starts to hit on me and make me really uncomfortable. Ryan could see that I was getting very grossed out and quickly comes over. He says to the creepy man, "I see you met my wife! Isn't she beautiful? We're leaving for our honeymoon in just a few days." (I'm basically on the floor at this point in awe...) And then BOOM he plants a big smooch on my lips. The rest is history…” :)

And the proposal… I love that we got to take their photos in Patterson Park near where they actually got engaged!

“One of our favorite things to do is go on long walks around Canton. By far our favorite location is Patterson Park! One Saturday in December, Ryan wanted to go on a long walk to Harbor East for dinner, and stop off at Patterson Park since it was on the way. Halfway through our walk at the park, Ryan guided us to a pebble stone path, dropped down on one knee, and popped the question! I said yes, of course! Afterwards, we walked back to our apartment where Ryan had organized a surprise engagement party with both of our families. He did great!” :)

Cheers to celebrating your love with all of your family and friends in one room, finally, Kim + Ryan! I can’t wait to see all the dance moves you’ve been practicing!! ;)

xoxo,
Naomi

katherine + ben | cozy fall cromwell valley park engagement

Katherine commented on Ben's bowtie and that started their first conversation — fast forward a few years to their fast approaching wedding day where Ben will be wearing another bowtie and looking as dapper as ever…

These lovebirds are continually laughing and sharing friendly competition with their favorite pro sports teams AND working out at the gym; “I've never laughed so genuinely in my life and love Ben's jokes (the good ones and the dumb ones). I love the times that Ben and I can spend working out as well as cooking/baking together - he makes life so fun. And - we both love that we often unintentionally end up wearing matching outfits!”

How’d the proposal happen?

“After attending 5+ weddings for friends and family in 2021, we decided we wanted some time away just to ourselves. We booked a trip to Savannah and arrived on a Thursday night. We woke up Friday, grabbed coffee, and walked around the streets of Savannah all morning. After a day of touring, we grabbed drinks at the hotel in the early evening and Ben proposed right on the riverfront.”

Cheers to you, Katherine and Ben! I can’t wait for you to host all of your friends and family for a fun, uniquely Baltimore wedding at the AVAM! And I love how Katherine is excited to “be spun around the dance floor by Ben (even though I'm awful at dancing) because I know we'll be laughing and beaming with smiles the whole time…”

xo,
Naomi

sarah + dan | a classic spring engagement in mt. vernon baltimore

While planning their engagement photos, I knew there were 3 things that were important to Sarah and Dan:

1. catching the magnolia trees in bloom in Baltimore (they’re Sarah’s favorite!)

2. including Maple, their adorable poodle and #urbanrowpup, for a few photos

3. having fun and being themselves (scroll down to see how they celebrated at the end of the shoot with some bubbly to ensure fun was had! ;))

You two have been such a pleasure to get to know, your genuine love for each other shines through every moment! Your sense of style and attention to detail has been SO MUCH FUN to see come together during the wedding planning throughout all of our conversations…

I can’t wait for your gorgeously chic, industrial Fall wedding at the Mt. Washington Mill Dye House but in the meantime, am so excited to share some of these favorites from your spring engagement session in Mt. Vernon! Every urban engagement session should end with riding downhill on a scooter… :)

Read their proposal story:

Some of Dan's friends were planning a trip to a beach house in Massachusetts and Dan decided that would be where he pulled the trigger (he had already had the ring for a few months and he was getting dangerously close to spilling the beans). Sarah almost figured it out when Dan suggested they buy new outfits for the trip and insisted on getting up for sunrise at a nearby lighthouse. One of Sarah's friends, Katherine, was key in shaking Sarah off the trail; "Dan likes clothes and hasn't bought any since he started working from home, and you like cheesy pictures."

They drove up to Mass on Saturday, when Sarah realized that she chipped her new nail polish, Dan deadpan looked at her and said, "Well its not like anybody is going to be looking at your hands," and the conversation ended.

The next morning, they woke up at 4:30 to get ready for pictures - the sun rose about 30 minutes sooner in Mass than it did in Baltimore. After taking a bunch of snaps, Dan went to get the ring from his back pocket, but the ring box got stuck. Sarah looked on like he was a crazy person as he jumped up and down trying to find an angle where his pants would allow the box to escape. "My wallet is twisted in my pocket and it feels super annoying!" and she bought the excuse! He freed the ring, got down on one knee, where she quickly joined him and said, "yes."

Sarah + Dan, your wedding is finally only DAYS away!!! You’re going to be married and it’s only going to get better from here! I can’t wait to celebrate alongside you both, you make such a great team and parents to Maple… here’s to lots more love, laughter, beautiful blooms and dancing at the Dye House!

xoxo,
Naomi