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

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

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

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

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

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

lee + dan | a sunset engagement at cold saturday farm with their dogs

Fancy and Barkley are the luckiest pups to have Lee and Dan as their paw-rents… just look at those happy faces basking in the golden sunlight streaming through the trees at Cold Saturday Farm!

To be honest, when Lee initially reached out about photographing their wedding, I had never heard of Cold Saturday Farm in Finksburg, MD. Established in 1765 by virtue of a grant from the King of England, Cold Saturday is a one-of-a-kind estate: a lovingly preserved and restored colonial farm encompassing 60 acres in western Maryland. It features rolling hills and pristine lawns, lakes and creeks, fieldstone mansions and log cabins… but what does that all mean for Lee and Dan?

It means there were SO MANY beautifully picturesque backdrops for portraits and all the space one could ever want to stroll in a peaceful and serene rural landscape with their dogs. Not only will their October wedding take place here, but we took advantage of the expansive, photogenic property to get to know each space for their Fall engagement photos as well!

I’m obsessed with their love story, their pups and the way these photos turned out… I can’t wait to be back at Cold Saturday Farm for their wedding day!

Lee + Dan, I can’t wait to see you two officially become husband and wife! You’re always so eager to give your time and energy to others, now it’s everyone else’s turn to celebrate you both and the amazing love you share!!

xo,
Naomi

kristen + eric | a chic + fun fells point engagement on the water

These college sweethearts have a love story that spans years and multiple states and down-to-earth personalities that immediately make you feel like you’ve known them for years… you know what that adds up to?

…I didn’t want our time together to end and I felt like I could have hung out with these two ALL DAY LONG! Good thing their wedding is coming up because I don’t think I can wait any longer to see their moves on the dance floor!!

3 THINGS I LOVED ABOUT KRISTEN + ERIC’S OVERCAST FELLS POINT ENGAGEMENT SESSION:

1. The clouds in the sky didn’t get them down one bit - their laughter, playfulness and adorable loving glances made every photo better than the last!

2. Their outfits… Kristen’s jumpsuit is giving me all the heart eyes and Eric’s blazer gives off the perfect amount of waterfront date night vibes.

3. The bottle of champagne they enjoyed during the photos; their friends had made it for them with a photo of when they got engaged! So sweet!

Cheers, cuties! T-1 more week until you’re officially husband and wife!! I can not wait! Your wedding day at Belmont Manor is going to be simply beautiful and more importantly, the most fun… because you two are absolutely both of those things and more!

xo,
Naomi

lauren + tony | a romantic kitchen engagement session in harbor east

Lauren and Tony are two of the most genuine, beautiful, down-to-earth, sweet and fun-loving humans that honestly made my job so easy and enjoyable!

By the end of our time together, we had chatted about charcuterie, dogs, city life, pandemic dating and what it’s really like to move in together (laundry woes, lol)… and I didn’t want to stop hanging out with them! I love that they wanted to honor and celebrate the way their relationship came to be: in the kitchen, with wine, charcuterie and lots of cozy conversations.

Enjoy these favorites from Lauren and Tony’s Harbor East waterfront engagement session in Baltimore!

5 OF MY FAVORITE MOMENTS FROM THEIR IN-HOME + WATERFRONT ENGAGEMENT SESSION:

1. The personalized red wine bottle their friend hand-lettered and they enjoyed sips of during their photos

2. The charcuterie platter Lauren assembled herself (it was so beautifully put together)!

3. Lauren’s custom denim Mrs. Assadi jacket adorned with pearls

4. The way Tony looks at her and makes her laugh

5. The gorgeous cotton candy sunset that created a perfect rainbow-colored reflection on the harbor buildings behind them!

You two are so perfect for each other and have such an incredible bond. I can not wait to see you again; thank you for allowing me the opportunity to continue to photograph your love story as you begin life as a married couple, Lauren and Tony!!

xo,
Naomi

rachel + jordan | baltimore clock tower engagement + colorful fun at nacho mama's

“Nachos are our love language.”

As soon as I learned this fact about Rachel and Jordan, it was a no-brainer that we’d have to recreate the start of their first date with a stop in front of Lee’s Pint and Shell, ending with an enormous plate of nachos at Nacho Mama’s in Canton! We even met up with their close friends, just like the night of their first date…

But first, we started at the Bromo Seltzer Clock Tower for some portraits of these lovebirds in formal attire with a modern, neutral and monochromatic look.

Everything about their engagement session date night was colorful, fun, unique, memorable and one of the best ways to celebrate their love of all the quirky charm that earns Baltimore it’s Charm City nickname. With that, I can’t wait to share some of my favorite photos from Rachel + Jordan’s fun and formal engagement session at the Bromo Seltzer Clock Tower and along the Canton square and waterfront!

I love their meet-cute story! Here it is in their words…

“One summer night in August of 2019 Rachel was playing dating app roulette with a friend when she came across Jordan's profile and messaged him to come meet them at the bar they were at in DC. Unfortunately, Jordan was out of town that night. They traded phone numbers and began trading messages, Rachel making sure he didn't go to THE Ohio State University and Jordan making sure Rachel could pass the "sloth astronaut" humor test [when they first connected, Jordan sent Rachel a picture of a sloth dressed as an American Astronaut. Rachel then sent the picture to their mutual friend Naomi (Rabbi Howard's wife) because she thought it was weird he sent that picture "no context". Naomi responded that it was a little weird but he's a really great guy and his parents are her favorite people. Rachel then responded to Jordan, is this what you send girls to see if they have a sense of humor? and Jordan responded "it's objectively funny". Jordan now shows sloth astronaut to everybody (he's Jordan's phone background) and everybody laughs and Jordan continues to prove to Rachel that she was wrong and everybody thinks it's funny].

Soon after, Jordan was at a birthday party for the child of a family friend who went to the University of Michigan. Remembering that Rachel went to Michigan, Jordan asked if they knew each other and as it turns out they were close friends from college.

Deciding this was a sign they should meet in person they arranged a date on a night that Rachel had dinner plans in Baltimore. After meeting each other for a pretty typical first date drink at Lee's Pint and Shell, Jordan walked Rachel across Canton Square to Nacho Mamas where she was meeting her friends for dinner. To both of their surprise, Rachel's friends invited Jordan to join. He agreed and the date continued as a double date kibbitzing over Nachos. After such a successful first date they decided to see where things would go and began seeing each other weekly sometimes in Baltimore and sometimes in DC. Then, in March 2020 the pandemic of a century arrived and Rachel, anxious about what was to come, announced that she would rather quarantine together than apart. Jordan agreed and showed up at her apartment with a month's worth of clothes, a jumbo pack of toilet paper and three pizzas and said everything was going to be ok.”

And the proposal story… (peek Rachel’s adorable ring dish below!)

“On a crisp fall evening, Jordan made dinner plans with another couple at an Argentinian Steak house they had been eager to try. Unbeknownst to Rachel, this was just a yummy diversion because as they were out to dinner, other friends were at Jordan's house decorating the rooftop deck.

After dinner, Jordan suggested that since they were having so much fun, the other couple should come back to his house for drinks on the roof. As they got home, Rachel climbed the spiral staircase ahead of the rest of the group and gasped as she saw the beautiful rooftop scene. As she took in the stunning decorations - red roses, rose petals and candles - Jordan got down on one knee. When Rachel turned around they held hands as he proposed. After Rachel said 'Absolutely!' cheers began from a neighboring rooftop. She looked over to see the friends who had secretly decorated climbing over from their hiding spot on a neighbor's roof to celebrate the engagement.

Prosecco was popped, calls were made and tequila shots were had. With COVID restrictions lifting, a local Karaoke bar, Waltz Inn - a favorite of both Jordan and Rachel that they had never been to together - had just reopened and the group continued the celebration with jello shots, and singing and dancing into the night.”

Cheers, cuties!! I can’t wait for your wedding at The Belvedere in just a few weeks… getting to know you both has been such a joy! Rachel, your impeccable sense of style, love of delicious food and travel and Jordan, your sense of humor and thoughtful kindness are just some of the ways your love story continues to inspire me… here’s to your best day yet, happening SO SOON!!!

xo,
Naomi

rose + ryan | an adorable sunset engagement in fells point

Ryan and Rose are honestly too cute for words. We had so much fun in Patterson Park and Fells Point as the sun set with a cotton candy colored sky behind the Domino Sugar sign shining brightly behind them… since one of their first dates was at Abbey Burger Bistro, we had to stop for some photos in front of it in Broadway Square (scroll down to see those)!

I love that their “how we met” story basically comes down to dogsitting:

“We met in passing through Rose's workplace where Ryan had previously been a law clerk while in law school. While we never worked together, Ryan came back to help out when the firm needed help during busy times and has always kept in touch with the owners of the firm. We were both dog-sitting for them while they were away one weekend so we had to keep in touch to hand off the dogs in the mornings. Ryan used this opportunity to ask Rose out to dinner.”

Their proposal story involved trash in Ryan’s pockets…!

“We were in Ocean City, MD for a relaxing weekend celebrating the recent engagement of our friends, Jamie and Jackson. The weekend before, we had planned and pulled off an elaborate surprise proposal and engagement party for them at our house. It was supposed to storm that day with Hurricane Laura on it's way so we wanted to get some beach time in; we went to the beach early even though it was cloudy and cold and almost no one was out there. I handle doing the laundry in the household and Ryan has a chronic case of putting trash in his pockets (wrappers, receipts, twigs, paper towels, napkins, leaves, etc.) and I am always having to clean them out before doing laundry and getting on his case about it.

Ryan said he was going into the water and started handing me trash from his pockets, which I could not understand since I had washed his swim trunks since the last time we went to the beach and then he handed me a folded up note that said "Will you marry me" and the ring. I had no idea, with my mind still on Jamie and Jackson's engagement. He only told Jamie and Jackson about 5 minutes beforehand too. All of our friends say, in true Jamie and Rose fashion, we would get engaged only a week apart and she will be getting married a month before! (we do everything together).”

I can’t wait for your wedding at Main Street Ballroom! It’s going to be the perfect blend of fun (hi skeeball!), romance (marrying your favorite person!), laughter and lots of love… and of course, delicious food, flowers and fun socks.

See you cuties, SOOOOON!

xo,
Naomi

lucie + chris | a sunset engagement at guinness brewery + baltimore waterfront

I will always say yes to taking engagement photos at a brewery… and for this adorable couple, it was extra meaningful since it was the site of Lucie + Chris’ first date! Read more about these cuties below!

Lucie + Chris met on the app, Coffee Meets Bagel, in November 2018. Here’s what happened after the initial match, in their words…

“We matched right before Thanksgiving and went on our first date to Guinness brewery. It was the Monday night before Thanksgiving and Lucie was supposed to be flying out to Portland, OR the next morning and still hadn't packed. We went and had one beer before we parted ways, both knowing that we had really enjoyed ourselves. Lucie told Chris that she might not text him a ton because she was going to be with family, but he knew she liked him because she ended up texting him a bunch… :)”

It’s pretty clear to me that Guinness should hire you two as models for their next ad campaign… just sayin’. :)

Proposal stories like this make me so happy…

“We had talked about getting a ring in general and Lucie did know the engagement was going to be happening most likely before the end of the year. It ended up happening on a Wednesday (12/9). Earlier that week, Chris had suggested that they go to National Harbor in DC to the ferris wheel. Lucie caught on and had assumed that he was going to proposal so she started getting super nervous all week. Chris picked up on this. We ended up taking a walk on Wednesday night, after a late work night for Lucie. Chris had intended for the walk to be around sunset but because Lucie had worked later that night, it was already dark for the walk. We still ended up going and walked to the harbor, right next to Baltimore Museum of Industry, which is a spot we often went. Then Chris said a bunch of nice things and proposed! Lucie had to get her phone flashlight out to check out the ring! LOL!”

After our time at Guinness, we chased the sun to West Covington Park to end along the water, where Lucie + Chris often take walks together. The weather was incredible, we got so lucky with the best night for an engagement session in Baltimore: it was breezy and the sky was definitely showing off!

Let’s get you married, Lucie + Chris!! I can’t wait for your intimate wedding at Cielo Verde on the rooftop of AVAM - it’s going to be the best day for so many reasons!

xo,
Naomi

meghan + justin | a lush, greenery filled engagement at rawlings conservatory

On a bright and beautiful sunny Fall day, I explored the lush Rawlings Conservatory with Meghan and Justin — they are absolutely radiant and perfect together.

Their love story started simply with a friendship and being in the right time and place. A mutual friend’s wedding was involved in taking it to the next level and the rest you can read below… ;)

What are their favorite things about each other…? Their answers left me speechless.

“Justin is incredibly thoughtful. Not just in the ways that selfishly I benefit, but in the way he loves his family and treats others, the way he is so intentional in making decisions to support the life he wants to live. He makes things happen, but is never reckless. Did I mention he still opens car doors for me and is the best chef/baker?”

“Meghan is a third-level thinker, something beyond intelligent. I can spend hours considering a dilemma and come up with a course of action.. but it wasn't long before I learned that running it by her will almost always lead to a more complete solution. She knows which subtle details are the critical points, and she explains them in an ego-less way that helps and encourages. I know it, her peers and colleagues know it, and it's why people (and I) place unparalleled value in her friendship (and future wife-ship).”

How they met in Justin’s words:

“We originally met through friends just being in the same place at the same time. We saw each other infrequently for many years and didn't really share much time together. Some would say we barely tolerated each other. Five or so years later, some of those mutual friends had a wedding. I (Justin) was an usher and spotted Meghan walking towards the seating. I had two thoughts -- 1. we should be cooler with each other and 2. damn she looks good in that dress and with that hair (it was in this order, I swear). I skipped the line of ushers to be the guy to walk her to seat, said "hi" etc., and returned to my usher duties for about 5 minutes before coming back to sit with Meghan and talk. We slow danced once at the wedding. We talked a little more, walked to her car when she left, and that capped off what I felt was a good potential start. That start led to texting, a couple movies ... moving in together, and choosing 9/30/21 as a very important date.”

And the proposal (that brought tears to my eyes!) in Meghan’s words:

“It was a Tuesday and I had just gotten home from work. Justin let me know there was something in the mail for me and went upstairs to change into his gym clothes, totally normal. The envelope was so strange, addressed to me and my mother with a CT return address. Inside the mailing envelope, another blue envelope. Inside the blue envelope, a letter in Justin's handwriting to my mom. I froze. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to read this, or it had somehow gotten lost and mailed back to me instead of Justin? I finally went half-way upstairs and asked Justin if I was supposed to read this letter. I sure was, and it was the sweetest letter to my mom asking for her blessing to propose. I stood in the kitchen re-reading the letter, so surprised and in awe that it took me a good ten minutes to finally come upstairs where Justin was waiting. He got on one knee, said all the sweet things again, and I said yes.”

Cheers, cuties! Your gentle, sweet and genuine love is an inspiration… I can’t wait to celebrate alongside you at the Mt. Washington Mill Dye House SO SOON!!

xo,
Naomi

ilana + ben | spring engagement at Rawlings Conservatory

Ilana and Ben chose to celebrate their relationship and newly engaged status in the place where it all officially started, Druid Hill Park! I couldn’t have been more excited for our time together since Ilana actually proposed to Ben here… more on that below…

These two share such a thoughtful, sweet, caring and intellectual chemistry together and inspire me with the way they strive for social justice in so many aspects of their lives.

We had the most lovely weather in Druid Hill Park for their engagement photos and with a ton of spots on our list to explore together, I’m so excited to share these vibrant yet relaxed and effortless, fun, candid moments with you!

Here’s more about the start of their meet-cute:

“We met at a rotating egalitarian, vegetarian, potluck Shabbat dinner in early 2018. The group is called Harbor Minyan and friends from that group are among our closest in Baltimore today! We talked about studying economics and travels to India over Ben's classic bean salad and Ilana's dish-of-the-month (always something different!) Ben made an impression by sharing a video of his Indian dance moves the that first night, and later invited Ilana to a small dinner party he was hosting.”

And the proposal:

“Ben lives for puzzles, so Ilana planned a scavenger hunt for Ben throughout Baltimore, leading to her in Druid Hill Park. She popped the question on a picnic blanket, they popped open champagne provided by a friend, and moments after they finished their glasses, the sky opened up with a major late August rainstorm! They celebrated and shared the news with family and friends during their lake getaway the following week.

Earlier this month, Ben surprised Ilana with a full-on at-home date night for Valentine's Day, with candles, music, dressing up, and take-out from one of our favorite restaurants. Ben suggested Ilana put a record on while Ben poured drinks, and she found a box of chocolates in the record player! Along with the chocolates she found an even more sparkly surprise - a ring!”

5 spots in Druid Hill Park we took Ilana + Ben’s engagement photos

1. their proposal spot, big trees and an intimate feel with a picnic blanket, a surprise chess set for Ben and margaritas

2. Taylor’s Grove (one of my favorite spots!)

3. Alllll the cherry blossoms near the Reservoir

4. Rawlings Conservatory gardens

5. Not location related, but I have to give a huge shoutout to Ilana’s outfits! I loved how romantic, relaxed and stylishly perfect the dress and tulle skirt paired with an off the shoulder lace top were for a garden, park engagement… and her curly hair still leaves me speechless!!!

I can not wait to celebrate with you and your families at Tusculum Farm! It’s going to be an absolutely beautiful June day in such a lush and relaxed garden setting… see you soon, cuties!

xo,
Naomi

sara + greg | a serene summer equestrian engagement

When Sara first suggested the horse farm she rides at as the location for their engagement photos, I was all in… and then she told me that Connor the horse, would make an appearance too; YESSSS!

In addition to the beauty of the rolling hills and views at Vintage Oaks Farm (and Sara’s adorably photogenic horse!), my favorite thing to see was how snuggly and sweet these two were together! Greg has this relaxed, safe and gentle way of loving Sara and bringing out the best smiles… I love the way they are so calm, thoughtful and genuinely happy together.

The story of their first date is so cute… here’s how it happened in their words:

“Greg and I met through how all modern romances seem to start- online. We met up for drinks in Hunt Valley and I remember being smitten from the get go. He was such a gentleman from the start. I could tell how kind and funny he is just from that first date. I wasn’t ready to have the date end so we ended up going for a drive and getting ice cream. It was a really perfect first date. I knew he was enjoying it because he asked me on a second date while we were still on the first. We met up later that week and I feel like the rest was history. We became pretty inseparable after that.” -Sara

“As Sara mentioned, we did meet online. I was very anxious to meet Sara for the first time. I knew just from chatting with her that we had a connection, and I was excited to see if that would translate to “real life”. We hit it off immediately. I wasn’t going to let her get away, so I did ask her on a second date before the first was even over.” -Greg

Can these two get anymore adorable? When asked what their favorite things about each other are, this is how they answered:

“It’s hard to pick one thing but one of the things I love most about Greg is how safe and supported he makes me feel. I feel like I can get through anything in life with him by my side. He is always there to celebrate with me in the good times but also there to comfort and support me through the hard times. He also has a great sense of humor and can be so goofy. He can also cook steak like a champ. (Like I said, its hard to just pick one thing :))”

“There’s so much to love about Sara. She truly brings out the best in me; she makes me want to be a better person. She’s smart, thoughtful, and an all-around loving person. She always has my back. She’s a very strong, supportive person. She is everything I’ve ever dreamed of.”

Sara and Greg, I CAN NOT WAIT to celebrate with you and your families tomorrow at Stone Ridge Hollow; I’m so honored to be a part of your wedding day and these memories!

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:

1. 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!!

2. 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.

3. 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%

4. 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

erin + brandon | a Butterbee Farm engagement with wine + local flowers

While this was not my first time photographing at Butterbee Farm, this engagement session was the first time I got to photograph a couple so willing to trek through flower fields in heels, a dress and adorable outfits after enjoying a few glasses of local Maryland wine! Erin and Brandon ARE. THE. BEST!!!

Erin + Brandon met online and had their first date at Maggiano’s. Between that first date and Brandon’s surprise proposal at the Inner Harbor, Erin describes how the subsequent date they had at Boordy Vineyards was when they both knew it was real - they talked a lot about sharing the same values and how they could picture spending the rest of their lives together. It was for that reason that we decided to plan their engagement session at a location similar to Boordy Vineyards; a garden / farm feel, where they could sip some wine, enjoy a beautiful and relaxed atmosphere and have the whole place to themselves!

If you’re not familiar with Butterbee Farm, you need to change that! As a local flower farm in Pikesville, MD, Butterbee grows flowers for florists, weddings and flower lovers all over the Chesapeake region. Growing flowers year-round (thanks to their heated greenhouses!), Laura Beth and Jascha provide the highest quality environmentally friendly options to couples that want locally sourced flowers for DIY weddings, teach classes, and host events at the farm.

Butterbee is a beautiful respite from city life and I love it when couples choose to spend time here with me!

5 reasons why taking Erin + Brandon’s engagement photos at a private flower farm like Butterbee was perfect:

1. They were able to enjoy a quiet and private picnic vibe right outside of Baltimore City that reminded them of a special time in their early relationship.

2. The lush, natural gardens provided a beautiful, colorful backdrop for late summer engagement photos.

3. We incorporated unique geometry and architecture among the rural farm environment.

4. The sunset was PERFECTION; glowing golden light among meadowy field grass made for some of my favorite photos of these two!

5. Because we had the whole place to ourselves, we were able to explore all the different seasonal blooms, meadows, landscapes and greenhouse spaces and not feel rushed.

This series of photos is my favorite… it showcases how Erin’s whole face lights up when she smiles and laughs and how completely in love with her, Brandon is. They’re so content and ready to start their next adventure together!

We couldn’t be more excited for your wedding day at Hillendale Country Club to finally be here! You both have such contagious, joyful energy together and are going to make a beautiful married couple!

xo,
Naomi