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
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
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:
catching the magnolia trees in bloom in Baltimore (they’re Sarah’s favorite!)
including Maple, their adorable poodle and #urbanrowpup, for a few photos
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
allie + hunter | a spring mt. vernon engagement at brewer's art
/On a beautiful Friday in Mt. Vernon, I met up with Allie + Hunter (+ Bruce, who was THE most well-behaved little pup!) for their spring engagement photos… it was so much fun because they have such a naturally adorable and sweet chemistry together — seriously these two could make a blank wall look amazing!
They started with a beer at Brewer’s Art and then we walked down to the Washington Monument to take advantage of the gorgeous magnolia blooms. We got so lucky with the weather and had a chance to stop in front of the Belvedere, an iconic spot in the Mt. Vernon neighborhood as well as timing it right to get that glowy setting sunlight streaming through the trees at the west side of the park in Mt. Vernon Place!
Allie + Hunter, you’re both such a joy to be around and deserve all the happiness life can bring! I can not wait to be a part of your wedding day at Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park on the water… you’ve been waiting so long for this day and it’s finally here!!!
xo,
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
joslyn + andrew | pizza, skeeball + patterson park pagoda engagement
/When you live across the street from the best place to get pizza, beer AND play skeeball near Patterson Park, your engagement session essentially designs itself!
Joslyn and Andrew, are two of the most fun-loving, relaxed and kind humans… they also own Dexter, a lovable beagle who made a short and sweet appearance during their engagement photos but was a rockstar from every angle.
We had so much fun walking around the park and pagoda together! The trees were showing off with their early spring blooms, Joslyn’s floral heels added the perfect pop of color and pattern to their classic navy wardrobe and I simply loved watching how J+A interact; they were up for anything and overflowing with joy!
Joslyn + Andrew, if your engagement photos are any indication of how much fun your wedding day is going to be… your guests are in for quite a treat and I’m so honored and excited to document it all!
xo,
Naomi
whitney + ryan | a maryland zoo + rawlings conservatory elopement
/The only thing that could have made Whitney + Ryan’s elopement better would have been if their 4 cats could have joined in the fun… yes, 4 (all named for mushrooms: Shiitake, Porcini, Enoki and Crimini)!
So, naturally the next best thing was to include a penguin and get married in an intimate elopement ceremony at the Maryland Zoo. Taylor of Taylored Vows, officiated and inspired not only smiles and loving glances, but memorable laughter throughout their vows on the steps of the Mansion House.
I couldn’t be more excited to share what their day looked like… CONGRATULATIONS, W+R!!
WHITNEY + RYAN’S MARYLAND ZOO + RAWLINGS CONSERVATORY ELOPEMENT WAS FULL OF FUN, CANDID JOY AND A PENGUIN!
It was just the 2 of them, myself, their officiant, and their own personal chauffeur (from the zoo) to take us around for photos, after getting close and cozy with Lilly, the penguin! A true elopement that was so much fun and exactly what Whitney and Ryan wanted for their wedding…
It didn’t rain at all, despite the threatening skies (but I wore boots and had umbrellas just in case! The sun showed up during their vows and then went back to hiding behind clouds for their portraits… this was actually a great thing since it meant less squinty eyes!
We ended outside among the lush gardens at Rawlings Conservatory and took some of my FAVE PHOTOS EVER because they’re so stinkin’ cute together and we had the place to ourselves (another reason Tuesday weddings are worth it!!)
Whitney and Ryan, you two compliment each other so perfectly and share such a special connection, I can’t thank you enough for the opportunity to document your elopement! I hope this day was full of more happiness and love than you could have imagined… and it only gets better from here!
xo,
Naomi
lily + andy | a relaxed, candid engagement at rye street tavern
/When I met up with Lily and Andy for their engagement photos at Rye Street Tavern, it was a chilly yet beautiful November evening in Baltimore; we danced, we walked, we jumped and we snuggled up with Nyla, their adorable #urbanrowpup who seemed like she’d modeled at 17 photoshoots before this one… she was a pro! ;)
I love how completely at ease and comfortable you both are - up for anything and so sweet and silly together, Lily and Andy, you compliment each other in every way! I also have to say how much I swooned over Lily’s vibrant blue floor-length dress that added so much motion and movement to their photos.
But you know what’s even better? The story of how they met:
“After studying abroad for a semester in Sydney, Andy was apartment hopping; catching up with the friends he hadn't seen for a semester. On his way home, he decided to stop in at one last spot and visit a friend who he had known since high school. That friend happened to be throwing a small party, and Lily was there! After learning that Lily was interested in travel and Game of Thrones, Andy was hooked.”
And then how Andy proposed at a Getaway House (LOVE that!):
“Andy booked a Getaway House by Shenandoah National Park for a weekend trip. We spent the weekend there hiking in the park and taking pictures at many of the amazing outlooks. Although Andy was hoping to propose at the top of hike with a beautiful view, heavy cloud cover forced an audible. Andy suggested taking photos looking out the huge window in the Getaway cabin. While Lily's back was turned, and the camera was rolling, he got down on one knee and proposed. Nyla, our pup, was very excited.”
Lily + Andy, I can’t wait for your wedding day and all the jumping (for joy!) photos that are going to take place!! ;) You two are just the cutest!
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:
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!
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.
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!