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

diane + connor | candid, fun downtown annapolis engagement

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

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

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

How they met, in Diane’s words…

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

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

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

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

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

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

xoxo,
Naomi

mekenna + nick | a fells point pier engagement with champagne

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

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

Aren’t they such a gorgeous couple?!

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

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

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

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

xo,
Naomi

kristen + leo | a breezy, romantic summer engagement in fells point

So many words come to mind when I think about Kristen + Leo and the time we spent together for their engagement photos in Fells Point on a perfectly breezy and calm summer evening on the water…

But all of those words are actually escaping me right now as I compile their photos into a cohesive story and can’t stop staring at the cozy, cuteness they exude! This engagement included the most adorable polka dot dress on Kristen with skinny straps and strappy heels, Leo looking dapper in a linen shirt, gentle embraces, dancing on piers and lots of kisses in the wind…

Here are some favorites!

I can not wait for your wedding day at the Mt. Washington Mill Dye House, Kristen + Leo!! You share a love that is so full of genuine respect, mutual admiration and a fun blend of both of your family’s traditions and cultures, making everyday a new adventure… it doesn’t get better than that!

xo,
Naomi

elizabeth + steven | a golden hour garden engagement at Cylburn Arboretum

Cylburn Arboretum’s gardens are in my opinion, the most photogenic natural setting in Baltimore! Whether spring, summer or fall, the grounds are full of color, texture, greenery and a historic mansion that provides elegance, romance and intrigue. It doesn’t get better than this if you want your engagement photos to be timeless, gorgeous and full of variety.

So while brainstorming locations with Elizabeth and Steve, I was extra excited when we landed on Cylburn since Elizabeth told me that Steve is a huge fan of The Wire and they filmed this scene there, so we might have to recreate it together…! ;) Scroll down to see how they did!

I love that they met while playing kickball in Federal Hill almost 10 years ago now and have such a sweet and playful relationship. Their photos just make me smile so much - they’re so comfortable around each other and have such a loving way of being together.

More about their love story, in Elizabeth’s words:

“We met in Fall of 2012. Steve and I were both living in Federal Hill (actually on the same block but didn't know it!). Separately we decided with some friends to join a kickball league and were placed on the same team where we met. Our groups merged fast and we regularly hung out as friends. We were close friends for 2 years before we started dating in 2014.

In June when some of the COVID restrictions were lifted, I was excited to eat outside at a restaurant (and not out of a takeout container). I made a reservation at Limoncello in our neighborhood which ultimately got pushed back a week due to weather. The plan was to walk down to dinner so Steve suggested we take drinks and walk down to Tide Point (a very regular spot for us). When we got there, we sat along the water for a bit before getting ready to head on to dinner. When we stood back up to keep walking Steve took my drink out of my hand, got down on one knee and proposed! Our best friends were hiding behind one of the buildings taking pictures and popped out with champagne to toast. Steve had also secretly changed the reservation so they joined us for dinner to continue the celebrations! My childhood friend is a jewelry designer and Steve worked with her (Sasha Walsh Designs) to make my ring, making everything even more special!”

Elizabeth and Steve, we can’t wait for your wedding at The Winslow this weekend!! I love that we’ll be able to celebrate with photos at Tide Point too, where you got engaged and with such incredible views of Baltimore, a city with so much personality to show off!

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

francesca + zach | a modern Gunther & Co. engagement

Francesca and Zach were so relaxed in front of the camera, making them an absolute joy to photograph… these two are model material and seriously set the bar so high! Their relationship is effortless and so full of joy - not to mention, incredible style…

5 REASONS WHY GUNTHER & CO. WAS THE PERFECT SPOT FOR FRANCESCA + ZACH’S ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS

1. Francesca + Zach had their first date here…

2. …and named their dog Gunther, since that’s where it all started!

3. The modern design of Gunther & Co was a beautifully simple backdrop to show off their love and relationship.

4. We had the back patio at Gunther & Co to ourselves and it was the perfect spot for a relaxing cocktail!

5. The golden hour sun peeked around the front of the building at just the right time for us to take advantage of it - this light is what all engagement session dreams are made of!

I love the way they look at each other and how Zach makes Francesca smile. It’s so genuine and full of excitement for what’s to come!

When golden hour came out to play, we were ready and waiting for those glowy shots… and they CRUSHED it!!

Francesca and Zach, I’m SO excited to see you again and document your wedding day in May - I know you’ve been waiting for this day for years, literally!!

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 + mike | a summer sunset engagement in northern maryland

As the sun was setting at Erin + Mike’s picturesque property in Pylesville, MD, we were in the exact right place and time for the most magical golden glow as these lovebirds popped a bottle of bubbly and celebrated the life they’ve built together.

Erin planned and styled the entire vibe of their session to be among nature, yet classy, fun and full of joy; between their outfits, the furniture and the baby blue champagne bottle that matched her nails, I couldn’t get enough and am SO excited to share their engagement session in northern Maryland with you!

Erin has an incredible vegetable garden on their property and since their engagement session, they’ve adopted an adorable black lab named Sincere. The meals they cook and the #urbanrowpup adventures they share together are what make their lives so enriched by where they live… it was such an honor to be able to document these moments on land that means so much to this sweet couple!

It’s so easy to see the love they share together and how perfect they are for each other; it makes me that much more excited to be a part of their spring wedding at Wyndridge Farm!!

Cheers, cuties!

xo,
Naomi

ashley + nat | a patterson park + fells point sunset engagement

Ashley + Nat are huge soccer fans… so much so that they traveled to London to watch their favorite team play a match which (unbeknownst to Ashley), was the same trip Nat was going to propose on! So, naturally they began their engagement session in Patterson Park wearing those same soccer jerseys and Chucks… the perfect way to lend a carefree and energetic feel to their date night in the park with me tagging along!

Movement and an active lifestyle have been a part of their relationship from the beginning: “We me while Ashley was working at the gym - she was behind the front desk on the days that I went to work out. One of the first things I remember, is her kicking me off the squash courts while I was playing with a friend. From there, we met randomly out on Halloween weekend in 2013 and I knew that I wanted to be with her…”

6 REASONS THIS PATTERSON PARK AND FELLS POINT ENGAGEMENT SESSION WILL MAKE YOU SMILE:

1. Their smiles say it all. Ashley + Nat were so fun to be around and relaxed together while exploring the most photogenic parts of Patterson Park! The pond, the pagoda and the boardwalk are such perfect late summer evening spots.

2. Their outfits created such a fun pop of bold, vibrant color against the greenery within the park and the Fells Point waterfront.

3. Ashley wore chucks since she’s most comfortable in them (always DO YOU!) and will be wearing them at their wedding too!

4. What Nat loves most about Ashley: “…her loyalty to me through thick and thin, her constant support for me and no matter her age, she is still a child at heart. She is funny and doesn't know what makes her funny... I love to laugh with her.”

5. What Ashley loves most about Nat: “the way he goofs around with me and watches all my silly shows. He is my go-to when I don't know how my outfit looks or even what to wear that day. But most of all, I love that when I have a bad day at work or I am sad, he gives me a big hug and everything seems a little bit better.”

6. We ended our time in Fells Point on the Broadway Pier with the marquee ‘city pier’ sign at the Pendry in the background; it felt like they were all alone in Fells at that moment, illuminated only by the streetlights!

Here’s the proposal story in Nat’s words; I love how much it shows off both of their personalities and their genuine excitement for this fleeting time in their lives!

”We went to London to see our favorite soccer team play a match. We decided to make a long trip of it and go to London for 4 days and Paris for 3 days. On the second full day in London we went to Westminser Abbey in the morning and I had purchased tickets to go on the London Eye. Late in the evening the night before, I decided that I was going to purpose on the Eye. So I purchased the VIP champagne experience. We were escorted to our capsule and got right on. About a quarter of the way up, I worked up the nerve to do it. At first, she had no idea what happening. All of the sudden she figured out what was happening and started crying which made me emotional; finally I got down on one knee and opened the box. Ashley being Ashley...she reached in and grabbed the ring from it before I could put it on her. We then got to celebrate the rest of the ride with champagne and a complete view of the city. I spent the rest of our trip telling everyone that we got engaged. It didn't matter who they were, they were finding out.”

We can’t wait to be at Wyndridge Farm to celebrate with you, exactly 2 months from today!!!

While we’ve documented weddings at Wyndridge before, this will be our first time taking advantage of The Inn for all the getting ready portraits… so excited for all the spaciousness, natural light and endless views from the patio!

xo,
Naomi

laura + cesar | a romantic horse farm engagement session

Having met at Lafayette College during Laura’s very first college course (geology!), we were originally planning to take their engagement photos on Lafayette’s campus in the early spring since it only made sense to head back to where their love story started, right?

As attending numerous weddings of close friends (and other Lafayette alumni!) consumed more and more of their travel time and attention, plans shifted back to Maryland. When Laura mentioned she grew up near a horse farm near Howard County and we could take photos while exploring the farm together on a summer evening in July, I was ALL. ABOUT. IT!

In Laura’s words, how Cesar proposed: “The proposal took place the weekend of the NYC marathon. I was running the marathon and my family was in town. My sister flew in from Seattle to surprise me to watch me run. I thought that was the weekend surprise! I messed up Cesar's original plan of proposing on a run. I told him the Saturday before the race I needed to go on a light jog and he was going to go with me. I cancelled the run since my family and friends were in town and we would be doing a lot of walking. Cesar managed to pull me away for a few minutes near the water in Battery Park at Brookfield Place and got down on one knee! The next day I ran the marathon and had a medal around my neck and a ring on my finger!”

These two have an undeniable connection together; I love the way Cesar makes Laura smile and has a way of ensuring everything they do together is fun and full of genuine laughter! We can’t wait for their wedding THIS Saturday at the Baltimore Country Club - another spot with rolling hills and beautiful vistas, just in Baltimore city. ;)

xo,
Naomi