Classic & Quaint New England Engagement Photos

When Ally and Colin were dating they used to walk in the Stony Creek area, and if you haven’t had a chance to visit the Branford Trolley Trail I suggest you add it to your list! Connecticut has so many unique coastal areas to experience and this is definitely a new favorite of mine. They had sent me a lot of information before our time together (they know how much I love details!) and this level of preparation always helps for us to make the most of our time together, especially when visiting a new place for photos. After stopping at a few of the landmarks on the trail and seeing the scenery, we finished our time together in the downtown area - which has much more of a small seaside village vibe than a downtown, it’s perfection - and the light at sunset was, dare I say it, completely dreamy. They even indulged my request for a few photos on the swings, and I’m loving all of the different vibes we achieved in the course of a little over an hour: elegant and poised, playful and fun, and a romantic sunset walk on the beach.

Spring Engagement Photos Harkness Park

This Engagement Session actually happened last May. Whoa. I can’t believe I’m just now sharing this gorgeousness, but when I photographed these sweethearts I was actually about 8 months pregnant, and well, that was a pretty crazy season of life - I’m kind of loving revisiting these images just a few weeks before their celebration with friends and family.

I began working with Whitney and Dylan back in 2018, if you can believe it. I still remember sitting at Starbucks chatting about the dreams they had for their wedding day (plans that were ultimately altered a bit by COVID-19). Well, I’m happy to say, not only did these two have an intimate ceremony and still get married on the original day they had planned, although they had to postpone their larger celebration, the party will be happening THIS month and we’re all pretty excited.

Since I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know them they’ve bought a house, added fur babies to their pack, and actually gotten married - it feels like a lot of life has happened since we met and I couldn’t be more excited to stand with them in celebration as they are able to have their closest friends and family witness their commitment to all of life’s changes and challenges ahead.

Mystic, Connecticut Summer Engagement Photos

If you’re one of my couples you know that during our inquiry call I spend quite a bit of precious time chatting about your Engagement Session and the importance of this time that we spend together. I have a whole list of reasons for this that I will share in another cohesive blog post, but can I just say that I love when my couples get excited about this and make the Engagement Session a priority?!

Fun fact! Courtney & Ryan will be getting married NEXT month. The photos they receive in their gallery won’t be used in the “typical” Save-the-Date fashion, as they’d already had that taken care of (although they did end up using a few to be in touch with their guests with some COVID-19 updates and information). But that doesn’t change the significance of this evening of exploring around Downtown Mystic, Connecticut along with one of my favorite local beaches. I loved having the opportunity to get to know them both better before their wedding day and it added an extra level of uniqueness because their wedding is so close and all of the details are falling into place. I know that the time we spent together in will make them immeasurably more comfortable in front of the camera on their wedding day and a huge bonus is that they also have some cute couples photos to hang around their home where they aren’t in wedding attire.

Engagement Session - Stonington Borough | Tiffany & Patrick

One of my absolute favorite things about photographing in New England are the amazing and vibrant colors you can find on the coast - in the landscape and the architecture. Tiffany and Patrick’s Engagement Session was no exception with a beautiful sunset and so many gorgeous flowers in bloom. These two will be getting married this Fall and were ahead of the planning process, choosing an intimate wedding celebration long before COVID-19 changed the world (and with it, the way we can currently gather).

It’s been encouraging to watch their plans fall into place and have a chance to catch up as we walked around exploring this stunning coastal town - making this location even more meaningful is the fact that Patrick proposed here!

Harkness Memorial State Park Waterford, Connecticut | Rachel & Harrison

an we please just talk about how seriously stinking CUTE these two are?

Rachel and Harrison currently live in Arizona and when we chatted over the phone about their wedding, I encouraged them to still consider planning an “Engagement Session” even if it was just the week before so we would have the chance to connect and also give them some adorable New-Englandy photos while they were back on the east coast.

Well, I’m so glad we made the time. I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to spend even more time with them in addition to their wedding day.

Lighthouse Point Park New Haven, Connecticut Engagement Session | Kelly & Stephen

We had to reschedule this session…. two times? Maybe? I felt bad every time we touched base and made the decision to call it and hold out for better weather. I mean, it’s New England and we’ve got to roll with Mother Nature’s punches, but I was crossing my fingers the day we ended up getting together that the stars would align and give these two the best weather. And align they did.

Kelly and Stephen, you guys are awesome. An absolute blast to be around and the smiles you bring out in one another are making me smiling just writing this.

Looking forward to your 2020 wedding! Thanks for asking me tell your story.