You know it is going to be a fun engagement session when you start at an awesome Irish Pub in downtown New Haven.  Liz and James really began their relationship at Anna Liffey’s, so it was only suiting to start their engagement session there, too!  I learned all about Liz’s favorite drink, root beer vodka and club soda with some firsthand exposure (thanks for the cocktails, my friends!).  Anyway, I have known Liz for a really loooooooong time so this was an extra special engagement session for me. 

Liz was a part of what I call my old life – when up until around 2002, I was working in a very corporate job in which I performed well, but never enjoyed.  She is a creative spirit herself and I think she really understood my suffering – though we never discussed it in so many words.  She knew that I needed a break from the grind and we would regularly enjoy conversations that had NOTHING to do with our work.  We each weathered through some difficult breakups, life changes and frustrations as we really grew into the people we are today.  It was one of my greatest joys to leave that job and re-gain my creative soul, but it saddened me not to have my daily office visits from my friend Liz.  And, as life got busier and busier, I found we hadn’t seen each other in years.

So, when I got a call from Liz about photographing her wedding, it was exciting in a lot of ways.  Firstly, I couldn’t be more excited for my friend to have finally found “the one.”  I could tell from her description of James that he is the perfect partner for her.  Secondly, it meant a chance to re-connect with someone whose friendship I truly valued and missed.  It was so incredible to watch Liz and James interact together.  James really loves my friend.  And, for that, I really love James!  Of course, James has other qualities (besides merely loving Liz) that make him wonderful, too!  But, that IS my favorite quality!

I can not wait for your wedding!  It is right around the corner!  So, until we convene again for another root beer vodka and club (yes, thanks Liz, for I am now hooked, too), enjoy your engagement photos.  I hope that I was able to really capture the laughter and the joy between you two.  

Jessica and Jon are getting married today!  Since we did their engagement session a very short time before the wedding, it never made it’s way to the blog!  So, as a means of celebrating their nuptials, here is a little taste from their Hartford, CT engagement session.  To explain the last photo, you have to understand that Jessica is a science teacher….. and my eyes just happened to catch this gigantic bug that was on the marquee at the CT Science Center…… well, that led to taking a photo that makes it look like the bug is a part of the session.  Cheesy, I know.  But, it just HAD to be done….. well, at least in my head it HAD to be done!  :)

Can’t wait til later today….. Jessica and Jon are getting married at Harkness Park.  BEAUTIFUL couple, BEAUTIFUL location, excited photographer!

Jackie and Jason are getting married on Saturday!!!!!!  We snuck a quick engagement session in before their wedding.  This is a beautiful couple in a beautiful place….. now that is a good day at work! 

We started out at the Boston Beer Works (admittedly, this little stop had a lot to do with me craving their amazing blueberry beer). Then, we ended up with unexpected access to Fenway Park (the trick was to LOOK as if we belonged at the party we were “unofficially invited to” by one of the guests who saw us on the street!) No one questioned our presence so we just strolled right up to the World Series trophies….. What a great surprise for our session since James is a huge Boston sports fan! Sometimes, you just have to roll with it! But, our Fenway side trip meant we burned through our daylight so we had to finish everything else in the dark – with a wrap up at the bar where Catherine and James first met. But, I love shooting in the dark – so with the exception of our drive back to CT in the wee hours of the morning, this session was perfect!

Catherine and James are having their wedding at the Omni Parker Hotel in Boston this September. I am suuuuuuuuper excited! I love the history in Boston and I can’t wait to shoot my first Omni Parker Wedding! And, if their wedding is anywhere near as much fun as their engagement, I will hardly be able to contain myself!!!

And when we saw this sign, we just could NOT resist!!!!!!!

And then we got our random chance to get into Fenway!  We created this soft glowy light with a little off camera flash – trying to use the right gear for the look we wanted – but still trying not to draw attention to ourselves….. a little tough!

And it doesn’t get better than this if you are a Red Sox fan!  (Disclaimer – being from Colorado, I get to appreciate BOTH the Red Sox and Yankees – though favor the Yankees so as to support my Yankees fan husband and Yankees fan Studio Manager! But, if push comes to shove and I HAD to pick a team?  Simple….. go ROCKIES!) 

The next two are some of my favorites from the night……

Then off to the Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market area to find the bar where Catherine and James first met.

Aubrey and Graham are getting married next April and I can’t wait!  This was the first time I got to see them in action together…. and what a great time we had down on the farm!

We played with some off camera flash lighting for the images inside of the old tobacco barn – between a fun couple, the sun coming in through the slats and a little bit of flash “love,” these engagement images ended up being some of my favorites!

Theresa and Steven’s wedding is right around the corner….. for the second time!  They originally planned to be married in July of 2010 – but instead, ended up being blessed with a beautiful baby girl, Eva, just a little earlier than expected.  Now, this beautiful family is about to “make it official” in 2011.  And, as they celebrate Eva’s first birthday, they will also be celebrating their marriage.

How about this for a beautiful family?!?!?!  Seriously!!!!!!  Thanks to you, Theresa and Steven, for being open-minded when I suggested doing your family photo in a dark alley!!!!

How gorgeous are these two!!!!?!?!

Kate and Matt are getting married this October.  And, our engagement session was the first time that I actually got a chance to meet Matt!  We had a really good (and hot and sweaty) time in Elizabeth Park!  Kate and Matt, I am really looking forward to your wedding!

Recently, I got lost on a run, and I mean, REALLY, REALLY lost….. so, in an effort to make the most of my exhausting wrong turn (and to distract myself from the belief that I might actually die before finding my way back!!!), I made it my goal to pick out three new places to shoot in Glastonbury….. And, Amanda and Jeremy were open-minded and gracious enough to humor me….. so, off we went!

The thing I loved about shooting this particular engagement session is that these two laughed the entire time…. which made me laugh!  From my new, quite random locations, to the inside of Chili’s, it was a blast the entire ride!  I can’t wait ’til their wedding in October!   So, enjoy our little ride through Glastonbury with Amanda and Jeremy!

Since the day that Katz Hardware put their Adirondack chairs out, I have wanted to take this photo!

And in a town with multiple bike shops, you can’t shoot at street level at 6pm and not have this happen twice in 5 minutes…….

And they both work for Pepsi…… how appropriate!!!!  :)

And the story of their first date…. at Chili’s.  Yes Jeremy, I HAD to put this photo in, too!  :)

Jessica and Chris have a fun relationship – they met via their work connections when she was “The Intern.”  :)  They enjoy hanging out in West Hartford Center so we decided to photograph their engagement session in that general area.  Not sure they expected I would start in front of a loading dock (I didn’t expect that either) but I love the outcome!  I also love that Jessica’s dress was almost perfect coloring for every shooting scenario we picked.  Way to go Jessica!

Can’t wait for your wedding in October!

How cute are they?!?!?!?!

Before all of the snow is gone (for which I CAN NOT wait!!!!), I wanted to post some photos from at least one of the outdoor engagement sessions we had during Winter-zilla.  Laura and Jared’s engagement session was shot right here in South Glastonbury, CT only days after one of the monster snowfalls.  These two are getting married in October of this year.  And, do we have some special photo surprises for their guests of their wedding….. which are not included with these photos.

Can’t you just hear the two of them laughing during this shoot?!?  They have GREAT energy.  And, if spending the day with them is even half as much fun as spending an afternoon with them, October is going to be an event to remember!  Congratulations to you guys and happy planning!!!!