It sounds a tad corny, but when you meet them, you know it’s true! Elizabeth & Blake’s love was written in the stars. Call it destiny. Call it fate. Call it dumb luck. Whatever it was, this love was clearly meant to be.  Although they weren’t aware of it at the time, Elizabeth & Blake’s story began in 1998, in South Padre Island, Texas.

Each on spring break with their respective friends, the two met briefly and without much pomp or circumstance. Blake, as rumor has it, actually had a crush on one of Elizabeth’s friends and Elizabeth was dating someone else at the time. No love connection was made; the holiday ended; and the groups parted way. But…a seed had been planted.

Seven years later, while celebrating the 4th of July, again with friends…though this time on the Jersey Shore, Elizabeth & Blake’s paths crossed again. Some force beyond explanation was pushing them together. It took a second date before they realized they had met that fateful Texas trip seven years earlier. Ironically, neither Blake nor Elizabeth particularly remembered meeting the other. This time, however, sparks flew and love took hold.

Almost four years to the day after meeting that second time, Blake & Elizabeth will say, “I do,” surrounded by family and the friends that first brought them together.

We had the pleasure of spending an afternoon with Elizabeth & Blake a couple of weeks ago during their bello love session, aka engagement session. We’ve decided to stop calling them engagement sessions, because our photos really aren’t about our couple’s engagement so much as they are about the beautiful love they share. That’s what we’re there to capture and celebrate and so it seems fitting that the name for our get-together reflect that.

We had a fabulous time with these two….their love is easy to see and hard not to respond to. They make each other laugh, keep each other real and seem to really be made for one another. Here’s some evidence of their love:

I don’t know why, but my favorite images are always ones where our couples are laughing and genuinely enjoying each other, even though they’ve got two cameras pointing at them! When you can see the love, you can’t help but feel it!

You know it’s love when the gift of a dandelion (aka…weed) elicits this reaction! How much do you love these two?? Makes my heart smile!

I love this shot, mostly because I love Elizabeth’s joyfully content expression and the way she’s still so gingerly holding onto her dandelion as she gets lost in Blake’s embrace. I live for these moments with Andy! When nothing else matters in that moment except the one you love. Perfection!

I don’t remember what was said, or if we ever knew, but I love this shot!

Could they be any cuter? Seriously!

Love it!

This could be one of my favorites from the session, but only because I tried something and it worked out exactly as I had hoped. I know we don’t usually say whose is whose, but I’ve been dying to play around with the warm autumn glow the sun gives off this time of year and I got just the effect I wanted and couldn’t have asked for a better moment to capture as I did so. I just love the way Elizabeth is going in for a smooch and how the warm glow of the sun plays off the feeling that gesture evokes. It just feels like an ad for some delicious fragrance to me! I had fun with this one! I admit it!

And, while I was playing with light, Andy was playing with perspective! So cool how one moment can tell such different stories, don’t you think?! That’s why having two photographers is so great!!! (granted, we are a tad biased!)

I love Blake’s cheeky expression as he gets nuzzled by Elizabeth! Seriously adorable!!!

I love the serenity in their expressions in this next one. They just look so comfortable together! Just as it should be!

We call this one…Lean on Me! Are they smokin’ or what?!

We ended our session with a few shots at the beach. It was cold and the light was fading fast, so we didn’t stay too long. Just long enough to get a couple of great moody shots!

Elizabeth & Blake, you guys were amazing!!! We had such a blast photographing you two together and being able to just be around you both. I know we say this a lot, but that’s because we’re truly blessed to get to work with and know some amazing couples. And, like so many of our couples, you guys share an incredible love that is wonderful to behold!!! Thank you for sharing it with us and for trusting us to capture it in photographs for you! We’re so excited to be there with you next summer when you pledge your love to one another. We’re really looking forward to meeting your families and the friends who brought you together! Big hugs, Christine & Andy xoxo

Occasionally, we get a groom-to-be who is totally into the engagement session. He’s excited to have his photo taken with his sweetie and not at all wary of having to schmooze it up in front of two relative strangers. But, let’s be honest….that is not the norm.

Typically, the guys are gently persuaded by their sweeties that the experience will be fun and they’ll get some great photos together. “Come on,” she says, “We don’t have any great photos of us. It will be fun. You’ll see.” Reluctantly, the guy goes along with it. After all…if she’s happy, he’s happy.

I think it would be safe to say that this later scenario was more likely the case with our NYC hotties Ivy & Ben. Ivy is one of those sweet, adorable, infectiously bubbly people who instantly charms all she meets. She is fun, beautiful, and very comfortable when thrown into the spotlight. And Ben, despite his striking resemblance to one of my teenage heartthrobs, Jack Wagner, aka Frisco Jones of the daytime soap General Hospital, (oh, how I used to swoon over Frisco), Ben, was a bit shy about being photographed…at first. I think he would have been much happier hanging out, talking and getting to know each other over a drink, without the involvement of cameras.

But, oh, how things changed….as they so often do by the time we finish our couple shoots. By the end of our 2+ hours together, Ben was throwing out ideas and giving Ivy direction on how to drape herself on him or where to stand, saying things like, “How does this look?” and setting up a pretty cool shot! It was priceless!! Seeing that transition is the highest praise we can get, because if that’s where we end up, particularly with our guys, we know we’ve succeeded. Our couples now trust us, they feel comfortable with us and we’ve all had fun along the way. What more can we ask for as photographers?

We seriously have the best job ever!!!

We always start our sessions slowly, letting our couples find their comfort level with us. We don’t like to give a lot of specific direction. Usually, we just put our couples together in a cool setting and say, “Have a moment,” “Just play,” or the ridiculously impossible, “Pretend we’re not here.” Although, it’s a tougher sell at the start, by the end, we’re all laughing and having a fabulous time.

Ivy & Ben’s session typified the kind of experience we hope all of our couples have with us. The fear and inhibitions are shed and a bond is formed. The results are often exciting and confirming for us that we are doing exactly what we are meant to do.

See for yourself….

Sometimes it’s best to start somewhere with a little privacy. It’s hard to mack up on your honey with the world watching. An alley is often a great place to start!

I love this one….it’s like Ivy is coyly coaxing Ben to come out of his shell and go for it.

Our favorite photos always seem to be ones where we get real expressions of joy from our couples. This is a perfect example of what we LOVE to capture….

Our Little Miss Thang is working her strut in her oh so sexy six-inch Louboutins. Love it!!!! Seriously, could she be any cuter? I don’t think so!!

Another wonderful joyous shot…I love Ben’s big “Frisco” smile and the way Ivy is looking at him with such adoration! Getting to photograph people in this way is such a wonderful reminder to keep life simple and hold tightly to the things that matter most….namely the people we love!

This was a fun one…there’s a little Italian Restaurant on Main Street in Falmouth we like to go, La Cucina Sul Mare, and although they hadn’t yet opened, the manager was kind enough to let us pop in for a few moody shots. One of Ivy & Ben’s favorite things to do together is try new restaurants, so we thought this would be a fun setting for them. They knew how to work it!

Amore….

With those killer shoes, we just couldn’t resist this shot, especially with Ivy’s incredible legs! So fun!

When she was young, Ivy was picked to live in NYC and study dance at the School of American Ballet. (soooo cool!) We wanted to see her moves, so she showed us a couple and even had Ben join her in with his own plie’. We love you Ben!!

Seeing double…taking advantage of the late day sun and falling shadows Ben & Ivy share a kiss…or two.

After we thought we were done in town, we were driving out of the boatyard, heading for the beach, as we noticed this collection of colorful, rusted boat stands stored together in a corner of the parking lot and thought, “Hmmm…this could be cool.” And it was!!! We had such fun using the lines and colors of the stands and, of course, by this point Ivy & Ben were totally into anything and just had a blast with it! So fun!!!

I like the old time photo feel of this next one. It compliments the rusty background.

It was pretty cold and windy on the beach, so Ivy & Ben decided to run to keep warm! What a fun way to end our incredible session with these two wonderful people!!!

Ivy & Ben…you guys rocked it!!! We had SOOO much fun with you both and wished the sun hadn’t set so we could have kept shooting! We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for trusting us so quickly and so completely! We loved being around you both and are so excited to be a part of this exciting time in your lives. We have no doubt that your wedding will be a joyous celebration of your beautiful love! Thank you for allowing us to bear witness to that!!! We love you guys!!! xoxoxo Christine & Andy

Have you ever met two people and thought, “They would be perfect for each other?” That’s exactly what a mutual friend thought when she met Victoria & Mike. So, she introduced them and, as she predicted, they became fast friends. Fast forward six years, and wedding bells are ringing for these two Canadian natives now living and working in the Big Apple.

We met up with Victoria and Mike recently at Bourne Farm in Falmouth, which coincidentally is where Andy & I said, “I do!” seven blissful years ago.

It was one of those perfect fall days when the air was crisp and the colors vibrant. Although they were a little nervous at the start, Victoria and Mike seemed to fall right into the swing of things and enjoy each other and our session as much as Andy & I enjoyed photographing them! Check it out…

Can we talk for a second about how cute Mike is sitting there with his hands folded? Seriously….adorable!!! Big serious softie!!! Love it!

I know this feeling well….the comfort that comes from reaching out and touching the person you love most. Just holding and examining each others hands and thinking….I’m holding onto this person until our hands are old and wrinkled and tell a thousand stories of our life together.

I love this one….it’s the expressions on their faces. We have the advantage of knowing them a little, but I still think this photo tells you a lot about who they are and how they are with each other. And it always excites me, the thought that a single image, a frozen moment in time, can instantly tell a story. I just love that! The gorgeous fall colors in the background are pretty nice too!

Are they sweet or what??

Another one that I think really tells a story about who they are. I just love their very natural, genuine smiles! I can’t help but smile looking at this one.

How cool are these faded grape vines? Love them and the frame they provide for these next two images!! So fun!

It wouldn’t be a Bello session without a butt shot! I LOVE this one!

Cozying up with some hay bails! Seriously, are they adorable or what???

This is one of my favorites from the session. I just love the way the eye is immediately drawn down the rock bridge to Victoria & Mike snuggling as if there is no one else in the world in that moment. But what I love most about it is that when I look at it, I can still hear the sound of Mike’s infectious giggle traveling down to the other end of the bridge as we were taking this shot. Love it!!

It was kind of an overcast afternoon, but the light on the top of this hill was amazing! It just seemed to light up their faces as they goofed around! So fun!

Victoria & Mike, thank you both so much for letting down your guard and trusting us to capture your wonderful relationship in this way! We had such a nice time with you both and are so excited to be there with you, your families and friends, when you formally commit your lives to one another. It is obvious that you two care deeply for one another and that you were meant to be together! We feel honored that you want us to be there with you during this exciting time!!! With big hugs, Christine & Andy

I really don’t know how we keep getting so lucky to work with and get to know such amazing couples. Not only are they all completely adorable, but each new couple we meet continues to inspire us with their love. Stefania & Justin are no exception. High school sweethearts, Stefania & Justin have the kind of relationship that looks easy. They know each other as only best friends can and they have an easiness about them that instantly makes others around them feel relaxed.

We met this wonderful couple a couples of weeks ago at Nauticus Marina, where they will be having their wedding next September. It was one of those first bitterly cold days of the fall season, but these two love birds braved the chilly temps and the overcast sky opened up for some amazing photos. Here are a few of our favorites:

Justin & Stef snuggled up as the sun took a moment to peek through the clouds. Great light! Love it!!!

Jumping for joy….

Justin has a knack for making Stef laugh and when she does, her whole face lights up! So sweet!!

I love this shot of these two cuddled up for warmth by Nauticus’s little dock. Again, the sun poked through the clouds for some amazing late day light!!!

S-E-X-Y!

Time for a little snuggle in the boat yard’s truck!

Can’t you just feel the love in her eyes? LOVE IT!!!

Hey handsome!!! Love this shot of Justin with the ropes by the marina’s flagpole. Such a nautical shot, no?

I think it’s safe to say these two have firmly planted their anchors at Love’s Harbor! Hee Hee! I couldn’t resist that little pun since Justin & Stef are cozying up by Naticus’s anchor statute.

I just love this next shot….I love the composition and the light, but mostly I love the way Stef & Justin are looking at each other and the way their body language just screams, “There is no one else I’d rather have by my side than you!” LOVE IT!!!!

A great big heart-felt thank you to Stefania & Justin for braving the cold, for being such fun to photograph and just be around and most especially for trusting us to capture for you such a special time in your lives. We had such a blast hanging out that chilly afternoon and are so excited to get you both in front of our cameras again next September! You guys rocked it!!! Big hugs, Christine & Andy

The energy at the polls today was more electric than it has felt in years past….or maybe it was just me. I was feeling really excited this morning when I woke up, knowing I’d be heading to the polls, casting my vote for the future and feeling hopeful for the change that our country so desperately needs.

Being married to a foreigner, I’m more aware of how we, as Americans, are viewed in other parts of the world and not everyone thinks we’re as great as we seem to. These last several years, in particular, have taken a toll on our reputation in the international community.

Is it really so hard for everyone to just find a way to exist together harmoniously, embrace our differences and move beyond the walls we have created around ourselves?

I am not generally someone who follows politics or is moved by politicians….they all seem much the same to me…with self interests being at the forefront of their lofty ambitions. But, this year, I am hopeful that our new leader will be able to mend the broken fences and create a time of peace, prosperity and return our seemingly lost sensibilities. I am hopeful that we as a nation will learn to live within our means, to treat others as we wish to be treated, to take care of those who cannot take care of themselves and to rise above our fears.

Today, I cast my vote in this direction and I urge you to cast yours in a direction that makes you feel as hopeful. Let your voice be heard!

Thinking about the future, I couldn’t help but notice these little munchkins at my local polling point. Ally, 3, and Cooper, 18 mos., welcomed voters to the Quashnet School this morning. They were there with their dad, Daniel, and grandparents, Ron & Sue. Waving flags and wearing stickers that said, “I voted today,” they served as a wonderful reminder that the future we shape today is one they must live with tomorrow.

If you haven’t done so already….get out there and vote!!!