I’m not a huge sports fan. And, I certainly wouldn’t lose sleep if the Yankees pulled ahead of the Sox in the standings. But, I have to admit, my heart did skip a beat when I heard that Andy & I were going to get to shoot our engagement session with Red Sox super fans Laurie & Joe at an empty Fenway Park.

Built in 1912, Fenway is the country’s oldest baseball stadium and though generations have come and gone, the park remains much as it did when its doors first opened. Today, there is something magical about being in the middle of that empty stadium. It feels as if the dreams of countless young men linger in the dugout and the echos of legendary players loom like the great Green Monster itself.

I hadn’t been to Fenway Park in a very long time, probably since I was in high school or maybe it was college. It’s been a while, anyway!

My strongest memory of Fenway was an afternoon spent there with my sisters, my dad, and my grandfather. I was just a little girl, but, I’ll never forget the wide-eyed wonder I felt walking into Fenway for the first time or the thrill of seeing my dad & my grandfather stretching over the balcony to catch a foul ball. Oh, the excitement in their eyes when my dad pulled the white-stitched cowhide ball into his bare hands. They hugged, jumping up and down, happily accepting the pats on the back from nearby fans.

I’m not a big sports fan, but when a game can bring a father & a son together in a moment of such unbridled joy, it’s hard not to feel the magic.

The magic was there again during our love session with Laurie & Joe. Like so many of our couples, Laurie & Joe were a little nervous about being photographed. As we walked into the Fenway offices and were led into the stadium, nervousness was replaced by awe….at least for Laurie & Joe. For me, the awesomeness of Fenway was a little intimidating. How do we photograph this incredible place and these incredible people in a way that pays proper tribute to them both?

I hadn’t expected to feel nervous, but I did. This really was one of the coolest places we’ve ever got to shoot! And, I wanted so badly for it to be perfect, mostly for Laurie & Joe!

It didn’t take long for my nerves to calm and for the excitement to take hold once again. It helped that Laurie & Joe are such warm, wonderful, totally fun, down-to-Earth people. They made it so easy! And, together, we all got to enjoy an incredible afternoon in a truly historic place! Below are a few of our favorite moments from their (and our) special day:

Vintage Red Sox….what better place to start than with this very cool old sign?

Heading to the green monster….can’t you just hear the roar of the crowd? Love it!!

Andy & I were totally obsessed with all the little elements that make Fenway so special and so unique…like this vintage-inspired Coca Cola sign above last year’s newly installed Coca Cola corner. I gotta be honest…these seats were a little scary if you have even the slightest fear of heights! But what a view!!!!

Pennant banners in the background serve as additional reminders of the history and charm that is this special park! Oh, and how about the two hotties in the foreground….cute right?!!!

I love the humor and appropriateness of this next one….Laurie & Joe….for life!

Sitting on top of the world!

We found a section of old wooden chairs in a section of number 19 seats and a little Photoshop helped make this next one extra fun. Laurie & Joe will say, “I do,” here on the Cape on September 19th.

This one makes me smile too, since it looks like they’re about to get a big hat on the head!

Our access was somewhat limited during our visit because Sox owner, John Henry, was having his wedding reception in the park outfield a few days after our session. The dugouts had recently been painted, which prevented us from getting up on them for some cool shots, but this next one worked out very nicely just the same! I know I say it a lot, but all the pretty or cool backdrops in the world can’t do to a photo what love and genuine affection can!

Do they look happy to be here or what??? So fun!

A Sox smooch!

It was so much fun photographing Laurie & Joe with so much going on around them…it really was hard to know where to go next…we were like kids in a candy store!

Another slightly unsettling vantage point….theses seats above the green monster had incredible views, but my stomach kept doing flips! It doesn’t seem to be bothering Laurie & Joe!!!

A vivid reminder of the greatness Ted Williams bestowed upon the Red Sox is this red seat that stands out amongst its many green counterparts in the right field bleachers. The seat is to commemorate Williams 1946 splintering blast off of Detroit pitcher, Fred Hutchinson, for the longest home run ever hit into the Fenway bleachers.

Joe & Laurie cozy up on the right field roof deck, near where the retired numbers of Sox legends, Bobby Doerr (1), Joe Cronin (4), Johnny Pesky (6), Carl Yastrezemski (8), Ted Williams (9), Carlton Fisk (27), and Jackie Robinson (42) proudly take center stage.

Fenway’s food stalls certainly look a lot different with no one around, and make for a very cool backdrop for this next photo!

Leaving the Sox offices, we took one last photo in front of the “wall of fame,” a very cool display of all of the magazine covers of Red Sox Magazine, the official magazine of the Boston Red Sox.

A big thanks to the Red Sox for letting us take our time and really soak in all Fenway has to offer. And an even bigger thank you to Laurie & Joe for making it happen and for being so much fun!!! We had such a blast hanging out with you guys at Fenway! It really was such an incredible treat for us and we wouldn’t have wanted to share it with anyone else!! You guys rocked it out!! Can’t wait to be there with you, sharing an even more special day, on 9-19-09!! Big love, Christine & Andy xo