It was 2003, and Claire was celebrating her birthday with friends when an unfamiliar face walked in the door.

“When Dave walked in I was like, ‘Who is that?’” Claire told us. The connection was immediate and the two stayed up talking late into the night.

Two weeks after Dave crashed Claire’s party, he explained that he was taking a job in Hawaii. Claire was crushed and the two parted ways.

Over the next two years, life changed a lot for Claire. She took some time off from her teaching job and moved to New York to be closer to family, mainly her mom, who was battling cancer. Toward the end of the battle, at her mom’s request, Claire took her youngest sister, Mary, on a trip that was to take them through New Zealand, Australia & South Africa. But, before they could make it through the last leg of their journey, the sisters were called home. Their mom was dying and didn’t have much time left.

Claire & Mary made it home to their mother’s bedside, where they were joined by their other 3 siblings for a tearful goodbye.

At the end of the following year, Dave returned to the Boston area and as fate would have it, he had applied for a teaching job at the same school where Claire was teaching. Slowly, their relationship began again.

Over the next few years, love dug hold and their relationship blossomed. This fall, surrounded by family & friends, these warm, loving, passionate teachers & lovers of the outdoors will embark on the ultimate adventure - marriage. We couldn’t be happier to be sharing the start of this journey with them.

Earlier this month, we got together with Claire & Dave for their love session in Barnstable. Right from our initial meeting with Claire & Dave, we knew we were going to like them. Some of that was because they are good friends with a dear friend of ours….Ronnie, who is one of the sweetest, most caring, funny, genuine people I’ve had the pleasure of meeting. She also happens to be mother to another Bello bride getting married this summer. Ronnie recommended us to Claire & Dave and we’re so happy she did! Thanks Ronnie! You’re the best! xo

But, part of the connection we had with Claire & Dave was also based on the fact that like Claire, my mom also passed away before she could see me marry my love. I’ve often heard women speak of the motherless daughters’ club. It’s a club you never want to join. But, with membership comes a common understanding. And, if you happen to be someone who loves a club member you also share a certain understanding of the unique helplessness that comes from not being able to take away the pain of the one you love.

I could see the same look in Dave’s eyes that I often see in Andy’s whenever I talk about my mom. So much love! And, I knew right away that Dave was a good man.

My heart aches for Claire…for her loss and for the way that kind of loss changes how you see the world. It sounds strange, but for me at least, my mom’s death changed me for the better. I feel everything more…the bad, but also the good. Life is beautiful and complex. It is painful and joyful. And we need both because without the pain we wouldn’t fully appreciate the blessings of the joy, and most especially the blessings of love!

One of the things that really struck me about Claire & Dave’s session was the purity of their love. At one point during our session Claire became overwhelmed by it. And so did I. I could sense how much she was missing her mom and I imagined she was thinking about how proud her mom would have been, knowing that her daughter found such a wonderful person with whom to share her life.

In Dave’s arms, I could see how safe and loved Claire felt and I remember very clearly how much I, too, needed that from Andy in those first fragile years. I remember how willingly Andy gave it to me and how incredibly lucky I felt to have found the perfect person for me. And, I could see this playing out in Claire & Dave and even now, just thinking about it, moves me to silent tears.

It really is so humbling to watch people slowly open themselves up to us. They let down their guard and let us see the real them, their vulnerabilities and all. It’s such a beautiful process. Being trusted to capture the essence of who someone is is easily the thing I love most about being a photographer.

Meet Claire & Dave…in all their wonderfulness!

I love this next one. Can’t you just feel how comfortable they are together and how much love & joy they share? Sooo nice!

This is my FAVORITE of the day…I think. I just love the sun flare and the way the setting feels like an enchanted forest. But, mostly, I love Claire & Dave’s expressions and how intertwined their arms are. I’ll never grow tired of saying that the best place in the world is in the arms of the one you love!

Bright colors and quiet kisses….ahhhhhh life is good!

Fun, fun, fun!

And more fun…

How cute is Claire’s Anthropologie Secret Treasure dress? Me loooove!!

Dave is so super attentive of Claire. He’s sweet & funny and makes Claire smile right down to her toes!

I love the sweetness of this next one…

The look of love…

This is another runner up for favorite of the day. This was such a nice exchange for us with Claire & Dave. Photography really is a give and take between photographer and subject. When the exchange involves sincerity and genuine affection….well, it’s a beautiful thing! Moments after this shot was taken, we all got a little emotional. We saved those shots for Claire & Dave, but this one ought to be shared.

overgrown brush, wildflowers and a couple in love = the perfect combination!

Joy…

Love…

If only every moment could be just like this…

I used to see my mom in birds a lot after she first died. That sounds weird, but what I mean is that I felt her presence around me whenever birds would come curiously close to me, especially sea birds, because my mom loved the sea. This pretty butterfly was around us for part of the session and I like to think maybe it was a sign that Claire’s mom was there with us, enjoying the show.

Que bella!

I love this one of Claire because she looks so beautiful and so utterly content! And, there is such a sweet, nurturing feel about Dave’s face as he holds Claire.

Dave holds Claire a lot…and tightly. We love that about him!

lovely…

Claire & Dave….Thank you both so much for welcoming us into your lives with such open arms and open hearts! Your love is a beautiful thing and we’re so honored that you’ve chosen us to document your love during this special time! We had so much fun with you both and can’t wait to do it all over again in October! Big love & hugs, Chris & Andy xoxoxoxoxo

We really do feel very fortunate to get to know and work with some amazing couples. Not only are they beautiful on the inside & the out, but they are warm, welcoming, full of good energy and that special brand of love that new lovers share.

The way they love, with hearts wide open, is such a beautiful thing to get to see….and equally as enjoyable…to get to photograph.

Allison & John are no exception. In fact, the way they are together and the obvious love they have for one another is so sweet and so pure that being around them makes me want to drop my camera and throw myself at Andy.

Andy & I have been together for more than 15 years and those intense feelings of infatuation that drew us to one another back on the beaches of Marbella, Spain, are still there. But, time has a way of changing things. We have a history now. We have been together through hard times and glory days. We know each other better than we know ourselves. We have lifted each other up and sometimes, in a moment of weakness, we have let each other down.

The history we share has a way of covering the early passion and wild abandon with layers of stronger, deeper feelings of love, commitment, trust & familiarity. One is not better than the other. Rather, they are all part of the joy that is life.

It’s such a treat for us to get to regularly see new love, in all its sweet, unbridled glory….when the kisses are still new and the electricity nearly visible.

Sometimes, after a particularly good session with our couples, we drive home, holding hands a little tighter. The kisses taste a little sweeter and those old feelings bubble closer to the surface, making us appreciate the journey that has led us to today.

Allison & John did that for us and we hope these photos may one day remind them of this time in their lives and do for them what they did for us.

It’s amazing the way Allison & John light up at the sight of one another. They met on a ski trip to Tahoe, but even the snow couldn’t cool the feelings these two instantly had for one another.

Allison & John seemed so smitten with each other and so completely happy it was easy getting shots like this next one…I just love how their hands are intertwined…like they can’t touch each other enough!

Oh, and how they make each other laugh! Wonderful!

Allison & John live on the opposite coast, in San Francisco. They wanted a setting for their session that spoke to the Cape’s charm. So, we took them to a spot that is special to us, where Andy asked me to marry him and where I happily said, “Yes!”

These next few make my heart smile so big it hurts…

So sweet & sassy and full of love!

The look of love….

Allison & John did a lot of kissing during our session, and something tells me, that’s not unusual for them. Awww, buttercup, I love you!

I don’t know what it is about this next one, but I love it.

If you read this blog regularly, you’ve heard me say it a thousand times, but there truly is no better place than in the arms of the one you love….

I’m not sure which I’m obsessed with more….Allison’s killer legs or those too-cute-for-words shoes!

Like spying a private moment…..love it!

New love in all it’s wonderful glory….

The light at the beach was AHHHH-MAZING! And the pink hues of the rock just accentuated the fabulous light and made the electricity coming off these two even more electric!

A different perspective from the same moment….

I realized when I was putting the photos together for this post that we had very few of Allison & John looking at the camera and I think it’s because they are just so into each other that the rest of the world kind of goes away when they’re together. How nice is that?

One of my faves from the day…just as the sun is about to dip below the horizon.

If their love could be described by a sunset, this would be the perfect description….

As would this…

Thank you Allison & John for taking time out of your brief visit home to come play with us. We had such fun hanging out with you both and documenting your love. You two are wonderful and we can’t wait to be there with you when you say, “I do!” later this summer. Big love & hugs, Christine & Andy xo

Juliet & Brede met through Theta Tau, an engineering fraternity at the University of Colorado at Boulder, where they both went to school. Juliet, like me to Andy, is three years older than Brede. They first met at a rush information meeting. Juliet was the rush chair and a smitten Brede, upon seeing Juliet, decided to pledge.

They quickly became friends, but Juliet was dating someone else, so romance wasn’t in the cards for them…not at first.

Juliet graduated and took a job in California, never expecting to see Brede again. But, then her job took her back to Boulder and by now, she & her boyfriend’s relationship had ended. Heartbroken and in need of the comfort of friends, she reconnected with her “brothers” at Theta Tau, including Brede.

And, it was at a fraternity event, on Valentine’s Day, when love sparked. Rather than the traditional Hallmark card, Brede had made Juliet one of his special walnuts, which he made by hulling out the shells and placing a Hersey’s kiss and a secret message inside, then gluing the shell back together.  Needless to say, Juliet was touched.

Over the next few months, the pair grew closer, first just as friends. But, whenever she needed an ear to bend, a shoulder to lean on or someone to play pool with, Brede was there and love began to bite down hard.

But, life once again separated them. This time, it was Brede who left and took a job in Ohio. Their relationship continued to grow, despite the distance. And, by 2007, Juliet was accepted to the Masters program at MIT and Brede was offered a new job in San Francisco.

They were at a crossroad. Not wanting to pressure Brede, Juliet moved to Boston in June of that same year and left the ball in Brede’s court. By October, he was standing on her doorstep in Beacon Hill with a bag of his things and his heart in his hands.

“When Brede came out to Boston to stay, I knew that this was meant to be. A very calming, but extremely jubilant feeling washed over me. I knew he had come to stay forever,” said Juliet.

Now, 3 years later, this sweet, funny, tender pair are planning their wedding on the sandy shores of Cape Cod. And, we couldn’t be happier to be a part of their special day.

Last week, we had the pleasure of photographing them together and it was obvious right away that these two love to be together. The caring they have for one another is instantly apparent and even spying from behind bushes with a zoom lens it’s easy to see that they find safety and comfort in each others presence. See for yourself…

Like us, Juliet & Brede share a passion for photography…

We decided to set up a little mini-picnic for them at Long Pasture in Barnstable…what a gorgeous spot. Definitely a must visit, if you haven’t been before.

Cozying up over a glass of vino….ahhhhh, life is good!

See what I mean about spying from the bushes….are they sweet or what?!

Snacks & snuggles…

I absolutely love this next one. Juliet couldn’t look any happier or more content. Love it!

Awwwww…..

We’ve become huge fans of tall grasses. They provide such a romantic setting….

I did some photoshop tweaking to this next one and I just love the emotion it evokes!

Change position to add a little sun flare and voila….

Super sweet!

Happiness is….THIS! this is my favorite shot of these two. I just think it perfectly depicts their relationship. Watching them, it was easy to see that Juliet feels very safe and cared for with Brede and Brede loves making her feel that way. It’s a beautiful thing!

sun flare love…

I adore this photo of Juliet…she looks soooo stunning! Like a young Susan Sarandon with those big beautiful blue eyes of hers! You can see how Brede could very easily get lost in them.

Down to the beach for sunset….

and some seaside treasures…

Magic hour at the beach…

Thank you Juliet & Brede for sharing your story with us, for opening your lives to us in such a personal way and for being so much fun to photograph and just be around! You two are wonderful together and we can’t wait to see all the love & happiness sure to surround you on your wedding day! With love & hugs, Christine & Andy xoxo

Andy & I say it all the time, but we really do have the best couples. Sweet, fun, loving people who open their lives to us and generously welcome us into their inner circle.

Because of the nature of our job, we’re privy to some personal moments, catching glimpses of the special magic our couples share. And, if we’re really lucky, our couples let down their guard so much so that they forget we’re there. And, it is then, in those tender moments of uninhibited love that we capture the magic and forever record it in our photos.

Oh, how I live for those moments.

Two weekends ago, we had the pleasure of getting together with Lauren & T.L. for their e-session. These sessions, sometimes referred to as love sessions or getting to know you sessions, have quickly become our favorite thing to do. And, Lauren & T.L.’s session ranks among our all time favorite sessions. Maybe it’s because we already have a history with Lauren’s family. A few years ago we photographed Lauren’s sister, Kim. And, right away we hit it off with the family. They just welcomed us instantly and made us feel so good about what we do. And, well, who doesn’t like feeling good about what they do?

But, if I’m being really honest about it, I think that what really made the session special was the way T.L. completely let himself go and was just in the moment. I admit, I hate being on the other side of the camera. I am far more comfortable behind the lens than in front of it. So, I understand how intimidating these sessions can be, especially for the guys, who are often just going along with it for their soon-to-be wife.

But, T.L. was different. He was totally in it because he wanted to be. It was obvious he was having fun and equally as obvious was how much he adores Lauren. He wasn’t embarrassed about cuddling in front of us. He didn’t roll his eyes when we asked him to work his sexy or “have a moment.” He just got lost with Lauren and he let us see exactly who he is and what Lauren means to him. Oh, and how the magic it did fly.

See for yourself…

In our conversations with Lauren & T.L., we learned that they love wine tasting, so we decided to meet at the Cape Cod Winery in Falmouth. Andy & I have driven past a hundred times and had talked about how fun it would be to do a session there. So, we called the owner, Kristina Lazzari, and asked if it would be okay to come by and take some photos. She was wonderful and said, “Yes.”

Lauren & T.L. started out with some tasting….Hmmmm, thinking about it now, maybe this is why our session was so fun. Maybe we should ask all of our couples to have a glass or two of wine before we start shooting! Just kidding, guys!

The grapes are still a month or so away from picking, but with the rain we’d had in the days leading up to the session, everything was lush and beautiful…

Are they cute or what?

Even this chicken seemed interested…

Oh the joy…

I think the winery’s chickens get fed pretty well by visitors who swipe a couple of extra crackers to share because these guys were all over Lauren & T.L. when they busted out a cracker.

The look of love…

Playful, sweet….love it!

The way these two are with each other is so lovely. And, getting to be around them instantly makes you feel good!

As much as they enjoy wine, Lauren & T.L. also love country music. So, they brought along some of their favorite country duds, which fit in PERFECTLY with the winery’s setting. I absolutely love these photos!

The sun even peeked out for us for a bit and I just love the way the light is hitting Lauren’s face as she gives T.L. a cheeky little smile.

Hello cowgirl! It doesn’t get much sexier than this!

The way they were together for this part of the shoot, I actually got butterflies a couple of times…now that’s saying something! I swear, Andy & I disappeared for them and they really were just so into each other. It was a beautiful thing!

Completely unprompted, T.L. gave Lauren a kiss then used his hat for a little privacy….oh, how Andy & I went crazy for that, especially watching how chuffed he was with himself. So cute!

Still my favorite moments with our couples are when they’re just laughing together and enjoying each other, like in this next one.

Gorgeous…

Okay call me inappropriate, but Fuuuuuuaaaaaah!!!

Ronnie & Frank (mom & dad), close your eyes for this next one.

Love it!!!

Peek-a-boo, I see you.

Lauren is gorgeous, and she knows how to work her sexy….you go girl!

Apparently, T.L. knows how to work his sexy too! Helllllooo!!!

My favorite…..

Ain’t nothin’ better than chillin with your honey…

Are they great together, or what?

We both bought a bottle of Nobska White…it was delicious! A blend of Seyval & Vidal grapes, it is sweet and buttery. Mmmm good! Cape Cod wines make a great gift basket addition for your special wedding guests.

Big thanks to Kristina for opening her winery to us. We had a blast and will be coming back to buy more wine! Thanks too, to Frank, for patiently standing by during the session and for taking Lauren & T.L. to the airport. And, our biggest thanks go to Lauren & T.L. You guys were amazing! Thank you so much for trusting us so completely and for letting us in. Your love is a beautiful thing! Big hugs, Christine & Andy xoxo

Connecticut native, Hannah, and Canadian-born, Conrad, fell in love thanks to the efforts of a persistent co-worker, Meghna, who tried several times to bring them together. Because of Meghna’s multiple attempts to arrange a meeting, both Hannah & Conrad thought the other must have a pretty serious crush. Still, both agreed to an after work get together.

As luck would have it, their initial meeting over drinks proved somewhat awkward, with each of their bosses happening to tag along. Ouch! But, Meghna was right about the chemistry and a week later Hannah & Conrad had their first real date. “The rest,” the tell us, “is history,” and the pair is now planning their wedding.

Hannah & Conrad love to leave the heat of the city behind and escape to the Cape during the summer months. So, they thought, what better place to say, “I do,” than lovely Cape Cod. The pair will get married this fall at the elegant Wequassett Inn in Chatham.

Two weekends ago, we had the pleasure of getting together with Hannah & Conrad here on the Cape for their e-session.  Because one of Hannah’s passions is understanding where our food supply comes from and supporting local farmers, we thought it might be fun to do their session at Coonamessett Farm in Falmouth. We’re members of the farm and, like Hannah, love supporting local growers. So, it seemed a perfect fit.

Here are some of our favorite moments from our super fun, back to nature session with Hannah & Conrad. Enjoy!

The weather was a bit unpredictable the day we decided to meet. Happily, the sun decided to poke it’s head out from the thick cloud cover during the start of our session as we played among the blueberry bushes. FYI…picking won’t be ready till mid-late July.

Awwwww….

I really like this next one. Hannah is just glowing…

The look of love….

For this next one, we tried a different perspective. Fun, no?

A little snuggle time….my favorite time, anytime!

I’ve said it a million times, but here I go again…there truly is no better place in the world than in the arms of the one you love…and Conrad’s expression says it so well!

Although she loves local farms, Hannah is not so keen on petting farm animals, as we found out when two donkeys came up to say hello. I just love their expressions in this next one. Totally makes me smile.

We tried to find a heart shaped strawberry, but didn’t have much luck as picking season was pretty much nearing its end. Still, it was fun trying…

Hey lovebirds…

Berry field…

Ahhhhhh….

Love their expressions in this next one.

And, of course, my favorite….the moment before the kiss.

Fields of gold…

Love this perspective.

The weather got pretty feisty towards the end of our session. But, Hannah & Conrad braved the chilly wind for a couple of quick pics down at the beach. I love this next one…

Thank you Hannah & Conrad for taking time out of your weekend to come spend the afternoon with us. We loved hanging out with you both and getting to know you both better. We’re looking forward to getting together again for your big day in October. Until then, we hope these photos help get you even more excited for what’s to come! Big love & hugs, Christine & Andy xo

Generally, we have the pleasure of meeting our clients before they decide they want us to be there with them when they say, “I do.” But, sometimes, liking what they see in our online work and the chemistry we have in our e-mail exchanges and phone conversations is enough for them to want to move forward without a face-to-face meeting.

Such was the case with college sweethearts, Laura & Jonathan, who we didn’t get to meet until last weekend, when they both flew in separately from Miami & Washington, DC, to get together for their Love Session here on the Cape. Laura is enrolled in a doctoral program in Miami for clinical psychology, working with children with chronic illnesses, while Jonathan is living & working in DC. Their long distance relationship isn’t easy, but whatever they’re doing, it’s working for these two lovebirds.

We knew right from our initial conversations with them, that we were going to get along with Laura & Jonathan. Like us, they love to travel and like us, they enjoy an afternoon spent on the ocean, followed by cooking dinner together over a bottle of wine. Ahhhhh, life’s simple pleasures.

They are smart, sweet, silly, caring, passionate and crazy about their French bulldog, Maddie, who joined them for part of their session. We had a blast getting to know and photograph these two. They were completely relaxed with us and in front of our cameras, which we know isn’t always easy. They are so obviously enamored with each other and really used the session to just have fun together, which truly are the only two things you need for amazing photos!  We can’t wait to be there with them when they say, “I do! in August. If their love session is any indication of things to come, we are in for a treat! Take a look for yourself…

When this is the first shot out of the camera, we just know we’re in for a good time.

Meet Maddie…

Jonathan gets a little lovin’ from Maddie….love the change in expressions!

Love sessions are an excellent opportunity for Andy & I to get to know our couples better and see how they interact. While our style is more documentary than stiff, cookie-cutter poses, we do often make suggestions and do some directing with our couples. But, these two really didn’t need much prompting. Ahhh…..love!

Jonathan has a way of making Laura laugh that is just wonderful to watch.

And, ohhh, how it makes for wonderful photos!

The guys are often more nervous about being photographed, but Jonathan was wonderful. He put any inhibitions he may have felt aside and just focused on the love he feels for Laura…and that is all you need for magic moments like this….

lovely…

Fun & flirty…

These in the grass are my all time favorites…possibly ever! I love the sun flare, I love Jonathan’s expression and the way he’s leading Laura. I love Laura’s salmon colored shirt against the tall grass. I love it all!

serenity realized…

See what I mean about the way they laugh together. It’s almost like you can see them doing this 60 years from now. Oh, how I would love to photograph that!

Love is…tender.

As I mentioned earlier, Laura & Jonathan met in college. They were freshmen at Emory College in Atlanta and lived on the same hall. They told us they used to wear matching sweatshirts a lot in school, so they wanted a photo with them in their sweatshirts. Here’s our creative spin on that. Kind of fun in a creepy-Gap-Ad-gone-wrong sort of way. I don’t know why, but I really like it.

Love this!

And this…

And, definitely this!

Down to the beach for sunset, Laura & Jonathan got a little playful!

So fun!

I’ve said it before and will say it again…nothing is better than being in the arms of the one you love!

I heart this…

Laura & Jonathan, thank you both so much for making the time to come see us. We know it wasn’t an easy trip, so we really appreciate the effort! We had sooo much fun with you both. You’d never know we’d just met 3 hours earlier. The love sessions have become our favorite things to do and yours was exactly the reason why we love them so much. You two are so comfortable together, so obviously in love and up for anything. You made it so fun for us and we cannot wait to do it all again at your wedding! Thank you again and big hugs, Christine & Andy xo

I can still remember my first crush. I was in the third grade and his name was Mark P., an identical twin with lovely curly orangey-red hair, a face full of freckles and kind eyes. Mark’s brother, Michael, was the more outgoing of the two. A class clown prone to pranks, Michael would often convince his brother to take his seat in the other third grade class until the teachers finally noticed the switch a roo. Mark was quiet and shy and I never understood why the teachers couldn’t instantly tell them apart.

My crush on Mark never went anywhere and by the end of coed baseball later that summer, I had a new crush. I think it’s safe to assume that most childhood crushes don’t last very long. But, sometimes they do….Sometimes they go the distance, as is the case with our super cuties Rachel & Paul, whose third grade crush eventually led them to want to say, “I do!”

Paul told us that despite his affections for Rachel, it took her a while to notice him. “She didn’t have time for me back then,” he said. “We didn’t really become friends until the late high school years.”

A high school trip to Italy firmly established their friendship. But, still no romance. Rachel had a boyfriend. The friendship continued to grow after graduation, even when Paul moved to New York. After college, Rachel began visiting Paul in the big city. “We even took a trip to Iceland together..but no real romance yet,” Paul said.

Rachel moved to New York and soon their relationship also moved to the next level. Still, things didn’t immediately stick in the ‘I’m stuck on you!’ kind of way. As is often the case in life, the timing just wasn’t right. So our love birds separated for a while.

It didn’t take very long to realize they were better together than they were apart. “And we never want to be apart again,” they told us.

We had the pleasure of spending the day with Paul & Rachel recently when we got together for their Bello love session. We still find it hard to believe anyone follows this blog with regularity, but for the one or two of you who do, we’re sure you’ve been anxiously awaiting more photos after a long winter of album designing & production and not much image-making. So, without further ado…it is with great pleasure that we invite you to meet Rachel & Paul:

As is sometimes the case, our love session was the first time we met Rachel & Paul in person. We’d had several wonderful conversation over the phone, but because they live in NYC and Paul travels a lot for work, we didn’t get to meet before they decided they wanted us to be a part of their Cape Cod wedding.

In our early conversations, we learned that one of the things Rachel & Paul share a passion for is traveling, something for which Andy & I also have a great deal of passion. So, we took them to a little airfield to play amid the brightly colored biplanes. Right away, we knew we were going to have fun spending time with these two sweeties!

It’s always a little nerve-wracking for our couples when they first get in front of our cameras. I mean, how often in life do you have two people running around watching your every move, sticking cameras in your face and asking you to snuggle up with your honey? It can be intimidating, but these two seemed completely comfortable with each other and with us. And, that’s when the magic happens…

Awww….

Getting cozy…

Normally, my favorite photos are when our couples are smiling and enjoying themselves in a way that is easy to see. When we’re editing and I see moments we capture of our couples in the middle of huge grins, I can’t help but smile myself. But, sometimes those quiet moments, where you can see that a couple is so comfortable in each others presence that there’s nowhere else they’d rather be, can just take my breath away, like this next photo. (Paul, I knew as soon as we met you that you were full of crap when you said you don’t take a good picture….now we have proof…seriously, Calvin wants his model back!!!)

Here’s a perfect example of my favorite kind of photo…..come on, how can you not smile looking at these two?

Thankfully, we had the perfect April day for photos when we got together. Spring carries a crispness to the light that I just love…

Love this one…

A different perspective…

Another smile-inducing moment…

Paul+Rachel=love

We decided to hit a couple of other locations to mix things up and I love the classic clapboard background for these next few…

I’m a big fan of this kind of perspective…

Poor Rachel was getting chilly toward the end of our session as the sun was heading down for the day. But, sometimes the cold makes our couples snuggle even more tightly, and the results….lovely!

Getting really chilly now….but ooooh, how I love the way Rachel is holding her hands in this next one. It’s so perfectly feminine. Love it!

The Sandwich boardwalk is a great place for a walk on a crisp April day…

I thought I’d try something different with this next image. The first is enhanced using our classic bello look. But, with all of the old brown beach grass not yet having given way to the green lush beach grass that the next month will bring, I thought the image called for a more vintage worn sort of look. Which do you prefer?

This…

Or this…

This post is the first of many soon to come. We thank you our faithful blog readers & comment leavers (Candice…we love you!) for bearing with us as we got our ducks in a row this winter and took a little break from blogging. Rest assured, we’re back now and this season promises to be a fabulous one. We hope you stay with us on this journey…and as always, please leave us some love. It makes us sooo happy!

Big thanks to Rachel and Paul for trusting us to document this incredible time in your lives. Thank you for a wonderful afternoon, for all the great chats in between and for opening your hearts to us. We look forward to getting to know you both even better over the coming year and to being there with you when you, after years of waiting, finally say, “I do!” With love & hugs, Chris & Andy xoxo

Friends….what would we do without our friends?

Our friends are the ones we go to when life calls for celebration. And, they are the ones we lean on when times are tough. They give us truthful answers to hard questions and build us up when we’re feeling down. Our friends know us and lovingly accept us, despite our imperfections. And, sometimes, they enrich our lives in unexpected ways.

Pam & Geoff owe much to their friends, including their upcoming wedding next spring. In the fall of 2006, Pam & Geoff’s friends set them up on a blind date. If it hadn’t been for that date, they might never have met….or fallen in love.

Yeaaaay for good friends!!!

As it happens, we also owe much to Pam & Geoff’s friends. In the summer of 2007, just a few months after their friends steered Pam & Geoff to each other, we were invited to photograph the amazing Cape Cod wedding of Allison & Greg.

Pam was Allison’s maid of honor. Right from the start, we immediately hit it off with Allison & Greg, with their families and their friends. They all welcomed us into their lives with incredibly warm, open hearts. We’re still in touch with Allison & Greg, their parents and a few of their friends. Unfortunately, that doesn’t always happen, but theirs was that kind of wedding and we feel truly grateful for the connections we formed.

So, of course, we were super stoked when Pam contacted us a couple of months ago to announce that she was getting married and wanted us to come to New York City to photograph her wedding. Budget, understandably, was a concern, since having us come to New York meant added expenses. But, Pam told us, she & Geoff REALLY wanted us there. I can’t really explain how amazing and humbling it is to hear couples tell us that. Knowing they make sacrifices and move budgets around because they feel so strongly about wanting us to be a part of their day is overwhelming in the best kind of way!

As Pam & Geoff worked their numbers, we got e-mails from Allison & her friend Rachel (also a friend of Pam’s) saying they planned to boycott the wedding if we weren’t there. I mean, come on…does it get any more flattering than that? I don’t think so! I’m sure they were kidding. But, still, it was nice to hear.

A couple of weeks ago, we met up with Pam & Geoff at the Cutler Park Reservation in Needham for their fabulous fall love session. The weather was amazing. The leaves were at their colorful peak and the park offered lots of great nooks for photos.

Here are just a few of our favorite moments from our time together.

The happy couple…

Pam & Geoff are so cute together. Pam’s laugh is infection, her smile contagious and Geoff just seems to instantly relax being near her. Gotta love that!

We actually hopped off the boardwalk into the marshy reeds for this cool perspective. Pam was such a trooper, even willing to get her super cute orange Tory Burch flats wet for the shot. Gotta love that dedication to art!

Normally, our sessions are later in the day, when the sun is lower, but I gotta say, the bright fall light really had such a cool quality about it, particularly with the fall colors in the background…

Knowing our penchant for cute butt shots, Pam admitted that she bought a new pair of Hudson jeans (my personal favorites) that she was hoping we would highlight with one of our classic shots. I love how she’s standing on her tippy toes to give Geoff a smooch.  Way to rock the butt shot guys!

I absolutely adore the perspective Andy was working for this shot. And, the way Pam is looking off taking in the scenery is so cute!

A little tickle time…

One of my personal favorites from the day…the tree colors are just gorgeous and their expressions…perfect!

Another lovely moment…

Something a bit more serious and serene…

We had to hike quite a way into the park to find this hidden tunnel that ran under the commuter rail. It looks like it is a popular spot with spray paint artists. I have to admit, I love me a little graffiti!

One of the tags on the tunnel wall included a heart that made a perfect backdrop for our love session…awww it’s like they knew we were coming!

More giggles and gorgeous fall foliage…love it!

The boardwalk that stretched through the reed-filled marsh was so cool and the reeds themselves were just beautiful. I really like the way the trees frame the shot as Pam & Geoff walk away.

And at the entrance to the park was this cool little rock structure. Not sure what it was once used for, but it made a cute backdrop for a few more shots of our lovebirds…

I really like this next one of Geoff…he looks so comfortable in the arms of his sweetie!

Framed by the window…

Another favorite moment of the day. Geoff was being particularly patient with us, letting us grab a few more shots, even though the Pats game had started and he was eager to get back to his folk’s for the second half. Thanks Geoff!! We hope you love these last few as much as we do and feel they were worth missing part of the game.

Pam & Geoff, thank you soooo much for inviting us to be a part of this exciting time in your lives. We had such a blast hanging out with you at our love session. And, Pam, we know you’re not exactly a nature girl, so we appreciate you hiking through the woods and sacrificing your super cute flats for some great photos.

We’re so excited about coming to NYC for your wedding in the spring. We just know it’s going to be a total love fest and it’ll be so great to see Allison & Greg and Rachel & Glen again! We hope these photos serve as happy reminders of our fun afternoon and get you just as excited as we are about seeing you again in May!!!! With love & hugs, Christine & Andy xoxo

They say it’s good luck if a bird poops on you. Do you think that same good fortune also applies if you accidentally put your hand in wet bird poop? I’m thinking…No. So, it’s probably a good thing that Virginia-based sweeties Amy & Ryan don’t need any luck when it comes to their inspiring relationship.

You’ll soon see why I had bird poop on the brain when I started this post, but just so it all makes sense…Amy accidentally stuck her hand in some poop while climbing rocks during our love session with her & Ryan a couple of weeks ago in Cotuit, Amy’s old stomping ground.  Way to take one for the team, Amy!!!!

Amy & Ryan’s story began on a chilly March day in Washington DC. Amy was walking her dog with her sister when a tall, handsome man stopped to introduce himself. Amy was wearing one of her old Suffolk Law sweatshirts and Ryan, the friendly stranger, shared that he, too, went to Suffolk Law. In fact, they graduated in the same class, but had never met.

As they would soon discover, their lives shared many parallels. Although they were both living in Virginia when they met, they both grew up in Massachusetts. Both of their fathers are builders, both of their mothers are nurses and both have family houses on Cape Cod that they live for.

So, it seemed fitting that our love session with them would take place here on the sandy shores of Cape Cod, in one of Amy’s favorite secret spots.

Before our session began, Amy & Ryan let us know that they are a “schmoopy couple.” “We can’t help it. We’re madly in love,” Amy told us. As it happens, schmoopy, totally head-over-heels-in-love couples happen to be our specialty, so ours was a match made in heaven.

Here are a few of our favorite moments from our chilly, but super fun love session….

Amy & Ryan have a sweet easiness about them that makes getting great photos a cinch! It doesn’t hurt that they’re both totally adorable…in a sexy Ralph-Lauren-we’ve-got-your-models kind of way!

Love this next one…Ryan is probably one of the the nicest guys on the planet…totally down to Earth, kind, smart, confident, and humble. And in this next photo, he shows us he’s got a sexy side too! I also love Amy’s hottie stance and the way she’s looking at Ryan with a look that says, “I’m so proud of my honey.” Love Love Love it!

And then we see their goofier side….equally as delicious!

Here’s the moment that inspired my heading for this post. Amy was such a trooper and carried on without missing a beat…thank goodness the ocean was nearby for a quick rinse! You rock Amy!

Oh the joy…

Amy & Ryan are the kind of people who can just get lost in each other and forget anyone else is around. This next photo is a perfect example of that. Rockin’ the schmoopy!!!

I love this shot of Amy…few things in life are more beautiful than a women in love…

Another favorite moment of the day….

Watching 3 fishermen who also knew about the secret spot.

If the word contentment had a picture next to it in the dictionary, this might very well be it.

Da bling…

One of Ryan’s favorites from our session….we like to share shots we’re excited about during the session as it lets our couples see what we’re doing and hopefully helps them to relax a little more knowing we’re capturing some great moments.

Having a little fun….

Sexy & serious…..

Amy & her beautiful blue eyes radiate as she snuggles with her sweetie!

Peek-a-boo we see you!

cashmere + classic 501s + a crisp fall day in your favorite place with the one you love = HEAVEN!

I’ve said it before, but I really do love those in between moments, right before or right after a kiss. The joy & anticipation is just palpable! Love it!

Generally, we’re all about natural light, but sometimes it’s fun to play with a little off camera flash when the sun is on a fast decent toward the horizon…

Super sweet schmoopy moment…

And, after the sun (which was hiding throughout our session) called it a day, we did too, but not without one last off camera flash shot….

Amy & Ryan thank you so much for sharing your secret spot with us. Thank you for taking time out of your quick visit home to hang out with us. And thank you for being so much fun to photograph! But, most especially thank you for trusting us to capture this special time in your lives for you. You two are so great together and we just know that your wedding next July at CBI is going to be a total love fest! Looking forward to seeing you both again soon! Big love & hugs, Chris & Andy xoxo

It was quite a long time ago now, but I clearly remember the awkwardness of my early teenage years. Hormones were flying, my body wasn’t changing at quite the same pace of my friends/classmates, and all my friends & I could think about was boys and how much better life would be when we were older.

Like most things in life, you don’t realize how good you’ve got it until it’s gone. Perhaps this was lingering in the back of Laura & Brian’s minds when life…and love…gave them a second chance.

This super sweet pair first met in at Andover Academy, where they went to high school. While in the same freshman triad, they quickly became friends; running in similar circles and sharing common interests. But, their friendship never blossomed into anything more and after graduation, they went their separate ways.

After college, Brian went on to Boston University’s medical school and Laura ended up at rivaling Boston College for grad school. But, it wasn’t until a Christmas party thrown by a mutual friend that their paths crossed again. And, this time, they saw something different in each other….some spark that wasn’t there before, drawing them to one another.

“We instantly reconnected…I was hooked,” Laura told us. “I couldn’t believe I hadn’t thought about him in that way before.  It was so easy and comfortable - there was just always this feeling that it was meant to be.”

Flash forward five years and Laura & Brian are now planning their wedding. They will say, “I do,” surrounded by family & friends next summer at the Wychmere Harbor Club.

We met up with Laura & Brian two weeks ago for their super fun love session. Here are a few of our favorite moments from our time together. Enjoy!

Right from the start of our session, Laura & Brian seemed completely comfortable in front of our cameras  and the love they share came shinning through!

Trying a new perspective on a classic shot…

I just love their expressions in this next one, especially framed by the changing leaf colors in the background.

Laura has the sweetest nervous giggle and I just love this series of her & Brian “having a moment.”

We’ve never eaten at Five Bays Bistro, but we hear it’s a great restaurant….we just love the facade.

You really can tell a lot about the way someone feels about you in the way they look at you…..Brian wears his feelings well!

Where to next?….

Awww….

The look of love…

Fall really is a great time for photography. I just love the fall colors and the crispness in the air….plus it seems to encourage more snuggling….

Laura is so beautiful and she knows how to smile with her eyes! Tara would be so proud!

If you follow this blog at all, you’re probably sick of hearing me say it, but here I go again….There truly is no better place in the world than in the arms of the one you love. And these next two photos just say it all!

I love their expressions in this next one…

Taking in the setting sun…

A late blooming rosa rugosa …

These next two are some of my favorites from our session. They both just look so relaxed and at peace…if only life could feel this way ALL the time!

Love is….this!

We were pretty much done with our session at this point, but Andy captured this photo and I just think it’s such a cool shot. I love the light and the perspective.

Laura & Brian thank you so much for being so much fun and for trusting us so completely! You guys did AMAZING and made us even more excited about getting to be there with you when you say, “I do!” next summer. We have no doubt it’s going to be a love-filled celebration and we’re excited to document all that love & laughter for you! Until then, we hope you enjoy these photos and that they serve as a happy reminder of all the fun still to come! Big hugs & love, Christine & Andy xo