Andy & I sometimes struggle with deciding what to do to make an engagement session fun and engaging for our couples. We want so badly for our couples to feel that trusting us to document such a significant time in their lives was the right thing to do. It’s important to us that our couples leave feeling excited about what we’ve done together and what we can do for them when we’re at their wedding. Knowing how to achieve this, however, isn’t always as easy as it sounds.

Often times, we plan on multiple locations for our sessions, thinking that if we have more varied backgrounds, it’ll give us more places to shoot, which, in true American fashion, we’ve come to believe will result in better photographs….you know, more + bigger = better.

Well, the other day we got schooled on that point….big time. Turns out the what, where, and how much isn’t nearly as important as the who. I think we’ve always known this on some level, but being in a situation that wasn’t typical for us made us do and see things differently….perhaps more clearly.

We had planned to meet Jacqueline & Mitty at Jacqueline’s family’s summer home in North Falmouth. The stunning beach-front property is where they’ll have their wedding later this summer. It’s beautiful, but I’m not going to lie, we were a little worried about doing all the photos there, since we didn’t want to use up all our creativity before the wedding.

Although we hadn’t yet met Jacqueline or Mitty, the conversations we’d had via phone & email had me thinking that we were going to have some fun together. And, have fun we did! Big time!!

What made this session particularly poignant for us and, in the process, taught us a valuable lesson, was staying in one place….a place, that for all its beauty, didn’t have a ton going on in terms of varied backdrops. But, in the end, that didn’t matter, because what it did have was Jacqueline & Mitty.

Although Jac had warned us…more than once….that she reaaaaallly did not enjoy having her photo taken and ALWAYS looks terrible in pictures…she even showed us one of her childhood photos to “prove” her point, it, like the ones you’ll soon see, wasn’t even close to awful. We spent about an hour with them before taking out our cameras….just talking and getting to know each other.  And, in that, we found not only great chemistry, but we got a feel for who they are, as individuals and as a couple. And, as it turned out, that was all the background we needed.

What happened next was magic.

I’m not saying we’re such hot shot photographers that we can create magic. And, you may not think these photos are necessarily better than any others we’ve taken. But, for us, they were significant, because through the process of taking them we learned that if you take time and you let people show you who they are, and you’re open to going there with them…..magic can be found ANYWHERE!

We want so badly to give our clients the very best we have, sometimes we mistakenly think that will only happen if we add in lots of visual interest to the scenery by going to more than one location, maybe pick a theme as is the trend du jour….you know, with balloons or vintage suitcases, picnic baskets, an old typewriter, and a beach cruiser bicycle, etc. Yes, those photos are fun, but what do they really tell you about the people in them? When you strip everything away and you just let people be who they are….that is far more interesting to me.

So, thank you Jac & Mitty for showing us the way….

Without further ado, meet our happy couple! A cocktail and your favorite person in your favorite place….what more do you need?

Snuggling with your sweetie and just enjoying the moment….priceless.

It boggles my mind that Jac thinks she makes weird faces in photos. Every time I pressed the shutter I felt the air leave my lungs, blown away by her beauty….both inside and so obviously out! Mitty, you’re no schlep either my friend! Hummuna! Hummuna!

These two are so awesome to watch together…so natural and easy. Even though this was our first meeting, it felt more like getting together with dear friends. Speaking of old friends, Jac & Mitty found us through Jac’s mom, Elissa, whose dear friend, Gail, had worked with us when her super sweet son, Parke, and his beautiful wife, Sarah, got married seven years ago. Click HERE for a peek. Thanks Gail!!!! We appreciate you spreading the bello love and hope to see you at the wedding! xx

I mean come on…..stunningly happy or what???

There was a lot of kissing and smiling when these two were near each other and all we had to do was stand back and take it all in….I love my job!

The next photo on the left feels like an ad for something wonderful that I need to buy and the one on the right ought to be next to the word “content” in the dictionary.  { Happy Sigh… }

We had them walk across the lawn for these next few and Jac was feeling the photo session a lot more now…so much show that she was doing this AH-MAZING walk that was a photographer’s dream. Just right in all the right ways. But, I guess it’s not one she normally uses in her daily life because Mitty thought it was just silly enough to imitate, which had us all in stitches! Love it!!!!

Isn’t she lovely…I love the feeling of freedom in this next shot. Yes, Mitty is cut off (sorry Mitty) and it doesn’t follow the classic rules of photography. But, sometimes, once you know the rules, there is more fun (and if you’re lucky….a little magic) to be found in breaking them.

Mitty all chuffed with himself and his funny impression. Just delightful!

Cute. Cute. And, more cute!!!

A quick change and down to the beach for some more lovin’ goodness….But, truth be told, we could have kept them in that same spot on the lawn and continued capturing more amazing moments. They were giving us exactly what we needed and it didn’t matter a lick where we were. Love that!!!

Maybe it was nerves, but Jac had this way of looking to Mitty during the session, perhaps for comfort or reassurance or just overcome by love. Whatever the reason, it was so lovely.

Love these guys….cannot wait to be with them again!

Love is….being wrapped in the arms of the person you plan to spend your life with, as the sun sets in a place that feeds your soul….yup, indeedy!

Love gazing….

And, passionate kisses….

Soooo goood……..

The look of love….

These moments were my faves…when Jac & Mitty would just crack up, I guess feeling silly for all their love displays. But, even that they made look fabulous! I tend to show more photos to our subjects than Andy. He likes to leave some surprise for them, and I like to encourage them with some visual evidence that they truly don’t look silly/weird in photos….or anything even closely resembling that! And, by this point in the session, Jac & Mitty were finally believing us. Success!!!!

The sun had pretty much set and our time had come to an end….so sad, but so good.

The end….

Jac & Mitty….you guys had us at, “Hello!” Right from the moment you got out of the car with your big, kind, happy smiles, we knew we were in for some fun! Thank you for being so warm & welcoming. Thank you for the hospitality, for being as interested in us as we are in you, and for taking such great care as you filled out our Getting To Know You survey.Thank you for showing us that the connection is always more important than the location and that is where we must always focus our attention. Thank you too, for trusting us, when we know you weren’t totally comfortable in front of our cameras. We hope our experience together changes how you feel about being photographed, so that you always feel happy about documenting what we KNOW will be a beautiful life together!! We could have stayed talking and hanging out all night! Thank you for making us feel that way and for reminding us why we love what we do! We can’t wait to see you again when you commit your hearts & lives to one another with your families & friends there to cheer you on! (We’ll be quietly cheering along as well!). Until then, we hope these photos serve as happy reminders of our time together, and of this exciting time in your lives. We hope too that we fulfilled your wish of looking like Brad & Angelina or Tom & Giselle….or perhaps something even better….YOU!

Big love & hugs, Christine & Andy xoxo