newport news engagement photographer

Best of Couples 2017 | Business

Best of Couples 2017 | Business

I always tell couples that one of the best ways to have the best wedding day portraits possible is by booking an engagement session ahead of time. This allows me to get to know the couple as they are together, relaxed, with no timelines or stress involves. It also gives them practice, since most people (myself included!) aren't used to having professional pictures taken. On top of that, while pictures in a white fluffy dress are completely necessary and absolutely beautiful, I love that engagement sessions give couples portraits of how they really look and act on a daily basis, pictures that will allow them to celebrate such a special time for years to come.

This year's engagement and couples portraits have taken me all over Hampton Roads and beyond. I spent a LOT of time in Colonial Williamsburg and Fort Monroe, with visits to Virginia Beach, Alexandria, and Richmond on top of that. Each picture with a corresponding blog post is linked so if you want to see more from a particular session, click away!

In the meantime, enjoy the love and laughter from couples who are on the verge of being married or are just celebrating life together. Here's to a joy-filled 2017...I can't wait for what next year holds!

Noland Trail Engagement Session | Newport News Wedding Photographer | Patrick + Morgan

Noland Trail Engagement Session | Newport News Wedding Photographer | Patrick + Morgan

When you plan an engagement session date weeks in advance, you always cross your fingers and hope for good weather. The good news is that when we woke up the day of Patrick and Morgan's session it was sunny...but the bad news showed when we checked the forecast and the high of the day was in the 40s!

Despite the freezing conditions, these two showed up with the brightest smiles on their faces and so much joy in their hearts. They had gotten engaged less than 2 months before in the beautiful state of Hawaii during a birthday trip and after 7 years together, nothing could bring them down from the joy of looking to their future together...

Christopher Newport University Engagement Session | Newport News Wedding Photographer | Brian + Liz

Christopher Newport University Engagement Session | Newport News Wedding Photographer | Brian + Liz

Sometimes when I meet couples I can instantly tell how they feel most comfortable - where they connect the most and how they naturally interact. For Brian and Liz this happened in the moments when Brian simply held his bride close and they cherished the quiet moments together. During these times it was so obvious that their 7-year relationship had weathered the storms of life and brought them to this beautiful place on the eve of their marriage this summer.

These two chose to have their engagement session at Christopher Newport University, their alma mater from many years ago. The cloudy skies made the colors vibrant and their smiles lit up their faces as we dodged stormy weather, gusty winds, and a torrential downpour. At the end the sky gave us a gift in the form of a rainbow over Brian and Liz as they gazed at each other in eager anticipation of what lay ahead...