oak grove lake park

2019 Family + Couple Favorites

2019 Family + Couple Favorites

When I look through these pictures - and all of the families and couples who I had the privilege to photograph throughout the year - I can’t help but be filled with thankfulness. I would count many of these among my friends, and in fact some were friends first before they ever became clients! This year I saw babies born, families move across the country, and new life announced for the first time. I got to meet people who I never would have otherwise spoken to, and reconnect with others from throughout the past 9 years in Hampton Roads.

What a privilege it is to capture the joy of a family as they grow or a couple as they look towards beginning a new life together after waiting for so long. What an honor to take pictures of past brides and grooms as they progress from the newlywed phase to being more established as a couple…

Oak Grove Lake Park Maternity Pictures | Chesapeake Photographer | Sam + Lacey

Oak Grove Lake Park Maternity Pictures | Chesapeake Photographer | Sam + Lacey

Sam and Lacey got married less than 3 years ago, and it was an absolute honor to photograph their elopement at the Virginia Beach courthouse. Meeting them again with a little girl due in less than a month was such a joy - and so surreal! A lot of my brides have started to grow their families within the last year, which makes me feel extremely proud (and a little old, if we’re being honest).

Marriage has been so good to Sam and Lacey. They are settled into their home and have wanted a child of their own for a long time. Yet they are still the same relaxed, fun-loving couple they were just a few years ago when they said I do. Their relationship today is clearly so much stronger than it was on their wedding day, and I know it will continue to grow by leaps and bounds…

Steve & Lori // Chesapeake, Virginia Engagement Photographer

Steve and Lori's story is as long as it is beautiful. The two have known each other for years - through the ups and downs of life, they remained friends for a very long time. It was only in the past little while, however, that they realized their friendship had blossomed into something so much more than that, and before they knew it they were engaged to be married.

Oftentimes, a couple excels at joking with each other, whereas another is never anything but sweet. Steve and Lori are a hilarious combination of the two - between the laughter and the joking, there is a tone of sweetness and seriousness that demonstrates their deep love for each other. I both laughed harder than I had in awhile at their engagement session and experienced sweet, intimate moments beyond words.

I can only imagine what their wedding day next month - and their lives for the next 50 years and beyond - will be like.

View their engagement session slideshow by clicking here.
Makeup by Dhalia Edwards.

Beautiful wintry engagement session in January
Winter engagement session in January at golden hour
An engagement session for a second marriage
Engagement session posing tips for second marriage
Romantic, intimate engagement session poses
Sweet engagement session for tall couples (black and white)
Winter engagement session in January
Details at an engagement session
Winter Ring Shot
Ring shot on pink Chuck Taylor shoes
Engagement session posing ideas with a bench
Winter engagement session posing tips
Sweet, intimate engagement session poses
Engagement session at golden hour in the winter
Romantic, intimate engagement session (black and white)
Engagement session on a walking path in the winter