Most of my engagement sessions are scheduled about one hour before sunset, working with the best light of the day. But sometimes it happens that your couple is from out of town and the weather is calling for a thunderstorm after 2pm, so what do you do?!

Like most portrait photographers, I was terrified to shoot in harsh light, especially with the temperatures being in the 90s, but I was up for the challenge and I love every single shot from this session!
So when I found out that they were going to dive in the lake after the engagement session, I asked if I could capture that part too and I am so glad I did!!! 

How they met: Brielle & Getulio were both new teachers to the International school in Colombia. That morning the school picked up the new teachers to take them shopping for home essentials and as soon as Brielle got on the bus, they caught eyes right off the bat. While shopping they playfully started arguing about pillow selection. Three days later they were both at a dinner and after a night of dancing and flirting they had their first kiss. A week later they had their real first date.

You have your wedding photographer booked and it’s time for your engagement portraits. So you start thinking “where should we be taking them? What will we do?!” That’s when you pick up the phone and call your wedding photographer.

It’s really important for me to showcase my couple’s personalities and hobbies through their engagement sessions. So I always recommend doing something that they would be doing on a fun weekend.

That was the case with Chelsea & Mitch. One of their favorite thing to do is eat & enjoy a glass of wine, so why not make it a picnic in the Blue Ridge Mountains?!

2017 was such a great year for me! I had my good share of amazing weddings in Virginia. Loved each and every one of them and I am looking forward to all the ones I will document in 2018.

One of the highlights of the year was shooting a Destination Wedding in Florence, Italy.

Traveling has always been my passion, since I was little. I remember going to Italy with my parents. My mother always made sure that we had a blast throughout the journey. So I started collecting books from my travels. I would buy one at every airport, sign it and date it. So every time I was looking forward to it.

I’m in my office wrapped up in a blanket, drinking my cappuccino and it’s mid April! I am definitely ready for warmer weather, for traveling trips and for toes in sandy beaches. 
So for today I will try to warm your hearts with this romantic sunset engagement session on the Virginia Blue Ridge Mountains.

How they met: Gunner and Ashley met when he returned to Michigan after completing medical school in Australia. Their school year is a bit different from ours and he had several months off before he was supposed to start his residency.

Chris and Rachel met in high school. Rachel was a Junior soccer athlete, Chris was a Senior basketball athlete. Rachel & Chris’s sister were good friends.One Myspace click later, they started talking constantly. A few weeks later Chris picked her up from a school function to take her home. On their way, Chris turned down the music and asked, “if I asked you to be my girlfriend, what would you say?” Charming. High school sweethearts we became.

Carley & Chris’s story starts way before they were aware of it. Her brother and his cousin became close friends in middle school and they would often drop hints to them about the other.
It isn’t until August 2016, when Carley reaches out to Chris asking him to meet for coffee for some career advice that they start getting closer. Towards the end of the conversation things get a little more personal, but Chris goes back to St. Thomas. 

Brooklyn & Bryan met at Radford College through a mutual friend and actually didn’t like each other when they first met. They hung out together a few times, then went separate ways for about a year, until he decided to contact her again which ignited communication between the two for a few months.

Stephanie & will were such an amazing couple to work with!
When we met we connected immediately and the engagement session was obviously a success!

I met with Nicole & Mark in a coffee shop and I knew from the beginning that we were a perfect match.

How they met: Mark and Nicole first met in 10th grade Health class at Cave Spring High. She sat near him and he had said she had nice handwriting but they did not start dating until their senior of high school where they went to prom together.