Shelley & Ethan - Destination Beach Engagement Session

This might be my favorite engagement session I’ve ever posted, because this is my brother and my soon-to-be sister! If you had asked me 8 years ago if I’d be photographing my brother’s engagement session, I would not have believed you. He never used to let me take his picture! We have so many family photos with a grumpy Ethan and even some where he’s holding something up in front of his face!

Ethan brought Shelley home to meet us last Christmas, when they’d only been dating a few months. But they both already knew their relationship was something special. And as soon as we met her, we could see it too. We couldn’t have chosen someone more wonderful to be part of our family. We love you, Shelley, and we can’t wait for the wedding!

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is my brother in a tree! We had some fun with this shoot!

Shelley & Ethan were only in town for 24 hours, so I was a little worried when it looked like rain when we left for our session, but we ended up with great weather. The sun even broke through the clouds! A little sunshine on the beach makes such a big difference!

Shelley’s ring is so beautiful! Ethan had it custom made with 3 miner’s cut diamonds that have been in our family for years. They were originally set together in a crescent shaped brooch which was passed down to our mom. She had the diamonds reset into other jewelry and later offered them to Ryan and Ethan for engagement rings since she hadn’t worn them in a while. So Shelley and I both have pieces of the same family heirloom!

Just a few more weeks to go until the big day in South Carolina! I can’t wait!

Megan & Andy - Ocean View Anniversary Session

Megan & Andy are so much fun to be around. We were laughing the whole session! They never had professional engagement photos taken, so what better way to celebrate their 3rd anniversary this fall than with an anniversary session?

How sweet is their dog, Willow? She’s still just a puppy but she’s already so well trained!

We had such a beautiful evening for this Ocean View anniversary session! It was one of the first fall nights this year and perfect for the casual outfits Megan had picked out!

Brittany & Richard - Romantic Live Oak Engagement Session in Norfolk

A hot summer day. Tables loaded with hotdogs, hamburgers, and slices of watermelon. Flags waving in the breeze. The night sky filled with fireworks and sparklers. Fourth of July is always a memorable part of the summer, but it’s a special day for Brittany & Richard because it’s the day they first met.

They had an instant connection. And like puzzle pieces that have finally found their match, they realized why it never worked with anyone else before.

If you can’t have your engagement session in Charleston or Savannah, these live oak trees in Norfolk, VA are the next best thing! And how cute is little Miss Daisy, Brittany & Richard’s cocker spaniel! She is the cutest Dog of Honor!

How beautiful is Brittany’s ring? Richard had it custom made with her mama’s diamond!

We had the most beautiful cotton candy sunset to finish out this romantic engagement session! I cannot wait until their beautiful waterfront wedding next summer!

Ashley & Brendon - Pleasure House Point Engagement Session

The first time she said it was probably in 2016. “I want you to photography my wedding some day.” This is probably one of the highest compliments someone can give us after seeing our work or at the end of a wedding day. I met Ashley when she was working on the wedding & events team at Norfolk Botanical Garden, so Ashley has seen a lot of weddings and a lot of photographers.

So I kinda figured when Ashley & Brendon got engaged, that she would ask someone else. Especially since at that point we hadn’t done a wedding in over a year. But then I got a text from her, asking if we would consider coming out of ‘retirement’ to do their wedding. I told her I would talk to Ryan, but… just between you and me… there wasn’t really anything to consider. We were all in!

Their engagement session was so much fun! We had the most beautiful weather, Ashley & Brendon looked super stylish, and I took WAY too many pictures. (I’m a little out of practice, what can I say?) Here are some of my favorites!

Amber & Andrew - Formal Norfolk Botanical Gardens Engagement Session

They met their first week of freshman year at Christopher Newport University. They lived in the same dorm, on the same hall. They had an instant connection and almost immediately became inseparable. As time went by, they found their home in CNU and in each other. So many of their memories together took place on campus. The first time he laid eyes on her. Their introduction on a casual walk around campus. Their decision to officially date. So naturally, Andrew could think of no better place to propose.

But first, he sent her off on a scavenger hunt, with a beautiful love letter and her two best friends to guide her. Amber & Andrew are some of the most loving people you will ever meet, and it even shows in the way Andrew planned his proposal. His scavenger hunt not only led Amber to 8 of their favorite spots, but it led her to 14 of her favorite people in the world, who each read her a letter filled with their love and favorite memories together. He planned a day to show Amber how much she was loved and valued, not just by him, but by everyone else in her life.

Amber and I met in 2015 while working a wedding together. She was part of the amazing wedding planning team at Antonia Christianson Events, and I immediately saw how hard she worked to give the bride & groom the wedding day of their dreams. Later that year, Amber told her mom Keri that she should book us for her wedding day. At Keri & Ryan’s wedding in 2016 (one of our first as a husband and wife team), you could tell that Amber & Andrew wouldn’t be far behind them. And I was so honored when Amber asked us earlier this year to photograph her wedding day as well.

We are so excited for their wedding day with Antonia Christianson Events and Isha Foss Events at Three Oaks Estate and the Chrysler Museum of Art. Just a few more weeks!

Ashley & Tim - Summer Engagement Session at Norfolk Botanical Gardens

The first time he asked her on a date, she said no. The second time he asked, she said no. It was hard to deny the feelings that they had for each other, but at the same time, the deep friendship they had was so valuable. Was it worth risking? They’d been friends for 3 years, since their first week of medical school. And now that they were in a smaller group doing clinical rotations, their group felt like a family. Disrupting that with an unsuccessful dating relationship would break apart their entire world.

Finally, she caved in and agreed to go on a date with him. And each day that followed proved that Ashley & Tim were perfect together.

In 2015, Ashley & Tim knew they didn't have time to plan a big wedding, but they also didn't want to wait any longer to get married, so they said their vows at the courthouse. A year later, they had a son. And now that (most) of the craziness of their careers are behind them, they are excited to celebrate their marriage with friends and family at the Norfolk Botanical Garden.

We did their ‘engagement session’ exactly a month before their wedding day, so you won’t have to wait long to see their gorgeous faces here on the blog again! I know I'm counting down the days!