The #1 advice I give to my couples when planning their engagement session is: choose somewhere that has meaning to the both of you. Whether it’s a beach you visit in the summer, or a cozy coffee shop you had your first date at. I’m a firm believer that the location you choose for a portrait session will reflect the way you feel which will reflect how authentic and natural the photos come out.
Kevin and Matt took that advice and ran with it, literally. We decided to begin their engagement at their happy place: their apartment in Stoneham with their cat Leo. Leo however, had other ideas. Unsurprisingly, as most cats do, Leo made the choice to not come out from underneath the bed, which was his way of saying “no photos please.” We respected his wishes and headed out to the next chapter of their day.
From their apartment, we made our way to a nature trail that Kevin and Matt have made their own over time, their go-to spot for a walk, a reset, and just being together. The moment we stepped onto the path I could immediately feel why they chose it. There’s something about being surrounded by trees and fresh air that strips away any stiffness in front of the camera. These two were laughing, squeezing each other’s hands, and just being themselves in the most effortless way. As a photographer who prides herself on capturing couples in the realest way possible, moments like that are everything.
We wandered through the woods together, pausing wherever the light filtered through the canopy just right. At one point we stumbled upon their favorite spot, a quiet clearing that clearly held a lot of meaning for them, and I honestly felt like I was intruding on something special in the best possible way. The kind of spot you only know about if you’ve been coming back to it for a while.
This is going to sound a little cheesy, but this session truly felt like I was just tagging along on one of their regular Sunday walks. Most importantly, I could really feel how much they genuinely enjoy each other’s company, not just as partners, but as best friends who found their favorite place in the world and made it theirs together.
Just got engaged?
Iād love to help you celebrate by following you around in your neighborhood with a camera (or anywhere that feels like you).
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š Serving Boston, New England, and beyond
