Alli & Mitchell | Winter Engagement Session | Shenandoah National Park

An engagement session on Shenandoah National Park - photo shoots like this are more of an experience.. for those who don’t live near the mountains, the ones who do live near them but never got the chance to explore them, or the ones who know these mountains better than any other place. We take a drive down Skyline Drive, exploring the Blue Ridge Mountains, snuggling, laughing, and running around enjoying the views.

I’ve known Alli since we were younger, we met in dance class and danced together all through high school, and she has always been an amazing friend who I remember laughing a LOT with in dance (we were cast as the same leads a couple times, so those extra practices were crazy fun) - but there was something so special about this new adventure together; getting to know Mitchell, hearing their plans for their wedding, and just spending time together made it that much more exciting to be the one to photograph their wedding.

Emily & Hoyle | Shenandoah Valley Winter Engagement Session

Sometimes
there’s this magic light
and it goes so well with certain
locations
and outfits
and people

and when they all mix together like this

I die.

It all comes together more like a piece of artwork than I ever expect photography to accomplish. This is one of those shoots. An odd mixture of hanging out with friends I felt as if I’d known for so long, laughing and exploring, but also creating art. I cannot wait for their wedding.

Kristina and Josh | Winter Engagement Session | Shenandoah National Park

Here is what this photo shoot was made of :

Laughing. A lot of it.
Black ice and some swearing.
Staring into the sun.
Cold breath.
Some more laughing.
Titanic impersonations.
Greatest Showman Soundtrack.
Disney Soundtracks.

And then to top it all off, we got stuck up on Skyline Drive and had to drive all the way back (about an hour) to another exit where Johnny picked me up.

And that’s how you make new best friends!

To be perfectly clear, I did listen to The Greatest Showman soundtrack over and over while editing these. It was important I did so.