I know the person who built this bridge.

That was the thought that ran through my mind while snapping Mike and Emily’s engagement photographs in my hometown. Winter’s Park was about half a mile away from BOTH houses I grew up in making it a staple of my life from childhood until I packed all of my things into a box and moved into my first apartment. I remember fishing with my dad, climbing the playground, and even when they moved an entire barn onto the property (yeah- one of those towns that LOVES their historical buildings enough to move one). As my love for photography grew, I always thought about what a session could look like in this little town park with a pond and playground.

A week before Christmas my cousin, Charlotte, texted me asking if I would bring my camera home for the holidays. Her good friend was planning a short engagement and wanted to gift them their engagement photos. I could not say no to such a wonderful opportunity. Emily and Mike were happy to let me suggest a location since we would be shooting in my hometown. I narrowed it down to two spots and knew that this was my chance to do a session in one of my favorite places.

Winter’s Park has a gazebo and covered bridge. Both Eagle Scout projects. Done by brothers. Who I happened to befriend well beyond their building days, but everytime I visited I saw the plaques with their names and thought wow, this is what it likes to grow up in one place. The longer you stay, the more you know others in town, the smaller the world gets. And the world got smaller during this session too. Mike lives in Mahwah now, but he grew up in the Rochester area aka where I live now. And I knew some people he knew. The world truly gets smaller every. single, day. Between Emily and my cousin being great friends and Mike living in Rochester, we had the easiest time getting to know each other during our shoot and the ease shone throughout their gallery.

Mike proposed to Emily at a Christmas Tree Farm so it only seemed fitting to work in lots of greenery and some Christmas vibes into their session. I think we stepped right into a a Hallmark Christmas movie this day between perfect weather, lighting, and of course, the most picture perfect & in love couple. I’m so grateful for them saying yes to Charlotte’s gift (and to know that my cousin/ best friend has some really great people in her corner).

Oh. And I’m grateful Charlotte stuck around for the whole session too. There’s nothing like someone standing behind you, watching you shoot, and hyping everyone up with “oh my god this looks so good.”