My baby sister is getting married! Over the summer her now fiancé, Peter, called me with the news that he was planning to pop the question. He asked me to help him through the process of ring shopping and planning a proposal. It was an honor to be involved in such a big moment in their lives. It was an even greater honor to actually be there for the proposal. Peter planned to propose while hiking at one of their favorite spots, Cunningham Falls State Park, and invited my husband and I to come along. Seeing my sister’s reaction first hand, and witnessing the love and emotion between the two of them, was a priceless moment in time that I am so grateful to have been a part of. Of course, I also had to document the occasion with photos, as well as a little video footage. I managed to put together an iMovie on the fly so that family and friends waiting back at my parents house for an engagement party would be able to share in the moment, too. Did I mention the party was a surprise? It’s a good thing she said YES! You can view the video below, or keep scrolling to read more and view their stunning engagement photos.
A few weeks after the proposal, Kirsten called to ask if I would shoot her engagement photo session. It was my turn to say YES! She wanted an on-location session at Great Falls Parks in VA, and it turned out to be an excellent choice. Everything about the location was breathtaking. The lighting was perfect and the location gave off just the right vibe for an engagement session. The gorgeous scenery paired with an absolutely gorgeous couple was every photographers dream. We started the session off in a wooded area next to a stream. The soft light filtered in through the trees, and the couple shared fun and intimate moments together. Making it even more fun, they erred on the side of adventure! They waded into the water for a couple of shots and even climbed into a tree!
A little wetter than when we arrived, we left the secluded area by the creek and headed for the main park at Great Falls. If you haven’t been there before, you have to go check it out. The Falls are spectacular and the park is a great place to spend an afternoon picnicking with family and friends. The park was busy and I could sense that Peter was a little nervous about being photographed with so many people milling about. But it only took him a few minutes to relax, and the two fell into stride as if they were the only ones around. The rest of the session was filled with some posed shots around the park…
A few quiet, intimate moments…
and, as always with these two, lots of laughter and fun!
Congratulations, Kirsten and Peter. You two are so perfectly suited for each other. I can’t wait to see you at the altar!