Fall engagement pictures in Boston, MA :: Kayla + Charley

I have a treat for you today, the story (and pictures) of two high-school sweethearts to brighten up this dreary Tuesday.  Are you ready? Shall we begin?

Once upon a time, at a high school in Northborough, MA, in a calculus class, there was a girl named Kayla and a boy named Charley. Kayla remembers looking at Charley and thinking "He's kind of cute..." but they didn't really talk and had different groups of friends so nothing came of it. 

Fast forward a little, Kayla had always known that she wanted to have a career in nursing and she found out that the school she planned to go to required physics. The only class available was an AP physics class. So Kayla joined the class and in the first lesson she heard a boy behind her whisper to his friend, "Hey, who's she?"

Kayla still remembers her sassy response, as she turned and stated "You can ask me to my face!"


Remember when AOL messenger was the hot mode of communication? Well, Kayla and Charley soon found themselves AOL messenging, first about physics and then about everyday stuff. And then they started talking on the phone. And then they started occasionally hanging out in person as friends do. But just friends. 

One evening, Kayla and Charley were hanging out with a mutual friend when Charley had a call from his ex-girlfriend asking if he could pick her up and give her a ride home. Kayla was surprised at how perturbed she felt and how relieved she was that Charley called to talk to her on the way home.

Charley definitely had feelings for Kayla but Kayla kept insisting she wanted to focus on her studies and not get distracted. One chilly winter day just before the holidays, Charley asked Kayla if she'd like to take a walk in a forest, Kayla admits it was a kind of romantic walk. Charley finally asked Kayla, "Will you be my girlfriend?" and Kayla replied "Yes! I'd love to be your girlfriend!" ".......Ask me in a month!"


The day before Christmas Eve, Charley came over to wish Kayla a happy Christmas and that may have been the scene of their first kiss.

[I will admit to fact-checking on this - so wait? Charley asked you to be his girlfriend before you'd even kissed?!? And Kayla explained that Charley has always been a gentleman and that's one of the things she loves the most about him!]

A month after asking in the forest, Charley again asked Kayla if she'd be his girlfriend and luckily she said yes this time! Aside from a minor hiccup when one day at lunch, Charley thoughtfully presented Kayla with a peanut butter and fluff sandwich (after hearing her say she'd never tried this gourmet treat!) and Kayla freaked out at the open display of affection and commitment, they've been together ever since! 

8 years after that fateful AP physics class Charley asked Kayla to be his wife and next year they'll be married and have their wedding reception at the Exchange Conference Center in Boston, MA and I can't wait to be their wedding photographer. 

Kayla and Charley - it was so great to meet you both in person and I had a most enjoyable afternoon/evening with you both! I'm SUPER excited for September 2016!!!

Engagement Pictures at World's End, Hingham, MA :: Jo + Ben

From my initial emails with Ben and Jo I suspected they might be a particularly fun couple. My suspicions were confirmed when we met up for their engagement session at World's End in Hingham, MA :)

We started at Stars Bar on Hingham Harbor which is Jo & Ben's local bar, the awesome bar staff even sent over little hello messages on their drinks :)

After a number of beers and grape sodas (rest assured I don't drink at your wedding, but engagement sessions are a leeeetle more relaxed ;) we headed out to World's End in Hingham, MA.

It was the first time I've been to World's End and I was wowed with the rolling hills and rocky shorelines with sweeping views of the Boston skyline. Not to mention how awesome Jo and Ben are together:

The only slight hiccup was that the grounds were closing maybe 30 minutes after we arrived. But I shoot fast. Really fast.  Jo & Ben were totally cool haring around/running from location to location. I don't think I've ever:
a) Laughed so much
b) Gotten so much exercise at a shoot


Anyhoo, back to Jo & Ben. They met online. Nope, not what you're thinking. No Match.com or EHarmony.com for these two. They're both super into music and Jo posted in the "friends/platonic only" area of a site about the type of music she was into and asked for some additional suggestions for her playlist. Ben randomly stumbled across her post and for a few months they emailed back and forth about their favorite music.

Moments before sunset you get some scarily good golden light:


Eventually Jo & Ben decided they should meet in real life. Jo admits to having a virtual crush on Ben. Ben said he felt the same. So Ben arrived in Boston to a sort of treasure hunt. Jo had left clues under phone boxes and a map for Ben to follow. They ultimately met in the Public Gardens and their meet-up turned into drinks...then dinner...and now they're getting married!!!

Here's Jo & Ben having a leaf fight: 

If you fight hard enough you have to have a little rest. Jo and Ben had a little rest amongst the leaves :)

World's End is now my new favorite location for engagement pictures:

We made it out just in time before they closed the gates and towed our cars :)

Although we had a ton of pictures I was having too much fun with Jo and Ben so we headed back to Stars Bar stopping on the way for a couple of pictures:

A couple of days before this engagement session I'd had a ton of fun with an editorial shoot for Seacoast Weddings. I mentioned to Jo and Ben that my car smelled like someone had filled it with sugar as I was driving around with multiple wedding cakes in my passenger seats :)

It seemed rude not to use the cake for bonus pictures.... I can't wait for Jo & Ben's actual (vegan) cake cutting at their wedding at Glen Magna Farm next year...

Back at Stars Bar I shot Ben and Jo at the bar:

We went outside for a few late night pictures :)

Jo & Ben - I can't remember the last time I've laughed so much at an engagement shoot. As if I wasn't excited enough about your wedding I am now uber-excited about the handmixers in the photobooth :)