Despite being drawn to photography from an early age, I didn't dabble with it until my first child was born. Capturing all of the beautiful little smiles and moments was not only great but addicting and I just knew that I wanted to photograph important moments for other people as well. It was a while before I began photographing people that I didn't know personally; first I took on travel photography. At the time, living abroad provided all of the opportunities one could hope for in travel photography and I loved photographing every bit of my surroundings. However, the towering structures and unique traits of each place I visited had nothing on the versatility and raw honesty of the people belonging to them.
Finding myself back in California two years later, I decided I'd take on portraiture in the wedding industry. I felt it not only spoke to my longing of capturing special moments but also provided me with emotionally charged scenarios filled with nothing but amazing and honest photo opportunities. As is also true in motherhood, weddings are filled with beautiful fast-paced events and I love being the everywhere eyes that the Bride and Groom can look through come gallery delivery day! Still, there is one confession: engagement sessions have become my all-time favorites to shoot.
Here's the thing, engagement sessions--even couple's sessions in general--are charged with a different kind of energy. One that is intense, hopeful, and passionate. These sessions remove all outside interference leaving nothing to focus on but each other. I feel like these sessions truly capture a couple's nature--what makes them shine together and individually take center stage and I couldn't ask for anything better than that.
For this session, Tova and Jason met me at this gorgeous, secluded spot along the route to Lake Tahoe. The scenery was breathtaking as we found ourselves on a small bridge in the early morning as the steam rose from the lake below. There was a perfect mixture of light and dark too which created a sense of intimacy despite being outside in unfamiliar territory. While the location was, in itself, amazing, the vibes these two brought with them were unmatched. I'm convinced a photoshoot on the side of the highway would have yielded just as good of a result.
This is living proof of the importance of saying YES to engagement photos, especially when photographers offer them as part of the wedding package. Sessions like these are their own kind of wonderful and you will cherish them just as much as the photographs from your wedding day. 
I am forever grateful to have pursued HFB Photography as a career path and for all of the couples who have entrusted in me the responsibility of capturing such important moments in their lives. Having moved again, this time from California to Maryland, I am thrilled to explore new places and photograph new faces and journeys.
