Posted by: ROB & KATHLEEN View More: ENGAGEMENTS A mutual friend saw the potential in bringing them together. An invitation was extended and they both ended up at the same party. Molly with her infectious smile and Tim with his big blue eyes. You can almost picture them across the room from each other meeting eyes for the first time. No doubt you can see why they sparked a conversation, the two of them were probably both voted "Best Looking" in high school. But it was most likely it was the laughter that kept them talking that night. On those first couple of dates, they probably discovered the way they can make each other crack up like no one else. The first few months, they found out just how much they had in common. Soon, they both knew they wanted to spend the rest of their lives together. So Tim went about finding the perfect ring and planning the perfect time to ask her. He scheduled a trip and thought out everything he would say to her. When the moment came Molly didn't even have to think for a second before she blurted out the answer. She had seen Tim as her potential husband since early on, and knew he was the right one for years. In a few months yet another invitation will be extended, this time for a party in their honor. A celebration on the day Molly & Tim become husband and wife. * * * We spent the day with Molly & Tim in several of our favorite spots in Central Park. It was a super hot day at the tail end of July (nearly a year to the day until their wedding), but Tim and Molly didn't let the heat get to them. They kept it cool, going with the flow and letting their personalities shine through in each and every shot we took. We chatted about their wedding plans, their recent trip to Greece, and all of the amazing places they have traveled together. From the Bethesda Fountain to the Bow Bridge, we hit up nearly all of the movie-worthy spots in the park with Molly & Tim's chemistry even more captivating then any romantic comedy we had ever seen. Of course, you can judge for yourself - check it out below!

This was the beginning of the session and if Molly & Tim were nervous, you wouldn't be able to tell at all. Just look at those giant smiles on their faces, totally comfortable in each other's arm's and in front of the camera.

As you can see Molly is in incredible shape, thanks to the fact that she is a Yoga Instructor & Nutritionist.

As busy as Central Park can get, it's not too hard to find little nooks like this one - a shady quiet spot perfect for some solid newspaper-worthy portraits.

See what we mean about Molly's infectious smile? You can't help but grin around these two.

We usually suggest couples bring two outfits with them to an engagement session - a dressy one and a more casual one. Molly & Tim's outfits were perfect for an afternoon in the park.

You can't deny that kissing is going to be a part of any engagement session, but sometimes it's the moment right before (like this one) is just as magical.

OK, so is the actual moment of the kiss.

Another fun part of shooting Central Park - making even the busiest sections of the park seem just as secluded as the tucked-away nooks. This is part of the Bethesda Terrace, a heavy traffic area of the park but you'd never know it from these shots.

As much fun as it is to avoid all the people in the park, sometimes it's even better to incorporate the crowds into the shot. It captures the hustle and bustle of the city.

We hit up this section of the park almost every time we shoot there for a couple of reasons - a) it's gorgeous, b) it almost always has beautiful light and c) because it's usually cooler than anywhere else - a welcome relief from the heat.

Believe it or not, even after many visits to the park before this was our very first visit to the Bow Bridge. We had always seen it in the movies but were never quite sure where it was. Thankfully, Molly & Tim knew how to get there.

There's Molly's big smile again, makes Tim smile back every time.

Skinny jeans + Louboutin's, Molly can definitely pull it off.

Molly & Tim brought along some champagne to have a toast during their session. Not sure if we're allowed to drink in the park, but who's gonna tell? ;)

We found a big rock with a nice view, an ideal spot for a little champagne break in the middle of the afternoon.

We never knew before that along the lake where the row boats are there are little sections of beach in the park. Obviously we had to take advantage of them as soon as we found them.

Molly & Tim, thank you for a wonderful day in the Park! We can't wait to spend a day next July with you in another park - this time for your wedding day!

Posted by: ROB & KATHLEEN View More: ENGAGEMENTS When Meghan and Chris were students together at UCONN they happened to share a few of the same friends. Chris was a couple years ahead of Meghan, so they never got much of a chance to establish a friendship but before he graduated Chris did manage to leave Meghan with one very important impression of him: that he was a nice guy. A rare find, especially in a crowded college campus, so Meghan made sure to take note. So when she happened to spot him again a few years later across a crowded bar not too far from her hometown, she had go over to strike up a conversation. She couldn't let a rare find like him pass her by. He remembered her, of course, Meghan has the kind of a smile you wouldn't forget. They talked for a while and Meghan made sure to give him her phone number so she wouldn't have to go so many years before their paths crossed once again. A state cop, Chris always takes note of his surroundings and when he saw that Meghan had come to the bar with a group of guys he became reluctant to give her a call, even though he very much wanted to. But, being the good guy that he indeed is, he figured a girl as beautiful as Meghan couldn't be single and one of those guys had to be her boyfriend. What he didn't know was that those guys were a group of old friends Meghan had grown up with and none was a romantic interest for her. Thankfully, one of his own friends talked him into picking up the phone and giving her a call a few days later and a first date was planned. It didn't take too many dates for Chris to realize that he had indeed found something rare as well. Meghan is the kind of sweet and relaxed girl that most guys would think just just doesn't exist any more. She's focused on her own career, but when it comes to time away from work she just wants to have a good time. In that, she found a kindred spirit in Chris. They laugh together, travel together and made dreams about a life where they will be side by side. Chris, too, knew that when you have such a rare find you don't let it pass you by so he did what any logical man would do when you have a girl who makes you laugh and warms your heart with her smile: he asked her to marry him. * * * Shortly after our very first meeting with Meghan and Chris, they let us know they knew exactly where they would like to do their engagement session: Block Island. It was a place Meghan had visited quite a bit with her family as a child and she had shared her love with the island with Chris after they got together. We met early in the day and all hopped in the car for a mini tour around the island, guided by Meghan and Chris. It was the first trip to the island for Rob and I, so we were eagerly taking in all the sights and loving exploring the island. We started over at the Southeast Lighthouse, a large brick building which perfectly set off the bright blue skies we were so lucky to see that day. It was hot and sunny, but Meghan and Chris were total troopers. Thankfully, we were able to hop into the air conditioned car in between stops. We also hit up Mohegan Bluffs, the downtown area, and the marina before we happened to spot a field of tall wheat grass - if you a regular blog reader, you know we just had to stop. Again, Meghan and Chris were total troopers - trudging through the grass (and maybe some bugs) all for the shot. But, thankfully, it was totally worth it. In fact, the whole trip to Block Island was - just check out the proof below.

We started the day at the Southeast Lighthouse, which seemed like a quintessential Block Island location to us.

We totally understand that it's not every day that you go and have your pictures taken, so we always try to ease into the session in the beginning of the day. Lots of stuff you would do normally - walking together, talking, etc. - all while you get used to us being there. Plus, it makes for cute shots like this one.

We like fences because they add a great level of visual interest in pictures. One of the first lessons you usually have in a photography class is to take shots of them to learn all about depth in pictures. It always helps when at the end of them happens to be a very cute couple.

Another great way to ease into having your picture taken - snuggling. Who doesn't like to snuggle?

The view from the lighthouse was incredible. Way out into the distance you could even make out Connecticut.

At one side of the lighthouse there was the grass walkway that led to someone's house. A very lucky someone. Thankfully, they didn't seem to notice we were hanging out in what was essentially their front yard.

We never ask our clients to do anything we wouldn't do ourselves, so while we did ask Meghan and Chris to trudge through the long grass later on in the day, we climbed into the tall grass on either side of this walkway at this point. This is my shot.

And this is what Rob was getting at the same time.

The weather this summer has been pretty unpredictable (but I guess that's always the case). We were very happy to see this bright blue sky and white wispy clouds while we were taking the ferry to the island.

As we learned from our trip around the island, the Spring House Hotel is a must-see on any trip to Block Island. It feels like a place where the Kennedy's would visit, classic New England.

We learned pretty quickly that an incredible view is not too hard to find around Block Island. We were greeted with them at nearly every stop we made.

Before a quick outfit change, we grabbed a solid portrait (newspaper worthy, as we say) of Meghan and Chris. They both looked so tan and relaxed, thanks to the fact that they were actually in the middle of a two-week vacation in nearby Narragansett.

A new outfit, another great solid portrait to show off those great smiles.

Meghan and Chris enjoy shopping together, so walking down to the shops around Block Island would a regular occurrence for them.

After some quality time downtown, we hopped back in the car and headed over to Mohegan Bluffs for yet another breath-taking view.

There were many, many steps down to the rocky shoreline at the bottom of the bluffs. Not too bad on the way down, but a definite workout on the way up. Totally justified the Del's Lemonade we grabbed before the ferry ride home.

By this time of the day, Meghan and Chris were totally comfortable in front of the camera. They were able to stay totally focused on their modeling skills even though their was a group of kids running around just a few steps away from where we took this shot.

What engagement session is complete with out a few smooches? (Totally sticking by that one - my new favorite word.)

Ok, so maybe part of the reason for grabbing this shot was because it gave us a chance to catch our breath a bit before the hike back up the stairs.

We were just about ready to wrap up the session when we spotted this field from the car. We were so happy that Meghan and Chris were up for making the walk through it.

And even more thankful that they were willing to sit down in it as well. Totally worth it though!

This would be one of the many flying creatures in the middle of the field. At least they were friendly.

The last stop of the day was down at the marina where we marveled at the yachts.

Meghan & Chris, thank you for a wonderful day and for introducing us to the wonder that is Block Island. We had a great time with you both, can't wait for April!

Posted by: SUSAN View More: ENGAGEMENTS When I asked Ana & Joe how they met they answered, “We were in the right place at the right time!” A mutual friend, Amanda, happened to invite both of them out for drinks one night in Stamford. They immediately felt a connection which grew even stronger the more they talked. Before Joe left that night, he had Amanda promise to invite Ana out again when Joe returned to Stamford in a few weeks. There was a birthday party scheduled, but Amanda forgot to ensure that Ana would be there and Ana actually had other plans that night. However, fate intervened when Ana decided to go to the party after all at the last minute. If she hadn't she may not have met up with Joe again. Thankfully, they both happened to show up at that birthday party and hit it off once again. It didn't take long for them to make plans to see one another again, planning to have their very first date in NYC. They met in Grand Central Station, under the clock to be precise, and walked down to 42nd street to 3rd Avenue for dinner and drinks. It was a hot sticky night in the city, but they didn't seem to mind, spending a lot of time walking around midtown and getting to know one another. The night ended with Joe escorting Ana back to the station and both of them hoping to see one another again very soon. Many more dates filled with talking and getting to know one another followed. Joe made sure to make every anniversary special, treating Ana to a romantic evening. Last September, on the day of their anniversary Joe told Ana he would be in a meeting that afternoon at work. Really, he had taken a half day but he did have a very special meeting, asking Ana's father for her hand in marriage. With Ana's father's blessing secured, Joe headed home to get their apartment ready. When Ana walked in the door of their apartment, she saw the glow of candlelight, rose petals on the ground, and a bottle of champagne chilling on the table, but did not see Joe anywhere. Their song ("Strangers in the Night" by Frank Sinatra) started to play and Joe appeared walking down the dimly lit stairs. Confused, Ana thought it still might be part of their anniversary celebration. Once he got to the bottom of the stairs, Joe started talking fast and seemed nervous. He then dropped to one knee and uttered the most important five words that he will ever say..."Ana, will you marry me?" This fall, they will gather together their friends and family to yet another right place at the right time: Mexico, for their destination wedding. * * * Ana and Joe's knack for being in the right place at the right time followed right through to their engagement session as well. We planned on meeting at the South Street Seaport in NYC but as the time for the session drew closer it started to rain. Disappointed, we started to make plans to move to shoot indoors. But as luck would have it, Ana and Joe happened to hit some unexpected traffic on their way into the city delaying our start time a bit. They arrived just as the rain cleared and the sun started shining through the clouds again. Any earlier and we would have been deterred from shooting at the Seaport. We enjoyed the refreshing breeze from the seaport and the sun bursting thru the clouds created the perfect sunset. Once the sun went down, we headed over to Grand Central Station. We spent some time by the clock where they met for that first date and Joe even reenacted his proposal in the middle of the station. Despite it being 11pm, Ana and Joe still drew a crowd and a roar of applause when Ana agreed for the second time. It was a beautiful moment shared by all, proving their love is contagious.

Thank you Ana & Joe for sharing your beautiful story with me and for a perfect evening in New York City. I'm can't wait for Mexico and to see how the rest of your amazing love story unfolds.

Posted by: ROB & KATHLEEN View More: ENGAGEMENTS Lee and Patrick knew they wanted to get married. They had even talked about getting engaged but ultimately decided it would be best to wait until Patrick finished Air Force boot camp down in Texas. Or at least that's what Lee thought they had decided. Patrick had something else in mind. He wanted to surprise Lee, and if you know Patrick, you know he doesn't do anything halfway. He wanted to ask Lee to marry him when she didn't see it coming in a memorable proposal totally worthy of the woman he loved. So in the midst of all the training and excessive exercise in the first few weeks of boot camp, Patrick somehow found the time to develop a plan. With the help of a friend back home he picked out the perfect ring for Lee and even had it shipped down to him. He knew exactly when he was going to ask her too - the minute he got home for his first break during training. Not quite when it was complete when Lee thought it would be, but, really, what would have been the fun in that? Lee would be picking him up from the airport with his friends (including his helpful accomplice) and family, and never see it coming. So when that break came around, Patrick boarded the plane with a ring in his pocket, two dozen roses in his arms and a plan to put into action. He promptly informed the flight attendant of his intentions and she was more than happy to help. Good thing too, because Patrick was going to enlist some of his fellow travelers to help him out with his proposal. He passed out a single rose to twenty-four people on board and asked them to each give them to Lee as they entered the baggage claim area, where she would be waiting for him. To ensure that all of the passengers would know exactly who to give the rose to, Patrick had his friend send him a picture on his phone of Lee earlier that day so they would know what she was wearing. Always prepared, Patrick even had his friend stand right next to Lee at the airport, wearing the brightest color shirt he owned so he could act as a landmark to ensure they would not be missed by any one bearing a rose for Lee. When the first person off the plane came down to baggage claim and handed Lee a rose, she was a bit confused but thought it was just the kind gesture of a stranger. By rose number 5 she was suspicious. After the first dozen, she knew exactly what Patrick was up to. By the time all twenty-four roses were stacked up in her hands, she couldn't help but laugh. And when she saw Patrick walking toward her she was feeling too many emotions to describe. He was smiling back at her - so proud of himself that it all worked out, but even more excited to be asking her to be his wife. He got down on one knee right there in the middle of the baggage claim and said the words that had been rolling around in his head the entire flight. Of course Lee said yes, much to the joy of not only Patrick but all of the fellow travelers around them, cheering them on all the while. * * * We were finally able to meet Lee & Patrick for their engagement session last month after many attempts to do so earlier - somehow on every day we had picked it had rained. Sometimes huge downpours. Now we're all up for doing a session in the rain, finding a cool indoor location and even shooting outside in the rain if possible, but Lee and Patrick wanted a session on the beach and in all reality - rain and the beach really don't mix. And that's a bonus of an engagement session, you have more control of what the weather conditions will be because if schedules allow, you can select another (non-downpouring) day for the session - not exactly something you can do on your wedding day. We met at Lighthouse Point Park in New Haven, a beach location that offers quite a bit of variety - the lighthouse, rocky shoreline and, this time of year, lots of greenery and even some flowers. It was a laid back afternoon and we really enjoyed getting to know Patrick and Lee even better. They told us all about their wedding plans and their awesome proposal story which still makes Lee laugh. Not so unusual for her though, Patrick seems to make her laugh quite a bit especially during their session.

When we drove in we spotted this green field area on one side of the parking lot. We thought it would be the perfect place to start the session.

If you've been reading our blog for a long time, you know that we definitely have a thing for long grass. Patrick and Lee were more than happy to sit down and be surrounded by it.

Lee has awesome dimples - they come out pretty much every time Patrick gives her a kiss.

Just a few steps from that first field was this one with some wildflowers in bloom. Gotta love shooting in the spring!

We took a walk all the way to the other side of the park where our favorite beach area is - tons of dramatic rocks and even some more green grass.

Patrick and Lee were really having a good time together, talking and laughing almost the whole session.

It was definitely an odd weather day - super windy with dark storm clouds part of the time and then bright sunshine. All that changes in light was keeping us on our toes, but we love a challenge!

It was pretty obvious by even the beginning of the session that Patrick loves to make Lee laugh. Not just a little chuckle either, he loves to make her burst out laughing.

This is one of Rob's favorite shots from the day - the wind blowing her hair, the clouds behind them - just really beautiful.

This shot kinda feels like a movie poster to me. Not sure why.

After a quick outfit change, we decided we had to incorporate the new color of the sky. In just minutes it had gone from dark and cloudy to bright and sunny. In this shot, they're actually just standing in the parking lot, believe or not.

It's like sweetness overload when they're this close to one another! You can't help but smile.

At this point, I'm pretty sure Patrick said something that Lee thought was fresh. But she loved it!

Whenever we have a couple go over to sit on a bench, it's moments like these that we love to capture. Usually they hold hands until the very last minute and then break away like this. It seems really emotional on it's own somehow.

Rob was hiding in some beach grass at this point - paparazzi style.

This is my favorite shot of the day. I love the way Lee is holding onto Patrick's arms and he's all tangled around her. We were using the intense wind to our advantage (people pay big money for wind machines, you know?), and the windswept hair seems romantic to me.

One of our favorite things about Connecticut beaches is all the rocks, especially when the water comes up and breaks onto them.

Since it was starting to get increasingly super bright out, we snuck into the carousel house to get some shade. Once inside, we realized just how hot it had been outside, not something we noticed before then since it had been so windy.

All the windows in the carousel building create a very cool backdrop.

Seriously, how cute are these two?

There's those dimples again! See, every time Patrick is close they come out!

Special request for a piggy back ride, we were more than happy to oblige!

Lee & Patrick, thanks for a fabulous day at the beach! We had a great time and can't wait to see you both again in September.

Posted by: ROB & KATHLEEN View More: ENGAGEMENTS Jeff was in Connecticut for one reason: to get his PhD. Once that was complete, he had no intention of staying in the state. He had nothing against Connecticut per se, just no reason to stay here. Until he found one. Or, more accurately, until he met Jen. It was a typical first date setting - dinner and a walk around New Haven. But what he felt from that very first meeting was far from typical. It was something he had never felt before and he knew that he had hit the jackpot - finding a gorgeous girl who was smart and sweet. Even more than that, in Jen he found someone who not only got his whacky sense of humor, but completely loved it. Pretty soon making her laugh became an even more important reason to be in Connecticut than simply getting his degree. And suddenly Jeff saw that building a life in the state seemed not only appealing, but completely necessary. Because the alternative - a life without Jen - was definitely not an option. In fairness, Jen couldn't believe her luck either. She knew it was a rare thing to find someone like Jeff - a guy who was genuine in every sense of the word. He had no hesitation in showing her just how much he cared and made her smile more than she ever had in her life. Which is really saying something, because Jen has always smiled quite a bit. But never as much as since that first date and every night that followed. Especially one night in particular, when she returned home to her apartment. There was Jeff - a complete surprise since she had thought he was supposed to be home in his own apartment over an hour away. He had driven down to make her dinner and ask her a very important question. He asked if she would become part of his family and invite him to be a part of hers. If she would one day create a family of their own with him. If she would become his wife and they would build a life together. In Connecticut. * * * We met Jennifer and Jeff for the first time just a few weeks before their engagement session. They had booked us for their wedding before meeting us in person - spring was particularly busy for them, between travel, work and - you know, planning a wedding. We felt like we knew them before we had even met them and couldn't wait to finally hear about their plans in person. They told us about that first date in New Haven and decided that would be the perfect place for their engagement session. They were hoping that we may be able to spend some time inside the Yale Library, since they both love libraries. Of course we were delighted with this idea, since we, too, love libraries. Of course getting to shoot inside the library of Yale is not exactly an easy task, but Jeff worked a bit of his magic and got us into not only the main library but also the very cool rare book library as well. We enjoyed our very our tour of the campus with some fun tidbits from Jen and Jeff about the special places where they would sit together and talk during those first weeks and months of dating. It was the perfect way to spend a June afternoon - getting to know the two of them even better and having tons of laughs along the way. Plus, it got us even more excited for their wedding in September. No doubt it will be a fun day - with sweet moments surrounded by the people that are most important to Jen and Jeff: their families.

It was very fitting that this archway was where we started the session - this happened to be the very spot were Jen and Jeff sat and talked on their first date.

You'll see a lot of Jen and Jeff laughing, making one another laugh out loud is one of the things they do best.

One of the things we really enjoy about shooting at Yale are the hallways with the dramatic arches and windows.

Jeff spent quite a bit of time in this lounge when he was a student at Yale. He felt right at home, which was great since we may have moved around a bit of furniture here and there. (We put it back, of course!)

This is the inside of the Rare Book Library. We had shot outside of it many times, but never had the chance to check out the inside before this session.

This middle section of the building is where all the rare books are held - completely temperature and light controlled. Also, it makes an awesome background for photos - probably not what they intended, but a total bonus.

First stop in the main library: card catalog. Not sure why, but I have a total soft spot for them. Maybe it's because my brothers made me watch Ghostbusters a lot as a kid.

Whatever Jeff whispered at this point made Jen laugh harder than at any other time in the session - a challenge since she had to stifle the laugh since we were in the library.

All the nooks in the main library have a very old school feel to them, something about those leather chairs. It seemed totally fitting for Jen and Jeff, they looked right at home among it all.

Clearly, we had to have some fun with the actual books.

This was a higher traffic area of the library, but Jen and Jeff were so into one another they didn't even seem notice anyone else.

A few more laughs in some of the stacks down on the bottom floor of the library. Seriously, Yale has so many books! Who knew?!

This is Rob's shot down from one end of the stacks, capturing a little Jen and Jeff snuggle time. (Get used to it, I'm totally loving the word snuggle.)

This is my shot at the same moment. One of the advantages of getting out of the way of Rob's shots - finding some great angles.

What's that?! Another cool hallway? Yale is filled with these things!

Jen & Jeff thank you for spending your Flag Day with us! We couldn't have asked for a better time (or tour) in New Haven. We're very much looking forward to seeing you both again in less than two months!