The most difficult part of kicking off these blog posts again was deciding which of my ridiculously awesome shoots from the past year to start with. Do I go in chronological order? Reverse chronological order? Favorites? As I was browsing through, trying to nail down my approach, I got to Tiffany & Carlos’s Engagement Session at Highland Airs Alpaca Ranch and stopped. When faced with the quandary of where to begin the obvious answer is always, of course, alpacas.

When Tiffany and I started talking about their engagement session, she asked if it would be okay to do it at an alpaca ranch, and I had to try to play it cool about my excitement (real talk: I did not play it cool). For future reference, if anyone ever wants animals involved in any kind of session, my answer will always be an adamant yes. I AM DOWN.

Highland Airs is home to 26 alpacas and 1 llama. The owner, and his husky-wolf pup, graciously showed us around, introduced us to the alpacas and educated us about their personalities, hair, and shows (some of them are award winning!). It was incredible being in such close proximity to the animals, and it was awesome getting to know Tiffany and Carlos throughout. As I’m sure you can imagine, we laughed a LOT. My favorite part of the whole session, though, is that it really is such a classic and beautiful engagement shoot – the photos are sweet and romantic! They’re just enhanced with the photobombing alpacas. I can’t go though this gallery without chuckling (which I just did in a coffee shop by myself, ps, not weird at all).

I have spent a lot of time over the past twelve years waiting in public places for people I haven’t met in person yet. Not to say they’re strangers, because they’re anything but. Sara and I corresponded via email for weeks leading up to her and Michael’s engagement session. I watched as close to a hundred people – many couples included – entered the park before she and Michael arrived, but the second I saw them walking hand-in-hand down the street, I knew it was them. It was like they were old friends. Strolling through Central Park and the Upper East Side side with them, hearing their story – how they met, fell in love, got engaged, and all the plans they were making for the most beautiful wedding this fall. No words can tell you about Sara and Michael what these photos can. They are great friends, first and foremost. They have a rich history that’s woven through the streets we walked. And they are really, really good sports about cold weather. All in all, they are my kind of people and I am so glad we found each other.

Bailey & Harry wanted to incorporate the Milton train station, which Harry’s late father played a role in restoring, into their engagement session. It’s a small, beautiful station on the water, and on the day we met there was a fog clinging to the melting snow. I love including personal details like this into sessions. It adds an extra layer of something special to photos that are already so filled with love.

Milton Train Station // Buttermilk Falls Inn & Spa