Engagements

Picture this… You are at Maynard’s on the Jersey Shore with the rest of your friends. It is a typical summer shore weekend when you notice your friend is talking to the cute brunette you JUST matched with.You walk right up to them and completely ignore your friend and spend the rest of the night in the corner talking to the cutest and sweetest girl you have ever met…

and that was JUST the beginning.

Fast forward a few years and you are at the same bar posing for your engagement photos, looking super cute with your pup Reese.

I mean, can it get better than that?!!!

I am absolutely blown away by these two…or should I say three!

Little pup, Reese, almost stole the show with her sweetness, but nothing could beat the love and joy that feels electric whenever Shelby and Danny are together.

Their love is fun, silly, full of respect and support, and there is really nothing better than that!

Their easygoing nature and excitement for life is something I deeply admire, and I could not be more excited and happy for these two!

I already know your wedding day is going to be a special one!

Shelby and Danny, I can’t wait to continue celebrating the two of you!! Xos!

“I’m covid free” Kruti screamed out to Neel and the next thing she knew Neel was down on one knee asking her to marry him. A negative covid test and a proposal? What could be better!

They weren’t even engaged yet when I first heard from Neel and something about that just warms my heart in the sweetest way. He was ready, he was just so ready to be engaged to his Kruti that he didn’t even wait to propose to set up an engagement session.

The second I saw them together, it made sense, they were each others perfect match and nothing was going to keep them from celebrating their love.

Fairmount Park was packed that day, but as we walked around and avoided the crowds of people, it was as if Neel and Kruti didn’t notice anyone else. All they saw were each other. Neel looked at Kruti with so much love, so much admiration that I was smiling from behind my mask and my camera all evening long. Kruti’s love for Neel shined through every time they locked eyes.

Neel, Kruti your love is inspirational and I know that you two are going to be smiling at each other through it all!

“There are only 5 things I won’t compromise on, besides that, I’ll do anything Caitlin wants.” David said as we walked along the beach in Avalon, New Jersey on what was the perfect summer day. “I mean why wouldn’t I do whatever makes her happy?!” he continued as he smiled down at his Caitlin and I could just tell, he would walk on water for her.

There is nothing they wouldn’t do for one another. Nothing they wouldn’t try together. No adventure they wouldn’t experience together and no obstacle they couldn’t over come together. Their love is strong and pure in the most tender way and I know no matter what, they will go through life hand in hand.

As the sun was setting, Caitlin and David stood on the dock with the Bay behind them. My heart skipped a beat. This was the exact spot David got down on one knee and promised to love Caitlin forever and always. With their arms around each other, their smiles as bright and as beautiful as the setting sun and their eyes locked in the most intimate of ways, I knew that nothing else mattered. It was Caitlin and David against the world and nothing else mattered!

Cheers to you Caitlin and David! June cannot be here fast enough!!

Sam and Jimmy just couldn’t wait to be married.

Sam’s excitement was infectious. From the moment we hopped on the phone to the moment we waved goodbye (it would have been a hug if covid wasn’t a thing) at our engagement session, I felt as bubbly as ever!

One thing was evident in everything she said and everything she did. She loved Jimmy. With her whole heart. When Jimmy was around, Sam glowed from head to toe. When their eyes locked, she grinned from ear to ear. And when he wrapped his arms around her, she looked like she was the most content person in the world. It was beautiful and inspiring all in one.

Jimmy’s love for Sam was just as big hearted, just as electric and just as amazing. He smiled every time he heard her name. He looked at her as if she was the only person in the world and nothing could keep them apart.

Even through the long distance and their crazy work schedules, they always put each other first. They always put each other first. And what could be better than that?

Sam, Jim, I wish you nothing but the best! This is just the beginning of your incredible, madly in love, big hearted life together and I cannot wait to see where life takes you!

Cheers to you!!

A girl never forgets the first time she talks to a someone about Harry Potter.

I remember like it was yesterday… Jessica, one of my closest friends growing up, and I were sitting down on one of the couches in the backroom of our local synagogue. We were playing cards, gossiping about the latest drama, when a spunky redheaded girl, who was two years older than us and WAYYY cooler in every way, walked in and said, “I was up until 3am reading Harry Potter!” She climbed up onto one of the chairs next to us. My entire body tingled with the feeling of magic as we discussed the mystical world of Hogwarts.

A few years later, my parents decided to take us to Disney World. To be totally honest, I was not happy about it! The day we went to Magic Kingdom, I was even more pessimistic than usual. As we waited in line to for some ride that I had absolutely no interested in, I saw a familiar face. It was Adam! Adam was a year ahead of me in school, but way more in touch with himself. As I was playing it cool, acting as if I hated everything and anything that was within a 30 yard circumference, Adam was insanely happy. At the time, I could not have been more envious!

Over a decade later…

“I didn’t meet Adam until I lived in Philadelphia” Marla said beaming as she was talking about her fiance. I was shocked. As someone who grew up in the same Jewish Community as both Adam and Marla, I thought everyone knew everyone, no matter what school, synagogue or group they belonged to. I guess the world wasn’t ready for the amazingness that is Marla and Adam until five years ago.

Roughly five years ago Marla and Adam met, and the world has been a little brighter ever since. Best friends first above everything. They are one of the sweetest couples I have ever met. Marla and Adam have a spark between them that is not only beautiful, fun, loving but also magical in every way.

I have known both of them for as long as I can remember and am in awe of the incredible couple they have become. Both smart, ambitious and good to the core. Both Marla and Adam have the biggest smiles and the best of hearts. The first time I saw them together I thought “YES! That is what it is all about! That is what love is supposed to look like!”

When they are together, you can feel the bond and the love between them. It is truly an incredible thing to witness. Hogwarts and Disney World have nothing on the magic between Marla and Adam. They have more inside jokes and more fun than any two people I have ever met.

My wish for you Marla and Adam is to keep the magic and love alive. Keep loving each other the way you do, there is nothing like it!

The second I walked through the door, Rachael and Micah’s personalities were evident. The floors were recently stained the perfect shade, the dog bed was in the perfect spot and the throw pillows matched the blanket. Even though they had only moved in a few months ago, you can tell it was their home and their home was full of love.

“We treat our dog like a child.” Rachael said as she got little Badgely ready for our big photo session and with that, I knew that Rachael and Micah were my kind of people.

As we walked around Queens Village with Badgely trotting along next to them, I couldn’t help put think that Rachael and Micah’s relationship should have a RomCom made after them. Not only are they incredibly sweet and amazing individuals but their relationship is nothing short than inspiring!

I felt like they were in on some big inside joke and I was lucky enough to witness it.  When Micah takes Rachael’s hand, you could just tell that he loves her more than anything in the world and would do anything to make her happy. And when Rachael looks up at Micah, you could see that she wants nothing more than to hang out with Micah for the rest of her life. These two are not only partners and fiances, they are best friends in every way. I don’t think I have ever had two people laugh as much as they did during their engagement session! It was truly amazing!

Rachael and Micah, I could not be more touched by the love you share with each other. It is beautiful, pure and incredibly sweet. I wish for you to always have that inside joke and laugh with one another til 150 years old!

“This is actually where my Dad proposed to my Mom!” Crysta said with a huge smile on her face as she pointed to the park behind Independence Hall. And with that, my heart sighed. I was reminded of how important family is to this amazing and sweet couple. They wanted nothing more than to share their love story with their friends and family. They wanted nothing more than to spend their special day with all the people that matter the most. And they wanted nothing more than to laugh with each other for the rest of their lives.

As we walked around Philadelphia, Crysta and David sunk into each other with such ease and grace that it was obvious they are one heck of a match. In every move, in every touch and in every laugh, there was an abundance of love and admiration. The way Crysta’s eyes smile every time she looked at David made my heart turn to mush and my finger click the shutter as much as possible. Our session was even during the second half of the Eagles game and David didn’t complain once, that is how much he loves Crysta!

Even with the craziness of their work and school schedules, David and Crysta make one another a priority. They are a team, a united front to take on the world together and if you ask me, nothing is going to get in their way. They are both ambitious, extremely personable and kind in every sense of the word and I know they are going to have one amazing marriage and go on to have the most incredible family of their own.

Crysta said it best “your humor matches mine perfectly.” and what could be a better recipe for a happy life together?!

There are not many things in this world that can make me happier than photographing a wedding (besides my family, friends and my Robert). So on Saturday, when I checked my phone after the bride and groom portraits and right before the wedding ceremony began, I didn’t think I could get much happier, but then I received this text message… “This is Juan, and I got engaged today!”

OH MY GOD was all I could say as I quickly typed a response and went back to capturing the wedding even happier than before.

About a year ago, I met Juan. He was looking to get back into the dating game and wanted to update his online dating profiles with some new, professional portraits. Of course, being the romantic sucker I am, I was more than happy to work with him!  As we walked around, we set him up in different poses and had a few different outfits to work with. Juan told me about his tight-knitt family, his career, what he is looking for in a wife etc… I really felt like I got to know him. We worked together to capture the essence of who he truly is and let me tell you, Juan is a great guy. He is personable, smart, sweet, accomplished, and I waked away from our session thinking whomever he ended up with was going to be one lucky woman.

A few months later, I was with one of my 2018 amazing YPcouples (shout out to Brittany & Greg) on the warmest January day when we ran into Juan right in front of his apartment building. He was with a beautiful woman and I could already tell that there was a spark between them. I didn’t want to interrupt what looked like one hell of a date, so I said my quick hello, gave him a huge smile and went on my way with Brittany and Greg.

“I took his dating profile photos!” I explained as we crossed the street into the square. I couldn’t help but think I hope the photos helped!

“The photos you took peaked her interest” Juan told me as we waited for Lilly in the lobby of their apartment building. All I could do was smile. They were so happy, so in love and so perfect for one another… I felt honored to have had a small part in helping them find each other. Lilly is just as incredible as Juan. An elementary school teacher with a heart of gold, a loving personality and a smile that could light up any room. She is even better than the woman I envisioned all those months ago at my first session with Juan. And as I saw them together, it was obvious that Juan had never been happier.

We spent the chilly Autumn morning walking around Rittenhouse Square. Although the park was bustling with people. It felt like we were the only three there. Lilly and Juan’s love was evident in every touch, every word and every smile and I know that they will have a strong, powerful and loving marriage.

Lilly, Juan, I cannot even begin to express how much it meant to me to capture this chapter of your love story. Cheers to many, many more chapters and many, many more incredible, heart-felt  moments.

xo,

Yael

” We have been together ever since…” Sarah said with a huge smile on her face. As we walked away from the Starbucks, the place they went on their first date, I couldn’t help but thinking about Sarah and Ron eight years ago. I couldn’t help but think about the adorable and lovely University of Maryland Freshman, Sarah, meeting Ron, the sweetest guy on campus that everyone seemed to know and love. I couldn’t help but picture 19 year old Ron, nervously sitting in the Starbucks, and wondering What coffee drink should I get her?  In typical Ron fashion, he wanted to make sure he had the right thing ordered for his date by the time she got there, but he had no idea what to get her and felt terrible when she walked in and he had nothing to offer. It’s the little things that make a relationship truly great and Ron understood this from the beginning.

Sarah and Ron had a deep, loving, committed relationship since that beautiful fall day at that Starbucks in Georgetown. They are the epitome of college-sweethearts and I couldn’t be happier for them! Amongst the craziness of college life, everyone else around Sarah and Ron were breaking up, getting together or doing the whole on again-off again thing that seems to be very popular in undergrad. Sarah and Ron never stopped loving, laughing and growing together.   And trust me on this one, I was there! I was one of the college kids who took part in the rollercoaster version of love at UMD, but not these two. These two were strong. These two learned how to flourish together, how to push each other to do better, dream bigger and live larger.

Eight years later, I had the immense pleasure and honor of photographing their engagement session. I couldn’t have asked for a better combination of passion, admiration and fun. Their expressions say it all. Walking around Georgetown, seeing where it all began and seeing the excitement in their eyes for their future together, was a dream come true.

Sarah, Ron, my wish for you is to have the most incredible life together. To continue to grow, flourish and be each others biggest support system. To never forget the amazing way your relationship began but always strive for a bigger and better future. You were such an incredible team in college and I feel lucky to have known you then, and even luckier to know you now. Sending you all the love in the world!