engagement

I remember like it was yesterday… I was standing outside of Cornerstone (the college bar I worked at all through undergrad), in my dirty yoga pants that smelled like beer and my VOUS T-shirt that was still drying from my very busy happy hour which happened to include countless of vodka spills. I was surrounded by a bunch of the girls who were sticking around Collage Park for the summer when someone pointed out a beautiful brunette walking towards us. “I think that’s the girl you are going to be living with next year” she whispered to me. I looked up. Cassie’s eyes were sparkling. Her smile wide and inviting. She sported a high ponytail and looked like she was just about to hit the gym.

“Hi, I’m Cassie! I think we are living together next semester” she waved. I was already in awe of her.

“I’m Yael” I waved back. “I think you are right” Her smile grew. Mine did too. In that moment, I felt a strange sense of calmness and excitement all in one.

Cassie has always had such a big, loving presence. She is one of the most loyal friends I have ever met. Even as just a College senior, she was so honest and so aware of who she truly was. Her confidence and assurance, impressed me daily. Cassie is the sweetest combination of intelligent, fun, hard working and goofy. In other words, she is an incredible human and she deserves the best.

Thank god Chris is the best.

The second Chris opened the car door and smiled at me, I could feel his warmth. It was 5am, the sun wasn’t even in the sky and we were about to spend the next two hours taking photos. Yet, he was still smiling, ready to go and it felt like I had known him for years.

I quickly recognized that Chris is the perfect match for Cassie. His whit, charm and kind nature complements Cassie to the T. It warmed my heart to see the love and respect flow between them with every glance and every touch. Their love is strong, pure and overwhelmingly delightful. As we walked around Canton, chatting about their life together I felt myself getting more and more excited for Cassie, Chris, Kona, their adorable puppy and their future together. With those two together, nothing is going to get in their way.

Cassie, thank you so much for always being such a bright light in my life. Chris, thank you so much for loving my dearest Cassie. I cannot wait to see where life takes you two : )

You are on cloud nine! Your best friend in the whole wide world just proposed and he pulled it off  better than you could ever dream of. You are happy. You are planning your future and you are absolutely loving the engagement bubble that you are living in. You are sporting a shiny new ring that fits perfectly on your left hand and you feel like the luckiest girl in the world! But what if something happens to the ring? God forbid it gets stolen or falls out of your bag while you are at the gym. Although diamonds are a girls best friend, diamonds have their own best friend named Ring Insurance. Here are YPPs top tips to Insuring your ring for the just in case situations…

1. Get your ring Insured ASAP:

   Your soon to be groom can get your ring insured as soon as it is purchased, which, if you ask me, is awesome news! That means you won’t even have to worry about it! But, in the off chance that he was too busy planning the big moment instead of insuring the beautiful sentiment, pick up that phone ASAP and call your insurance provider!

2. Think outside of the house

   Many couples put their engagement ring under their home owner or rental insurance, and that can definitely be helpful but a lot of those riders do not cover your ring outside of the house, and we all know you are planning a big honeymoon away!

3. How much are we talking??

   Good question! The estimated cost for your engagement ring insurance will be between $1 to $2 for approx. $100 your ring is worth. I know what you are thinking, that sounds like a lot! But trust me, it is worth it! The cost will ultimately be determined by a few different factors such as the value of your ring, where you live and the theft rate in your area, and whether or not your policy has a deductible, but the good news is it will protect that ring! Remember, this is your engagement ring for crying out loud! It is a symbol of love and nothing says love like protection!

4. Get an appraisal.

   Now ladies, this one is important! You can’t protect it with out knowing what you are actually protecting!! This is what your appraisal should include: (a) the carat weight, (b) cut, (c) color and (d) clarity of your diamonds. (e) The carat weight and (f) shape of any colored stones, (g) the metal type and (h) fineness or karat, as well as any (i) identifying marks, (j) hallmarks, or (k) stamps. BONUS: Make sure you trust your appraiser! Look at their online reviews, chat with them on the phone and find someone who earned a graduate degree in gemology AND is a member of a national appraisal society. We mean business when we are talking about our diamonds!

5. Get a Diamond Certificate or Grading Report: The 4 C’s

   The 4 Cs are my favorite C’s! Color, cut, clarity, and carat weight. In other words, A diamond certificate or gradating report. While this is not an appraisal, A Diamond Certificate is often provided by your jeweler if your ring is around a half a carat or larger. The 4 C’s are great for your appraiser and super important to track down your stone if anything happens to it!

6. Reappraise every few years!

   Your groom made a good investment. The value of your ring will increase over the years and that is why it is super important, for insurance purposes of course,  to get your ring appraised every few years. BONUS: If you go back to the same appraiser time and time again, they will already have a lot of your rings information and therefore, can cut costs! BONUS x 2: Don’t forget to bring a copy of your last appraisal with you. Always better to be safe than sorry!

This ring is way more than a ring, it is a symbol of your love for each other, it deserves to be protected! So now, go get that beauty insured and step right back in that engagement bubble! I know you want to!

“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?!

“Kipper is shivering! Let’s finish these photos inside!” Brittany said. We all looked at Kipper in his adorable, yellow raincoat shaking from the cold. “That’s a good idea!” I said worried about their sweet, little dog. As we walked back toward Brittany and Will’s Fairfax, Virginia apartment in the rain, I smiled. Brittany and Will only adopted Kipper a few months prior to our session and they were already so in tune and such good care-takers. They had all the Kipper essentials and than some. It was clear, that they put Kipper first and were happy doing so.

Once we got into their homey, warm apartment, Brittany took Kipper’s raincoat off and they all began to play. All three of them looked so happy and content just hanging out together, throwing and catching a stuffed bunny. It made me think,  this is what it is all about. Togetherness, happiness, love. And love there was! In every detail of their apartment, in every word spoken and in every joke made, you could see that their life was full of love and admiration for each other…. and of course Kipper too.

Brittany and Will have been together since before Instagram was a thing and I absolutely admire their commitment and connection to one another. It is evident that they are best friends, partners and each others biggest support systems. Brittany and Will’s personalities complement each other. From High School to College, all the way to moving to Fairfax, Virginia together, they have been a united front that can take on anything and everything.

These two are such a unique couple, and their puppy engagement session was no different! Once we realized that Kipper was not a happier camper outside, we moved our engagement session inside. It was no longer just an engagement session but a session about the home they built, the puppy they adopted and the life that they had created.

Brittany and Will, you have found it. The happiness, the love and the excitement for your future that everyone searches for and I hope your happiness and love grows until the end of time! I cannot wait to photograph your wedding! July is too far away!!

So you did it, you found the woman of your dreams. You are totally and completely in love and you cannot wait to spend the rest of your life with this amazing woman… Now, all you have to do is ask her… but how?

Proposal season is upon us and the love of your life deserves nothing less than the best.  For most of you, this will be the first and only time you pop the question and you might not even know where to begin! But don’t you worry, I am here to help! Follow these 10 easy steps and you will have the girl of your dreams wrapped around you crying tears of joy before you know it!

1.  The Ring: 

   Now this first step is one of the most important steps, once you get the ring, the rest will fall into place. There are a few ways to go about to make sure you are getting the woman of your dreams the ring of her dreams…
   (A) Go shopping together. Some people LOVE this option. I mean, one of the biggest parts about a successful marriage is being a team and working together, so why wouldn’t you want to share this experience with one another.
   (B) Get the Hint…. if she is the kind of woman who does not beat around the bush and has been sending you links, photos and pinterest boards for the last 18 months, you are one lucky man, you already know exactly what she wants…
   (C) Consult her bestie.  Let’s face it, women talk, this isn’t news… and what do you think one of the things we talk about when we are in a serious relationship, the engagement ring. Meet the future-maid-of-honor for some coffee, ask her to share the ring intel and get as much detail as possible. Her best-friend will be ALMOST as excited as you are…almost.

2. Ask her Parent’s for her hand in marriage: 

   I know what you are thinking,  how old fashioned… But let me fill you in on a little secret, this small gesture will mean the world to them and to your future wife. It will make her parents feel like they are a part of the celebration and why not keep your mother-in-law and father-in-law happy from the beginning. This will set the stage of your relationship with your in-laws for years to come!

   

3. Pick a location: 

   It can be as simple or as lavish as you want it to be. Just remember, you know your girl the best, you know what means the most to her and what would make her happy. It can be right in front of her favorite taco stand that she took you to on one of your first dates, or in the middle of the park that you guys walk your dog in every day or even on top of the ferris-wheel. It can be in your apartment or at a fancy restaurant. At a carnival or on vacation. Don’t over think it,  wherever you ask her, she will love it because it is your love story and you are making her dreams come true.

   

4. Choose a gesture:

   Now that you have the location, it is time to figure out how, how are you going to make this moment special, how are you going to set it up and how are you going to ask her. Are you going to send her on a scavenger hunt? Surprise her from out of town? Whisk her off to a romantic city? Once you get her to the location, are you going to get down on one knee, have her nieces and nephews surround her, show her a montage of your relationship? Before you pick the gesture, you should know, that most proposals are done in private, contrary to what Hollywood portrays. Consider who she is when deciding how big or how small the gesture should be! Your proposal story will be told hundreds of times, it might even be your grandkids favorite bedtime story, so make sure that whatever gesture you choose, it is consistent with who you are a couple.

   

5. Consult a photographer!

   This is it, it is the moment you both have been waiting for. The moment that will change your life forever. You are asking your best friend to be with you from now until forever, how special would it be to have this moment captured? To have this memory frozen forever. To have photos that will keep this moment and these feelings alive!

   

6. Create a Master Plan:

   Now that you have the ring, the location, the gesture and the photographer, it is time to put it all together and create a master plan. You have worked hard to prepare for your big moment, winging your wedding proposal is not an option. Talk to all the necessary people to ensure that this moment goes off as well as possible. Consult the photographer about lighting and timing, even do a walk through of the location to make sure you know exactly where you are going, where she will be standing and how you will be kneeling. Consider traffic, late reservations, delays, and anything else that might create any issues. This way, you will be prepared and as ready as possible.

7. Have a Plan B:

   It is never a bad idea to have a Plan B. You never know what is going to happen. You never know if it will start pouring 5 minutes before your candle lit balcony proposal or the restaurant sits you at the wrong table or even there is a pop up beer garden at your favorite park, therefore, come up with a simple Plan B that is easy to pivot too.  This way, you won’t add too much stress if something goes wrong.

   

8. Rehearse:

   These words, this question, the look in her eyes as she listens to you, is going t be a moment that will be cherished forever (no pressure)! I don’t know about all of you, but when I get nervous, I start rambling on and on and
   usually end up not making any sense… practice what you are going to say, rehearse taking the ring out of your jacket or pants pocket and getting down on one knee. It will make your proposal go that much smoother and make you feel like you are the most romantic man that has ever been.

   

9. Get her there: 

   Sometimes, getting her there can be tricky, so you have to get creative.  Make sure you know exactly how you are going to convince her to get there and consult everyone who will help you get there. I know, you are never supposed to lie to the woman you are going to marry (or to anyone in general), but let’s be real, this might be the ONLY time it is ok to tell her a small fib… She will forgive you for lying about your reservation being 20 minutes earlier or that you have to stay late at the office for a work thing. She will forgive you for not being able to meet her and her sister for brunch if that is all part of the grand proposal plan.

   

10. Ask her: 

    And finally, the most important thing… ask her to marry you. It will be the happiest moment of her life thus far and you will be the luckiest man on earth. It is as simple as that.

Ok… so what are you waiting for! Go get that ring, talk to her parents and consult her best friends! Go tell her how much you love her, how much you cannot wait to grow old together and how you will never want to wake up without her by your side.

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!

One new message.

When I opened up LinkedIn to see who messaged me, I smiled immediately; it was Sarah. Sarah, was the first person to really give me a chance as a college intern. She was the first person who took interest in helping me refine my skills and make me a better, more attractive professional. She was the first person who made me feel like I was a true asset. As I read through her message my jaw dropped “wedding photography packages.”  I couldn’t believe it! It was a dream come true! Sarah was asking me to be her wedding photographer. Sarah, once again, made me feel like a true asset.

I remember it like it was yesterday, after our morning meeting, Sarah stopped by my tiny, intern desk and I could tell she was excited. “What’s going on?” I asked. Sarah smiled and started to tell me all about her first date with this guy named Al. She was trying to play it cool but it was obvious that is was way more than just a good first date, but this could be the real deal.

A few years later, I find myself driving down 95 to DC on my way to Sarah and Al’s engagement session. Spring had FINALLY sprung. The cherry blossom’s were peak bloom, the weather was starting to warm, and I couldn’t have asked for a better day! I was eager to see my dear friend Sarah after all these years and finally meet her fiance, Al, whom I have heard so much about.

When I arrived at their apartment, Al met me at the front and I couldn’t help but laugh to myself. He was just as wonderful, just as kind hearted and just as sweet as I knew he would be. I knew the man who was going to be Sarah’s partner in crime had to be incredible and Al definitely fell under that category.

As we walked around DC, there was one thing that really stuck out to me. Sarah and Al are just totally and completely in sync. It’s pretty incredible to witness. They get each other, they respect each other and they are aware of each others wants and desires. Watching them together was like watching a beautiful love story come to life right in front of me. I feel lucky to have been there in the beginning, and now, after all these years, I get to be a part of their engagement and their wedding! Their commitment to one another is an inspiration and I have loved every second of getting to know Al and getting to reconnect with Sarah again.

Sarah, Al, I cannot wait to be there on your big day!

You would think, by early April, it would be warm, the sun would be shining and the flowers would be blooming. Unfortunately, as we all know, this year mother nature had a different plan for us. But that did not stop Imani and Keon.

From the second I shook their hand to the minute I said goodbye, Imani and Keon had smiles on their faces and love in their eyes and I knew that they had something very special together. They were not going to let anything get in their way from these photos.

Imani, Keon and I met at the La Colombe in Fishtown. As soon as I walked into the cafe, my eyes went straight to them. They looked like the perfect match in their coordinated outfits. I couldn’t stop smiling. I was already excited for our session, but seeing how much thought and effort they put into this too, made me even more excited!

“So, I heard Imani’s perspective, but I want to hear yours… How did you propose?” I asked Keon as we were walking to our first location. Keon glanced over at his joyful fiance and then back to me. There was laughter in his eyes. “The best part about my proposal was that Imani was so nervous, she started fixing my bowtie as I was down on one knee!” Keon said with the biggest smile on his face. That my friends, sums up Imani all into one.

Imani is the epitome of good-hearted. She is the sweetest little thing. The way she talks about her life, her family and her fiance showcases her genuine goodness and I swear, being around her made me feel like a better person.

Keon, may be just as motivated as Imani is sweet. Don’t get me wrong, Keon is an extremely nice and amiable person as well, but the way he talks about their business and his excitement over property investment was infectious.

Together, they have created a beautiful life together and it is only the beginning. They may have just started their business, but I know with Imani’s kindness and Keon’s drive, they will flourish in every sense of the word both personally and professionally.

Imani, Keon, thank you for sharing your hearts, sharing your personalities and sharing this time with me! I feel so fortunate to be a part of your love story. I wish you 150 years of happiness together!

Cheers to you!

I was sitting in Starbucks, catching up on some emails and waiting for Robert to get out of his law class. It was date night and I couldn’t wait to get to our favorite place, Ponzio’s.  As I was finishing up my last email, I got a phone call. “Hello, my name is Advait and I am looking to propose to my girlfriend in March. I live in Texas and she lives in Philadelphia.” At this point, my heart smiled and I knew I couldn’t wait to photograph his proposal. Robert and I were long distance for the first year of our relationship and capturing another long distance relationship promise to spend the rest of their lives together is something that is very near and dear to my heart. I loved everything Advait was saying, from how he got the ring, to where he was envisioning popping the question, to how he was going to get his girlfriend to the chosen location. We hung up the phone after 20 minutes and I could not wait to tell Robert all about it!

Advait and I were in constant contact over the next few weeks. His attention to detail was truly amazing. I can’t tell you how touching it is to watch a man put so much thought and care into his proposal. He wanted everything to be perfect and I could not agree with him more.

Fast forward a few weeks- Senia, my second shooter for the day, and I were walking toward the Orchid Extravaganza at Longwood Garden’s. I had to keep myself from skipping all the way to the Orchids…that’s how excited I was. After weeks of planning I just couldn’t wait for Advait and Abhilasha’s big moment!

Once Senia and I got there, I realized one thing. There were a lot more people around than expected.  I even dragged my dear friend Sydney to scout it out the week before and it was significantly busier this week than last. My first thought was, we need to switch locations. Staying calm, cool and collected, I contacted Advait and explained the situation. He snuck away from his beautiful girlfriend and called me to chat. I really felt like a ninja. We made the final decision to move the proposal to right out front of the Orchid exhibit and I am so glad we did!

He saw me out of the corner of his eye and he knew he was in the right place. I sighed feeling relieved. The relief quickly turned into joy and I could not stop myself from smiling behind my camera.  He was doing it, he was really doing it! After all the energy Advait had put in to making this an incredible moment for the woman he loved, he was really doing it!  As he got down on one knee, Abhilasha’s expression was extreme shock and pure joy all mixed into one. It was one of the sweetest expressions I have ever seen. You could tell that she had been dreaming about their life together. You could tell that all she wants is to spend the rest of her life with the man right in front of her.

Thank you Advait and Abhilasha for letting me be a part of such an important moment. Cheers to always looking at each other with sweet expressions, love and joy : )