A week or so ago, I spent a couple of hours on a Saturday evening hanging out with Lisa and Mark in downtown Raleigh for their engagement session. We had a couple of drinks in The Oxford (I need to keep it real and English) to catch up and loosen up a little before heading out for a walk around Fayetteville Street. It really is a great area with a lot of unique nooks and crannies to take pictures in, as well as the lovely State Capitol building, which provided the backdrop to some of our images.

After a pretty crappy day of rain and thunder, we were treated to a lovely spring evening of sunshine. That, combined with Lisa and Mark’s chemistry and evident love for each other, made for a really fun few hours. As usual for me, nothing here was really posed or staged, other than showing them where to sit or stand. Everything else is the true emotion of how they interacted on the day. With such a great couple, who needs to direct?

Here are my picks from the evening. One of my favourite shoots so far. Thanks guys!

A close-up of a diamond engagement ring with a large rectangular stone and a band encrusted with smaller diamonds. The ring is placed on a textured surface, and the image has a black-and-white filter.

A woman with long dark hair and a sleeveless top gazes to the side. The background is softly blurred with warm, colorful lights creating a bokeh effect.

A person with short hair wearing a gray shirt smiles slightly, standing outdoors with a soft, blurred background. Sunlight gently illuminates their face, creating a warm and serene atmosphere.

A black and white photo of a couple sitting on a park bench, sharing a kiss. The background is blurred, focusing attention on the couples intimate moment. The woman is wearing a sleeveless dress, and the man is in a casual shirt and jeans.

A couple sits closely together on stone steps, smiling warmly at the camera. The background features a decorative patterned door, creating an intimate and cozy atmosphere.

A woman with long hair and earrings leans on a textured, angular surface, looking upwards with a smile. The image has a warm, soft focus, creating a contemplative and serene atmosphere.

A couple embraces and smiles at each other romantically in front of a large, historic stone building with columns. The scene is warmly lit, creating a serene and intimate atmosphere.

A man wearing a gray button-up shirt sits relaxed on a park bench. The background is a blurred view of green trees and grass, suggesting a peaceful outdoor setting.

A black-and-white photo of a smiling couple embracing outdoors. The woman is leaning into the man, with her eyes closed and a joyful expression. The man is looking at her while gently holding her. Trees are blurred in the background.

A couple sitting on a stone ledge in front of a colorful backdrop. The man wears a blue polo and jeans, while the woman is in a black top and white pants. They are looking at each other and smiling, creating a relaxed and joyful atmosphere.

A couple embraces and shares a kiss outdoors. The background features lush green trees, and the lighting creates a soft, romantic atmosphere. The individuals appear happy and closely connected.

A woman with dark hair stands outdoors, wearing a sleeveless, tiered white top and gray shorts. She smiles gently, posing with hands on her hips. Trees and soft-focus flowers provide a blurred natural background.

A black and white photo of a couple embracing. The woman is wearing a sleeveless dress and earrings, and the man is in a polo shirt. They are both smiling at the camera, standing in front of a dark, mesh-like background.

A man wearing a button-up shirt, resting his chin on his hand, smiles while looking to the side. The black and white photo captures a relaxed and contemplative mood.

A couple embraces lovingly, standing close and smiling at each other. The woman has long brown hair and is wearing a sleeveless beige top, while the man has short hair and is wearing a gray shirt. The background is softly blurred.

A couple sits closely on a park bench. The woman leans affectionately on the mans shoulder, smiling. They are surrounded by greenery. The man wears a gray shirt and jeans, the woman a sleeveless white dress.

A couple embraces, smiling and leaning against a wall with geometric patterns. They wear casual clothing, and the scene has a warm tone, creating a romantic atmosphere.

A woman with long dark hair and turquoise earrings is wearing a white sleeveless top. She is posing outdoors with vibrant pink flowers and lush green foliage in the background.

A couple sits closely on a bench outdoors, gazing into each others eyes. The woman, wearing white pants and sandals, rests on the mans lap as he gently holds her face. The setting is serene with blurred greenery in the background.

A black and white photo of a couple sitting on steps. The woman is sitting on the mans lap, leaning in with her eyes closed, smiling. The man has one arm around her waist, and they both appear content and relaxed.

A black and white portrait of a person with long, wavy hair, smiling slightly while looking to the side. The background is blurred, highlighting the subjects face and expression.

A couple embraces outdoors, with the woman facing the camera and the man holding her from behind. They look at each other affectionately, surrounded by a blurred natural background.

A couple sits closely on a park bench, smiling and touching foreheads affectionately. The man wears a blue shirt, and the woman is in a black top with white pants. The background is blurred greenery with soft lighting.

A black and white photo of a couple embracing outdoors. They are smiling and looking into each others eyes, with a blurry background of trees and flowers. The woman has long dark hair and is wearing a sleeveless top, while the man is in a shirt.

A couple sits closely together on a ledge, smiling warmly at each other. The man is in a polo shirt and jeans, and the woman is in a sleeveless top and white pants. The background features a patterned wall with leaf designs. Its a black and white image.

A woman with long brown hair smiles at the camera in front of a blurred background of vibrant pink flowers. Shes wearing a light-colored top and turquoise earrings.

A couple embraces and kisses in a dimly lit setting. The man wears a blue shirt and the woman, with long dark hair, has her arms around his neck. They appear to be standing in front of a lattice-like background.

Couple sitting closely on a bench, smiling at each other. The man is wearing a polo shirt, and the woman is wearing a sleeveless top. The image is in black and white, capturing a warm and affectionate moment.

A man in a blue polo shirt smiles softly against a blurred green and brown background.

A couple embraces and kisses in front of a wall illuminated with colorful lights. The background features a pattern of glowing dots in soft shades, creating a romantic and dreamy atmosphere.

Geek info: Canon EOS 5D Mark III with EF 100mm f/2.8 L Macro IS USM and EF 85mm f/1.2 L II USM, and Canon EOS 5D Mark II with EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS II USM

unc chapel hill engagement session ~ thelsa and phil »

« raleigh wedding photographer – image of the week: no. 19

Read now