A couple stands embraced under an ornate wooden archway in a lush garden. Sunlight filters through tall trees, illuminating the scene. The woman wears a floral dress, and the man is in a white shirt and tie. The atmosphere is serene and romantic.

Engagements

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June 20, 2017

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durham engagement session – annie & yuriy

Shooting at golden hour is photographer nirvana. Most of the time, that means shooting at sunset, especially in the summer months when sunrise is so early in the morning. Shooting at sunrise in June, though, you get the benefit of cooler temperatures than in the afternoon and the fact most people are still in bed, so places that would otherwise be teeming with people are pretty much empty. So it was great to be able to meet up with Annie & Yuriy early in the morning a week or so back to shoot around Duke Chapel and Sarah P. Duke Gardens, where they will be getting married in a few short months. As you can see below, we pretty much had both places to ourselves, which allowed us to take our time and get some pretty unique images.

Readers of this blog will know that I shoot at these two locations a lot, so I’m always trying to come up with new approaches to just try something different. In this case, we started at the Chapel where Annie & Yuriy practised their tango moves in the arcades. From there, we headed over to the gardens for a quick walk and to visit the spot where they will be tying the knot. We finished up at the American Tobacco Campus to get some photos at the location where Yuriy popped the question a few months back. Annie wanted some fun shots of her chasing her man down, so we definitely got those too to finish off the session.

For photographers (and other people who might be interested), in order to keep myself challenged and deliver something unique for the client, I tried to shoot every single image in a new way. Firstly, I shot all the images using just three prime lenses: the Canon 50mm 1.2 on my Sony a7RII, and the 85mm 1.2 and 200mm 1.8 on my 1DX Mk II. We worked with adding in some movement in the arcade shots, natural light, supplemental lighting, creative focus in-camera, etc. All-in-all, it was a fun shoot and I’m really looking forward to Annie & Yuriy’s wedding in September.

Anyway, that’s enough from me, here are my picks of the pics…

A couple stands embraced beneath the grand archway of a stone building. Sunlight casts intricate shadows on the ornate carvings and large, detailed doors behind them, creating a dramatic and romantic atmosphere.
A man in a white shirt and dark pants stands in a gothic-style archway, while a woman in a floral dress walks past him, her hair and dress swirling. The stone columns and arches create symmetrical patterns in the background.
A couple shares a romantic dance in a long, arched stone corridor. The man wears a suit, and the woman, a flowing floral dress. Soft light filters through the arches, casting gentle shadows and highlighting the architecture.
A couple stands facing each other outdoors, surrounded by colorful blurred flowers. The woman wears a floral dress, and the man is in a white shirt. A large building with windows and a door is in the background.
A couple stands in a sunlit garden, holding hands and smiling at each other. They are surrounded by greenery, creating a peaceful and intimate atmosphere.
A couple embraces in a lush garden, surrounded by tall trees and decorative plants. They stand on a stone pathway under a clear blue sky. The foreground features a reflecting pool, adding to the serene atmosphere.
A couple stands embraced under an ornate wooden archway in a lush garden. Sunlight filters through tall trees, illuminating the scene. The woman wears a floral dress, and the man is in a white shirt and tie. The atmosphere is serene and romantic.
A black and white photo of a couple sitting on a bench under a tree, sharing a kiss. The scene is surrounded by lush foliage, creating an intimate and romantic atmosphere.
A couple stands holding hands on a sunlit garden path surrounded by lush greenery. The woman wears a floral dress, and the man is dressed in a white shirt and dark pants. The scene is serene and romantic.
A couple stands outdoors, smiling and holding hands. The woman wears a floral dress, and the man wears a white shirt. They are surrounded by lush greenery and dappled sunlight filtering through the trees.
A couple embraces outdoors with soft, natural lighting. The man, wearing a white shirt, smiles at the woman in a floral dress, who gazes back at him. The background is blurred, highlighting the couples joyful expressions.
A close-up shot of a man and woman smiling at each other against a blurred green background. They are facing each other, with sunlight softly illuminating their faces.
A couple walks hand in hand down a staircase surrounded by greenery. The woman wears a floral dress, and the man is in a white shirt and dark pants. The image is in black and white, capturing a serene, romantic atmosphere.
A couple stands on a grand stone staircase surrounded by lush greenery, embracing each other under a clear sky. The black-and-white photo captures an intimate moment in a serene garden setting.
A couple embraces in a sunlit outdoor setting with blurred greenery and sparkling water in the background. They both wear light-colored clothing, and the soft focus creates a dreamy atmosphere.
A couple sits on the edge of a fountain in a lush garden. The fountain features a statue of a woman with outstretched arms. Surrounding the scene are large potted plants and tall trees. The image is in black and white.
A black and white image of a couple standing hand in hand under a rustic, open gazebo in a garden. The background has lush trees, providing a serene, natural setting.
A couple sits closely on stone steps beneath a wooden gazebo adorned with greenery. They appear relaxed and happy, surrounded by lush foliage and basked in soft, natural light.
A woman stands outdoors in a garden setting, wearing a floral off-shoulder dress. She gazes to the side, surrounded by lush greenery and blurred steps in the background, under bright sunlight.
Black and white photo of a bearded man in a button-up shirt standing outdoors. The background is blurred, with bokeh effect from trees and light.
A couple sitting and holding hands in a vibrant garden setting with colorful flowers in the background. The woman is wearing a floral dress, and the man is in a white shirt, both smiling at each other.
A couple shares a romantic kiss outdoors. The woman wears a floral dress, and the man is in a white shirt. They stand close, surrounded by lush greenery and a large decorative planter. Soft sunlight filters through the scene.
A couple embraces on a sunny street, standing close to a building. The man wears a white shirt, and the woman wears a floral dress. They look into each others eyes against an urban backdrop.
A woman in a floral dress and a man in a white shirt stand in front of a rustic wall with faded advertisements and menu items. They face each other with relaxed postures. The sign above reads, Home of the 15¢ lunch.
A man and woman are running playfully on a grassy lawn in front of a brick building adorned with patriotic bunting. The sunny scene captures a moment of carefree joy and laughter.

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