Meghan & Brian
The Charlestown neighborhood in Boston, Massachusetts
May 5th, 2018
Without question, one of my favorite parts of shooting an engagement session is getting a deeper insight into the dynamics of a couple's relationship and seeing the way they interact with one another when they're together. For Meghan and Brian, who will be getting married this September, that meant watching the super outgoing bride-to-be bringing out the fun in her somewhat serious but also humorous fiancé.
Meghan and Brian are New Englanders in every way and, for this reason, they chose the ultra cool and historic Charlestown neighborhood of Boston for their engagement session.
And while I am normally hesitant to do a shoot like this in a neighborhood setting I'm not familiar with, they really couldn't have picked a better location as there were a ton of awesome backdrops and little touches that brought out the best in both the bride and groom.
More so, it was a great exercise in getting to know this couple as we walked and talked under a warm spring sun for a few hours. Now, four months away from their big day, I feel like I've known them for years and know that will pay off handsomely when they say "I do" this fall.
Meghan and Brian's engagement session started with a visit to the Warren Tavern, one of the most historic taverns in the country and a place that's been in business since the late 1700s. The tavern boasts having served notable historic figures like George Washington and Paul Revere and is believed to be the oldest tavern in Massachusetts.
While we were there a little too early for Meghan and Brian to hit the bar, it was a great place to work the nerves out for both the bride and groom and within minutes, I could see they were enjoying themselves and laughing like they've done shoots like this before.
My favorite part of doing neighborhood-based shoots like Meghan and Brian's is walking around and having no idea what you'll see.
The three of us stopped in a ton of locations as we walked the city, with Meghan choosing a cool fish head fountain as something she was interested in and Brian countering with an historic courthouse to play off of his career as an attorney.
After a quick outfit change, the three of us made our way to the Bunker Hill Monument.
I've got to say, finding a signature spot in a neighborhood like Charlestown can be difficult but it's a lot easier when the thing is 221 feet tall.
The monument was also a great backdrop for some of my favorite photos of the session and provided a great view of the skyline of the city itself. I adored this part of Meghan and Brian's shoot and loved the way these shots turned out.
To wrap up our session, Meghan, Brian and I decided to casually stroll back to our cars through different streets than we originally walked and that provided a lot of nice locations on the way back. In particular, Brian loved the old colonial style colored houses that still look pretty great today and give the neighborhood a vibrant feel you just don't get anywhere else.
I thought it was a fantastic way to end a great engagement session and as I left Beantown, I couldn't help but smile knowing my time with Meghan and Brian is just getting started and their wedding is just around the corner.
So thanks for an amazing session Meghan and Brian. Can't wait to see you in September!
-PJS
