Keirys & Jhair's Engagement Session
Colt State Park, Bristol, Rhode Island
October 5th, 2014
One of the main reasons I love shooting weddings as much as I do is that I've been lucky enough to get some seriously incredible clients who I work with to craft the perfect day for them through multiple meetings and conversations where we make sure we're all on the same page. But, every once in a while I get a bride and groom who not only want me to shoot their wedding but their engagement session as well and I ALWAYS jump at this chance because a nice engagement session is the PERFECT way to get to know a couple.
This October, I was lucky enough to shoot one for Keirys and Jhair, whose wedding I will be shooting in 2015 and I can honestly say it was one of the best portrait sessions of my career thus far.
For one thing, Keirys and Jhair had an infectious personality and a terrific idea for their photos ... they wanted a Bonnie & Clyde theme. Now, sometimes, themes aren't the best way to go about an engagement session but Keirys and Jhair really nailed it with some throwback style and a prop gun that looked realistic enough that we had to make sure everyone in the area knew it wasn't real.
Pretty much right from the first photo, Keirys and Jhair proved magical in front of the camera. Coming into the shoot, the pair had a vision for their photos and used Pinterest as a springboard for some ideas. The best part, though, is that the photos that came out the best were created on the spot and in the moment, which is always awesome for both photographer and subject.
Of course, it didn't hurt that we chose Colt State Park in Bristol as the site of the photos. In my short career as a portrait photographer, I've shot a great many sessions at this state park and with good reason. Within a short three-minute drive, you can find dozens of great locations that all look different, scenic and, most important, Rhode Island-like. In fact, the only thing working against the three of us was that Colt State Park had TOO MANY great places to choose from for photos.
I enjoyed the chemistry between Keirys and Jhair and I think their spark is evident in just about every photo. Whether we were on the stone pathway leading into the park, the many bridges up and around the park, the water or the docks, the location didn't matter nearly as much as the relentless energy both future husband and wife brought to the photos, an energy that never let up.
The biggest thing working against Keirys, Jhair and I was the time as we picked a late-afternoon session to photograph their engagement photos but, just as we were getting ready to call it a day, the sun set in breathtaking fashion and, suddenly, we were taking some of the best photos of the afternoon.
Before all was said and done, we ended up with a spectacular array of awesome photos. The silhouette ones, in particular, stand out to me as portfolio-worthy shots I'll likely never be able to take my eyes off of. All in all, this was one of my favorite assignments of the entire year and this is one I can guarantee I will cherish for a while. The only thing better? I still get to shoot their wedding in a couple of months. It's going to be a hard task trying to better these photos but I'm confident we'll do it. And we'll have fun as we try.
-PJS