Stacey & Mack
Goddard Park in East Greenwich, Rhode Island
October 20th, 2017
Sometimes, it's incredibly tough to get motivated as a wedding photographer. Whether it's the hustle and bustle of busy season wearing you down or the difficulty in coming up with something new to shoot after being in the same locations time and time again, there are days when you just can't find the motivation to click the shutter button one more time.
But those are the days I love the most because, even when this job is the most difficult, the clients make it super fun and rewarding and I know I'd rather not be doing anything else.
Such was the case for Stacey and Mack's October engagement session at Goddard Park in East Greenwich.
Coming into this December 2018 couple's shoot, I had very little motivation to shoot photos as I had just been at this park two days earlier and was on the third day of a triple booking weekend.
And then we started shooting.
Within moments, Stacey and Mack had me laughing and any aches and pains associated with the tough weekend went right out the window as we put together, quite possibly the best engagement shoot I've ever had.
Boy, am I glad I got out of bed for this one because if I wasn't excited about their wedding next December before, I sure am now.
In fact, it is easily one of the weddings I'm most looking forward to. Who could resist wanting to work with couple again? I know I can't wait to.
Stacey and Mack's engagement shoot started a little different than most shoots do for me as they brought along their son and asked if we could take a few photos with him.
Now, I'm not a guy who shoots family photos as I find children incredibly difficult to pose and keep motivated through a shoot but for Stacey and Mack? How could I say no?
And I'm glad we did as not only did these photos put this mom and dad at ease but it made for a great start to a really fun shoot.
After starting our shoot near the carousel area in Goddard Park, Stacey, Mack and I hit the beach for one of the nicest skies I've ever seen on a shoot. After some really nice photos on the water (Which, considering it was late October was a miracle we weren't freezing), we made our way to a set of beautiful steps I can't help but stop at anytime I'm at the park.
My favorite part about this time of the day was, without question, the random shirtless man running in the background of their photos. Yes, I made sure to include him in some of the photos. No, I won't share them here. :)
Stacey and Mack were a ton of fun to work with, primarily because they were open to any and all suggestions I had for them and that helped spark my creativity as we really lucked out with the weather during their shoot and had some of the best light I've worked with all year.
And, when they did have ideas of their own, I found them awesome as well ... such as when Mack asked if we could incorporate their Jeep into the photos. Why not right?
By the time the sun started to set, I couldn't believe Stacey, Mack and I had somehow shot for well over two and a half hours together. The time literally flew by.
I'm glad we took as much time as we did, though, because this was the exact kind of engagement shoot I needed to power me through the end of the year creatively.
Stacey and Mack were an amazing couple who loved to laugh and we had a ton of fun together walking through all of Goddard Park on this picture perfect fall afternoon. While I have no idea how their December wedding will be (This is New England, after all, and we can either have a 90-degree day that day or a blizzard), I know one thing is certain: That wedding day is going to be I have circled in the back of my mind for all of 2018 and well beyond. It will be awesome and, assuming things stand the way they are now, the best way imaginable to close out next year's wedding season.
So thanks for an amazing shoot Stacey and Mack! I can't wait to see you guys say "I do" in 2018!
-PJS
