Blog— 2022 —
Roger Williams Park Engagement Photos
Jaime & George
Roger Williams Park, Providence, Rhode Island
October 30th, 2022
Of all the traits a wedding photographer needs, I think the biggest is the ability to set expectations and clearly communicate what he or she is doing and what they're doing it. This is especially crucial during engagement sessions as, most times, the brides and grooms you're working with are nervous to be in front of the camera and unsure what to expect or how to pose naturally.
That was one of the reasons I had so much fun working with Jaime and George on the morning of their October engagement session at Roger Williams Park. Over the course of two or so hours, I got to really get to know this 2023 couple and find out what they liked in terms of poses, what they didn't like and what just felt silly and I genuinely think our time together will prove invaluable when they walk down the aisle next year.
And, most importantly? They picked one of the nicest days of the entire year for their photo session and the pictures prove it. I adored this session and this couple and it's easy to see why just by looking at the results.
As is customary with my couples who choose Roger Williams Park for their engagement sessions, Jaime, George and I began our time together by meeting at the carousel parking lot and taking a few test shots in a random spot to see how the lighting looked and how they felt in front of the camera.
I had just been in this exact part of the park, at almost the exact same time, one day earlier but Jaime and George's session felt unlike any I had done there recently as the light was strong but nice and even and the colors looked incredible behind them.
It took a little bit of time to really get Jaime and George comfortable in front of the camera but what I loved about these two was their willingness to try ... even when things felt a bit awkward.
Because we were together at Roger Williams Park in the early morning, the light was harsh in more than a few of my favorite spots in the park. Thankfully, Jaime and George were flexible and super accommodating so when both the Iron Foot Bridge AND the Japanese Gardens were too bright to really make work, they were totally cool with exploring other areas to find the right look for their particular shoot.
And that's how we ended up on a random bench in the middle of the park a short walk away from the Iron Foot Bridge. This location, while chosen simply because it was one of the only spots in the shade when we were walking around, was actually my favorite place I took Jaime and George during their session.
Not just because of the shade, either. This was where Jaime finally felt comfortable enough to tell me what she liked and didn't like, and what felt like "her" and that information was invaluable as it allowed me to find poses that were very flattering to her and brought out her personality.
From that point on, we were in cruise control and the session went like a breeze. And George? Well, it didn't take a lot of effort for him to be comfortable in front of the camera. As long as he had his girl by his side, he was good to go.
One of the nice things about Roger Williams Park in the late fall is you know a little bit of driving around will yield some truly breathtaking backdrops. That's how I knew exactly where I wanted to take Jaime and George when they switched into their second outfit as there was a beautiful orange tree with leaves super high in the air that I thought would look perfect for the darker tones of their new look.
I was right and within moments of crouching onto the ground to get one of my favorite angles of Jaime's engagement ring, I knew we were in the right spot. I loved these little shots of Jaime and George near the Roger Williams Park Rose Garden and they are definitely some of the best shots I took that entire day.
As much as I loved this spot for Jaime and George, I think their favorite location was a little bit later as we hit up the Lover's Bridge near the Casino in the park.
I'd love to take credit for just how perfect their outfits went with the general vibe of this area and the beautiful foliage but, honestly, it was just luck. But I'm not complaining because this part of the park was absolutely perfect for these two and the aesthetic I was hoping for from their engagement photos.
No trip to Roger Williams Park is complete without a visit to the Temple to Music, however, and that's where Jaime, George and I capped their session together. I always love hitting this location and think it's a great place to go when you've got everything you wanted from a portrait shoot in the bag and I think Jaime and George agreed as they were super relaxed for our last few photos together and just as ready to call it a day as I was.
All in all, I don't think Jaime and George's engagement photo session could have gone any better if we tried. I absolutely adored getting to know these two and getting to talk about their upcoming wedding but the real value in our time together on this lovely fall afternoon was seeing what they liked and didn't like in terms of natural, authentic posing.
I know, for a fact, that this is going to be a huge benefit to us when these two become husband and wife next year and I can't wait for their big day next September.
So thanks so much for a great engagement session Jaime and George and I wish you the best this holiday season. See you in 2023! :)
-Paul J. Spetrini
