Beth & Bryan
The Acushnet Sawmill in New Bedford, Massachusetts
November 3rd, 2017
One of the most underrated aspects of being a wedding photographer is the way you get to know the people you're working with and, if you're good at your job, the fun you can have working your way shooting weddings through a group of friends who are all getting married.
That's why, prior to my November engagement session with Beth and Bryan at the Acushnet Sawmill in New Bedford, Massachusetts, I felt like I had worked with the pair for years despite never having actually done so.
Not only are Beth and Bryan friends of my wife but the two have been at multiple weddings I've photographed and Beth herself has assisted me at not one but TWO boudoir sessions for friends of hers.
Because of this, I knew before we began her engagement session with Bryan on a slightly chilly fall afternoon that we were in for a lot of fun and, boy, was I right.
Beth and Bryan are a really fun couple to be around and, although they're not the stereotypical lovey-dovey romantics (at least not outwardly), it was super sweet to watch them interact in a semi-serious way during this shoot.
And, more importantly, we put together some really beautiful photos on this day that have me super excited to shoot their wedding next year.
Not that you can blame me, of course. Look at these two. Talk about a beautiful couple!
Beth and Bryan's engagement session took place at the Acushnet Sawmill in New Bedford and if you have never heard about it, don't worry. You're not the only one. Though I had never been to this location before, Beth and Bryan had as it's fairly close to their house.
I'm always nervous anytime I'm asked to shoot engagement photos at a place I've never been before as there's a worry there won't be enough in the area to make for a variety of photos but, thankfully, that wasn't the case here as the sawmill provided a ton of cool little spots all within walking distance to give Beth and Bryan a full shoot despite us only having about an hour or so before the sun went down that afternoon.
Beth and Bryan are a silly couple to be around and I loved watched the two of them egg each other on and keep each other on their toes throughout the shoot.
The two of them have a love of country line dancing and I adored Beth's cowboy boots and the way they popped against the lovely river behind them for many of the photos we took of the two on the rocks of the sawmill.
Without a doubt, the toughest part of this shoot was dealing with a rapidly fading sunset -- it was November after all -- but Beth and Bryan were troopers and we made quick work at a variety of spots in the sawmill. I think the tight window we had to shoot in actually helped us keep the two on track and forced me to set poses up a little faster than I normally would, which worked well for this soon-to-be bride and groom as the two had a hard time staying serious during the shoot, cracking each other up often between shots.
By the time we called it an afternoon, I felt confident with our results as Beth and Bryan's engagement session came out fantastic and, I feel, is a great representation of their love together as a sweet but not sappy couple.
I've known these two for a while and getting to see them in a new light was a real treat.
More importantly, however, this shoot gave me a confidence that their August wedding is going to be an absolute blast to shoot and, perhaps, one of my most fun days of the summer next year.
So congratulations Beth and Bryan. I can't wait to see you on your wedding day and I know, without a doubt, if that day is even half as fun as we had during your engagement session, we're in for something really special.
See you in August!
-PJS
