This week, I am sharing something really special on the blog! About a month ago, my husband Matt and I road-tripped from Hoboken to Pittsburgh for Sandi and Jim’s engagement photos. Although I’d like to say that there are few people I’d travel 6+ hours for, the truth is I’ve been finding myself on road trips (and plane rides) more and more often now that the world is starting to open up again. I started telling Hoboken love stories through photography and now I’m traveling all over the US (I’m actually on the Oregon Coast right now shooting a dreamy micro wedding so make sure to stay tuned!). If you are looking for a wedding photographer and think I might be the right fit, make sure to get in touch by clicking the button below! Dates are extremely limited in 2021 & are booking fast for 2022.
Behind the Scenes: Engagement Photos
As a little behind the scenes, Sandi and I have been friends since grade school. When she asked me to take her engagement photos, I was beyond honored. We have always been super close (there are four of us who became so close in grade school that we fondly called ourselves the ‘Quartet’. The name stuck as we still call ourselves this to this day!), so I never miss an opportunity to catch up. Whenever I share engagement photos on the blog here, I usually tell you that I am excited to shoot the wedding, but for this one, I am actually in the wedding party! Sandi and Jim are tying the knot in Jim’s hometown of Buffalo, New York on June 11, 2022. A quick little tip for couples choosing a wedding date: dates with double digits book MUCH faster!
Pittsburgh Engagement Photos
For Sandi & Jim’s engagement photos, my husband Matt came with me and doubled as my assistant throughout the shoot (that’s why I’m able to share so many behind the scenes photos with you!). Although I am comfortable shooting solo, it does save so much time when I have someone handing me my gear and being my hands when I’m busy shooting! He’s actually turning out to be a pretty good assistant and I might end up bringing him more often (read about the last road trip we took for unique engagement photos in Asbury Park, NJ). We hadn’t seen Sandi & Jim for almost a year since our beach trip to Cape May together last summer (some pics below!), so the four of us (Matt & I along with Sandi & Jim) spent the whole weekend together as they showed us around Pittsburgh (where they are living now!).
Taking Engagement Photos at a Local Pittsburgh Restaurant
Sandi and I actually grew up two hours east of Pittsburgh so there was a nostalgic feel returning. I almost forgot about the Pennsylvania charm! When we contacted the restaurant we wanted to take their engagement photos at (Poulet Bleu), they went out of their way to let us in before they opened so we could take uninterrupted photos. They were so accommodating and friendly – it was like they couldn’t do enough for us! I love living in the Mile Square City but that kind of thing just doesn’t happen in Hoboken. I loved getting photos around the restaurant (without worrying about editing strangers out of the background!).
Outdoor Engagement Photos That Are Personal & Unique To YOU
After the restaurant photo shoot, we headed outdoors to take photos around the city and around their townhouse. I love taking photos on the same street the couple lives on. I TRULY believe that you should make your engagement photos unique to you and your love story (flash back to this Pennsylvania elopement where we did the same thing!). When you look back on your engagement photos in 5, 10, 20 years, looking at the street or photos of you in your home can bring you right back to the moment it all began.
Booking Your 2022 Wedding Photographer
Whether you are looking for a destination wedding photographer or someone local to New Jersey & New York, I would love to connect and learn more about your love story. I really value building relationships with my couples and photographing the chemistry already exists between them. Seeing one of my best friends since I was a kid and connecting with her soon-to-be husband was such a great reminder of how lucky we all are when we really find our one person. That is SO worth celebrating and I would love to honor this moment in your relationship. To learn more about working with me and my wedding photography packages, click here. Or get in touch to save the date by clicking the button below!
Vendor Squad
Mile Square Moments is a New Jersey wedding photographer. We love telling our couples’ love stories through their photos. And we love getting to know each couple personally before we ever start taking photos. Getting to know our couples before the camera comes out allows us to better capture the chemistry that already exists between each couple. Do you love a night in binge-watching Netflix and aren’t afraid of a little PDA? Planning a wedding in Hoboken, NJ or beyond? Get in touch to inquire about our photography services. Or follow along for some fun love stories on Instagram. For more engagement photo ideas, check out our ultimate guide to engagement photo locations (and a few outfit ideas!).
