Often, when I’m sitting down with new couples, they tell me one of two things. Either they don’t have many pictures of the two of them together, or they don’t feel comfortable in front of a camera. This is where engagement sessions and practice sessions come in. I love photographing engagement sessions, where I join couples in some of their favorite places, and we make images that capture a slice of their life. But sometimes, they want something a little simpler, and that’s where the practice session comes in. We spend 30 minutes together and work through some portrait basics, like “what do I do with my hands?” (typical answer: put them on each other) and “is this going to be super awkward?” (answer: most everyone feels a little awkward at the beginning, but it passes quickly). Last fall, I met up with Haley and Brendan at Stonehurst in Waltham for their practice session. No awkward or forced smiles, just some beautiful evening light and time in each other’s arms.
