A Nostalgic and Cinematic Engagement in Valley Forge
For this session, I was back at one of my favorite places — Valley Forge National Park — capturing an engagement session for one of my super sweet couples, Ana and Patric. I’ll be photographing their civil ceremony later this summer in LBI, and when we first talked about doing their engagement session, they were initially thinking about an arboretum near where they live. But after visiting, they realized it wasn’t really their vibe.
Playing With Light and Emotion
We met up at the usual spot, and I took them to one of my go-to locations — plus a new one that was recommended by a dear friend. At the first spot, I knew Ana and Patric were excited about the cinematic, carefree, and editorial vibe, so I really leaned into it — playing with the light and prompting them to run, laugh, and just be together.
A Field That Felt Straight Out of a Movie
We started in a big, overgrown field — and even though the grass was taller than usual, it added so much to the scene. It felt majestic, whimsical, and so reminiscent of The Sound of Music.
Their outfits were timeless and dreamy, adding to the nostalgic film look we were after. And since Ana and Patric love film photography, I made sure to bring my 35mm Canon EOS Elan II loaded with Kodak Portra 400, as well as my brand new Holga 120 GCFN. It was actually my first time shooting medium format — I can’t wait to see how it turns out!
Personal Touches That Told Their Story
Ana and Patric brought the sweetest props — a deck of cards, because they love to play games together, and a couple of colorful lollipops inspired by a photo Ana had saved on Pinterest. These little details added a fun, personal touch and made the whole session feel even more like them.
Embracing the Summer Heat and Golden Light
Even in the middle of a summer heat wave, Ana and Patric were troopers — running through fields, soaking in the sunlight, and exploring new areas of the park. We found so many beautiful pockets of golden light that made everything feel warm, dreamy, and cinematic.
The whole experience felt like capturing scenes from their very own love story.
I had such a fun time adventuring with these two and documenting this sweet season before their civil ceremony. Ana and Patric, thank you for trusting me with your story. I cannot wait to celebrate with you later this summer!
Interested in a Cinematic Engagement Session?
If you’re dreaming of candid, nostalgic, and filmy engagement photos that feel like scenes from a movie, I’d love to help bring that vision to life. Let’s create something timeless and uniquely you.
