Oh my goodness, Kristin and Steven’s engagement session was one for the books in the best possible way. This was my first time ever visiting Long Island, NY, and it didn’t start out as easily as I had hoped. I sat on three different trains trying to get from New Jersey to LI, arrived 5 hours early and sat in a deli in the meantime (and ate way too many chips..), and had an unsettling Uber ride where the driver clicked the lock and unlock button the entire drive. Not the greatest pre-session routine, but the moment I arrived at Steven’s family’s house and saw these two adorable faces, I knew it was going to be smooth sailing from here on out. They greeted me with open arms and looked so amazing for their session! They took my style guide to heart from the color coordinating to professional hair and makeup for Kristin! I was so excited to venture out into the vast backyard to capture the sweetest moments – and, if you keep scrolling, I think you’ll agree that we did! 🙂

These two were so natural in front of my camera, and they fell into the most perfect, cuddly positions without me even having to ask them! Steven was a pro at making Kristin scrunchy-nose laugh (my fave!!), and their drunk-walk was seriously on point. I’m just so impressed with these two and how much fun they are when they’re together! As I asked Steven to do yet another lifting picture, he said, “She’s so light. She’s easier to carry than not to” and I just thought that was so cute and genuine of him as he was running toward me with her on his back!

They also took me to a special lake area lined with boats that challenged me as a photographer and gave me a chance to photograph in a different way than I usually do. We pretty much only had direct sunlight, aside from a small hidden patch of shade behind a tree, so I told them we’re going for it and let them bask in the sun with the boats floating behind them! Direct sunlight creates a completely different look (very contrasty and vivid) versus the backlit or open-shade that I love to photograph in (softer, flatter light), but it is still beautiful and helped me offer them more variety in their gallery! After the lake, we headed home to finish their session with some amazing smoke bomb photos with the golden sunset lighting the smoke from behind. We almost didn’t use them, but I am SO glad we went for it because these are seriously some of my new favorite pictures like aaah look at that light!

Kristin and Steven met through their church when they were kids. Their parents all grew up together, which helped them maintain their friendship over the years. They started dating when Kristin was 14 and Steven was 16, and they’ve grown and fostered such a beautiful relationship ever since! Together, they love doing anything outdoors from walking around a park or in the woods to going fishing together. They warned me that they may have some marks on their hands and arms because they’re always adventuring outside! I follow Kristin on Instagram, and a few days before their engagement session, she posted a video of Steven cutting down trees, so I was cracking up when they told me about their arms because I knew it was very accurate based on their activities that week 😂.

Steven proposed at their new apartment the night they moved in together after they went out to dinner. Kristin said, “We didn’t have anything moved in yet, so he lined the hallway with rose petals and candles and put a bottle of champagne with two glasses and more roses (my favorite flower) on our coffee table.” How magical and intimate!!

Kristin and Steven, thank you for being the cutest, kindest humans in the world. I am so thankful to have couples who are up for anything from trekking through muddy grass to get to a pretty field to kissing while simultaneously inhaling blue smoke bomb – you two are such troopers! I am SO excited for their magical winter wedding in January back in Long Island!

Photographers, if you’re interested in how to use smoke bombs for your session, take a look at this article by Pixpa here for lots of tips and tricks!