Their Session: Cooper River Park, , NJ

From the second I received Lauren’s inquiry, I was on cloud 9. Seriously, everything she was telling me about her relationship with her fiancé Justin to their dreams for their wedding day was just so in line with everything I adore about what I do! These two are adventurous, outdoorsy, quality-time focused, and so compassionate. I absolutely loved getting to find out more about their story and celebrate this exciting time in their lives with their engagement session at Cooper River Park!

At first, they were struggling with choosing a location that incorporated their love for the outdoors, but then they were walking around Cooper River one night and realized that t would be the perfect location. Lauren said, “Growing up, Cooper River was always one of my favorite places to walk with my family, and Justin and I have been their several times to run or walk around the river throughout our relationship. Justin and I were really good friends for about 3 years before we started dating and one of my favorite memories during that time period was in October of 2014, recently after my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer, I organized a team to do one of the breast cancer walks around Cooper River. For some reason I didn’t expect Justin to come, but that morning he showed up for the walk wearing one of the t-shirts that I had designed for the event, and it meant so much to me that he was there. That was one of the moments when I really realized what an incredible person he is and that I was falling for him.” This location was a no brainer after realizing the significance to their story!

Their Love Story

Something that has truly stuck with me was when Lauren emailed me and said, “It’s crazy because I feel like I have literally looked at so many photographers over the past few weeks and I just kept thinking that I wasn’t going to go with anyone unless I get that “wow” feeling when I look at their photos. I was starting to feel hopeless because I just wasn’t getting that feeling, and then I saw your blog and literally just said the word “wow” out loud. Then I decided to show Justin to make sure he was on board and I swear, without him evening knowing what I was looking for he looks at the first photo and says “wow”!!” Lauren and Justin know how to melt a photographer’s heart like jeeeeez! It truly made me so happy to know that they connected so easily and deeply with my work and that they could envision themselves as one of my couples! <3 Seriously, such a perfect fit!

Justin and Lauren knew each other for a pretty long time! They went to the same high school so they knew of each other, and then in their first year of college, they happened to run into each other at a mutual friends party, so they started talking and instantly hit it off. After that night, they became best friends for the next 3 years. They would hangout, watch movies together, go out to eat, and just do anything together. Lauren said, “I don’t think either of us realized that while we were just friends casually hanging out, we were actually falling for each other. Then on New Year’s Eve, 2014 into 2015, we went out with a group of mutual friends. I think that’s when we realized that we were meant to be together and that we had both really fallen for one another over the years. I snagged a kiss at midnight and the rest is history.” 🙂

Ready for more cuteness?! Here’s how Justin proposed to Lauren at Sólheimajökull Glacier in Iceland: “We actually don’t have any pictures of Justin proposing to me! It was so romantic because he had pulled me away from the rest of the group that we were with, so it was literally just us with no one there to even take a quick photo! I was so oblivious… I should have realized that something was up when Justin and I started to walk away from the group, and my brothers friend who was traveling with us was originally walking with us, and then all of a sudden just turned around and went the opposite direction without saying a word. At the time I was just like “OK I guess he’s too cool to hang out with us.” Then I was so surprised when moments later Justin was down on one knee on top of the glacier asking me to marry him!”

Lauren and Justin,

you two are so incredible and kind, and I am beyond lucky to have you as one of my 2020 couples! I seriously can’t wait for your woodsy ceremony and all of the amazing details you have planned for your big day next year in April! It’s going to be such a perfect day!!! Thank you for adventuring with me to find the Philly skyline and for shot gunning beers like champs!! You’re the freaking best! Love you both so much!!