{Engaged} Natalie & Luis

Spring is finally in the air, and what better way to enjoy the warmer temps and sunshine than an engagement session with a beautiful couple.

I knew the day would be a great one as soon as spotted them; Luis in a black suit, and Natalie with her black dress, classic trench coat, and cloche hat.  They looked like they had just stepped out of Carey Grant film, full of old Hollywood glamour.

The day could not have been more beautiful with the sun shining perfectly for almost every photo.

Being the stunning couple that they are, people couldn't help but notice and compliment them.  A group of students even chanted "kiss her" for Luis, a request he happily obliged.

 

A stunning session right?

Thank you Natalie and Luis for letting me spend an afternoon capturing your love and passion for each other.

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding, it will be amazing.

{Engaged} Andrea & Rodrigo

All gave some and some gave all, Andrea and Rodrigo gave a leg.

Andrea, a Marine herself, met Rodrigo when her cousin came up to Baltimore to visit a friend of his from the Marine Corps who was in the hospital recovering from injuries sustained in Afghanistan.  Andrea decided to join her cousin on his visit, and that friend turned out to be Rodrigo.  At the time the only part of his body Rodrigo could move was an arm, everything else was incapacitated in some way.  They laughed when they described that first meeting because Rodrigo actually ended up yelling at Andrea because she had accidentally bumped one of his incapacitated limbs.  Andrea was not deterred though and continued returning to see him.  Since then these two have been together, only separated when Andrea was sent to Afghanistan, thankfully she returned unharmed and they are now planning a wedding for next summer.

I have had the pleasure to meet so many fun and wonderful couples, but I'll be honest, none have moved me the way these two have.  Their story is unforgettable to say they least, and clearly their experiences have given them an amazing perspective on life and love.  If I had to pick a word to describe their interactions it would be cherished, you can tell they make every moment together count.

Rodrigo has a segway from the Segs4Vets program to help him get around long distances easier.  For more information about this program, or to make a donation visit their website at http://www.segs4vets.org/.

 For additional information about about how to support our wounded vets and/or to make a donation please visit the Wounded Warrior Project at www.woundedwarriorproject.org.

Andrea and Rodrigo, thank you so much for service!  

Congratulations on your engagement, I have no doubt you will have a long and happy life together!

{Engaged} Gillian & Ryan

I am so lucky to frequently have couples that just feel like they're old friends I've known forever during a session, and Gillian and Ryan are absolutely one of those couples.  I knew they would be great to work with when the fact that our morning was full of a constant drizzle didn't phase them in the least.  We made the most of the weather and still managed to get some great pictures!

We started the morning out in the open  by the WWII Memorial, and then worked our way up to Lincoln and later over to the GW campus in Foggy Bottom.

I've always loved how the trees arch over the path along the reflecting pool.

Gillian and Ryan met as freshmen at George Washington University, so we stopped by the campus to relive some their early memories, and I was treated to some amazing tales of their college antics. 

These two pictures really showcase the personality of this couple.  Laughter was definitely a theme of the morning, and what engagement session would be complete without the riding of a hippo.

Gillian was a tour guide during her GW days, and apparently there is an alternative story as to how the hippo statue came about, but I'll leave that for her to share.

 Thanks for sharing such a fun morning with me guys, you definitely gave my abs a workout with the jokes and stories!  Congratulations and have a wonderful wedding!