On the Sweet Side Of Life: An Engagement Session
Today is a sweet post of a different kind: some pictures of a recent engagement session I photographed for my friend Laura and her fiance, Alex. I know I have mentioned Laura a couple of times before. She’s generous. A talented photographer. A pastry instructor. My partner in crime in the kitchen this Thanksgiving. And in May she will be a Mrs. A Madame. A newlywed.
Planning this session, I fell in love with Laura’s idea, given her profession, to do a chocolate chip cookies baking session as one of the set ups. A few sheet pans and many dozens of cookies later, we headed downtown Charleston for more formal pictures.
I love photographing friends. I just observe their story unfold. Their body language is relaxed. I might move a shoulder or lower a hand but that’s it. That dance with the garden arch in the background? They started it on their own. I just moved myself to a better angle. I imagined them 50 years from now, still dancing together. Just as they are today.
Hope you guys enjoy this little weekend posting diversion…
Comments
Y December 2, 2011 um 7:35 am
What a sweet way to celebrate an engagement! Love the pictures! 🙂
Amy December 2, 2011 um 7:42 am
So beautiful. I especially love the first one with the ring and whisk. 🙂 The one with the flowers as close up is lovely too.
Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga December 2, 2011 um 9:05 am
I love these pics..they are fabulous!
Love the PINK dress and that ring…whoa…gorgeous!
The contrast of the icy blues with the pink dress and the kitchen idea…fab!
Beautiful, Helene.
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com December 2, 2011 um 9:15 am
A very beautiful moment, awesomely bottled for the rest of their lives. Gorgeous 🙂
london bakes December 2, 2011 um 9:35 am
I love these pictures, what a beautiful couple!
crypticrow December 2, 2011 um 11:00 am
fantastic shots!
dreamy, yet so real all the best to the couple! 🙂 🙂
Magda December 2, 2011 um 11:18 am
Your sensitivities show even more when you photograph people Helene. 🙂
Such beautiful photographs. Here's to the happy couple!
chinmayie @ love food eat December 2, 2011 um 12:05 pm
Love the first photo… Such sweet pictures 🙂
Anonymous December 2, 2011 um 12:11 pm
Ah – you've really captured their love for each other. My favourite is the flowers pic – infers romance so well.
sami December 2, 2011 um 12:13 pm
Sigh
Nicola December 2, 2011 um 12:18 pm
oh man these pictures are amazing! i love how much personality and relationship is portrayed. my fave: the one where she is touching his chin holding the spatula bc you can see they have SO MUCH love and compassion for one another (i am also a sucker for a well snapped pseudo candid, kinda creeper ish lol)
Sally December 2, 2011 um 12:20 pm
Sweetly romantic (sigh), very apt for a pastry chef! What a lovely job you did on the photos.
Dena December 2, 2011 um 12:29 pm
Beautiful, happy photos. I especially love the photo of the ring in the whisk! Great idea. May Laura and Alex have a long and happy life together.
Anonymous December 2, 2011 um 12:31 pm
I love the setting of baking together in the kitchen – a wonderful metaphor! You have such a gift for capturing the essence of your subjects – thank you for sharing!
Gabby @ Gabby's Gluten-free December 2, 2011 um 12:54 pm
These are wonderful! I love when couples pick a theme that is very personal. We also had a cooking themed engagement shoot since my husband is finishing culinary school and I blog. So gorgeous!
Tracy Grant December 2, 2011 um 1:07 pm
Love them! Congratulations to the sweet couple 🙂
Ann December 2, 2011 um 1:53 pm
Awwwwwww – lovely photos for their future family album.
Andi of My Beautiful Adventures December 2, 2011 um 2:09 pm
GORGEOUS! Love her ring.
Lindsay December 2, 2011 um 2:34 pm
So sweet! 🙂 Congrats, Laura!!
Karine December 2, 2011 um 3:11 pm
Superbes photos !
la domestique December 2, 2011 um 3:53 pm
Love this idea! I hardly ever see engagement photos of the couple doing a hobby they enjoy together- very romantic!
Valérie (France) December 2, 2011 um 4:28 pm
Vous êtes bien beaux tous les deux !!
Félicitations
Je te souhaite uune excellente soirée
Valérie
Unknown December 2, 2011 um 5:31 pm
Beautiful pictures, I love the cookie idea!
megcjones December 2, 2011 um 5:45 pm
i absolutely love this! makes me wish i'd thought of it for my engagement photos…maybe a 5-year anniversary instead? 🙂
Caroline @ chocolate and carrots December 2, 2011 um 6:00 pm
Beautiful! There's no better place to take photos than in Charleston. 😀 Congrats to the couple!
Anu Menon December 2, 2011 um 7:12 pm
The couple look great… i love the one with just the ring 🙂
Rhonda December 2, 2011 um 7:27 pm
Gorgeous, I love the ring/whisk photo, very cleaver. I adore the polka dot straws!
carlyklock December 2, 2011 um 7:44 pm
such great work, helene! have a great weekend!
Tanja Leković December 2, 2011 um 8:45 pm
Delightful! I enjoyed very much looking the pictures. Love could be felt from each picture.
steve December 2, 2011 um 10:36 pm
How sweet ! I like this serie of pictures 🙂
Kristen December 2, 2011 um 10:44 pm
Oh my goodness…they will treasure these for life. Gorgeous work!
Return to Sunday Supperâ„ December 3, 2011 um 12:54 am
I think that it's lovely to see this young couple photographed through your beautiful lense. Wishing them a wonderful future.
FOODalogue December 3, 2011 um 2:52 am
What a beautiful and unique capture. I'm sure they'll cherish it for years.
Karine December 3, 2011 um 4:17 am
Beautiful pictures. You captured their love and happiness so well. Very nice post.
Winnie December 4, 2011 um 4:02 am
I love this Helene. Special photos of an adorable couple 🙂
Lauren December 4, 2011 um 1:43 pm
What a sweet (har har, get it?) idea! I just love that you captured this couple participating in a significant part of their lives and the photos are stunning. You really could feel the fun and love they have together.
mountain mama cooks December 4, 2011 um 4:07 pm
Helene, that first photo of the ring in the whisk attachment is absolutely stunning. Beautiful photos!
elann December 5, 2011 um 1:39 am
LOVE the baking shots – so sweet ;o)
Gwendolyn December 5, 2011 um 5:40 am
Beautiful. And makes me nostalgic. I was married at 2nd Presbyterian in downtown Charleston while living there a few years ago…such beauty in that dear old city and some very fond memories
dani December 5, 2011 um 3:20 pm
How clever! I've always thought that engagement photos could be awkward – I love how natural the baking photos are. Great job!
Autumn December 5, 2011 um 11:25 pm
Awe, these are so sweet. How awesome you were able to do this for your friends. I, too, love to photograph my friends. After each session I always feel so much closer to them.
Dmarie December 8, 2011 um 1:05 am
fabulous captures…well done!
Laura December 21, 2011 um 10:28 pm
Wow, such a beautiful collection of photos. I love her idea of photographing them making cookies together.
Crispy December 27, 2011 um 2:18 am
What a beautiful couple! You can just see how much they love one another. 🙂 Great job on the pictures! I wish the happy couple all the best!