Ben and Hope: Secret Engagement!

It was hard to contain my excitement when Ben, a compassionate and gentle kindergarten teacher from my school, asked me to secretly photograph his proposal to Hope at a local park. He made me a map, told me the schedule, and sent me to do my job.

All day he sent me updates, we watched the weather, and as evening set in, I set out incognito with my dog to scout out the site. Ben and Hope were at the top of the hill having a picnic, and a few minutes later I was hiding behind a grove of trees, ready to shoot.

As you'll see from the photographs, Ben was brilliant and Hope was beautifully stunned. The genuine joy on their faces is something that makes me so grateful for opportunities like these.

-Yana

Sylvia and Keith: Jamaica Plain Engagement

Sylvia and Keith live and breathe Jamaica Plain, an eclectic neighborhood of Boston with some great restaurants. That's why I was so excited when Sylvia contacted me to shoot their wedding - I knew that they would be up for an adventure. So when I mentioned that I was itching to shoot in front of this great mural, they jumped on board! We were also able to sneak in a few shots at MSPCC, where they rescued their pug Lyndon, and Tres Gatos, the tapas bar where they got engaged. I am really looking forward to their wedding next month!

Jennifer and David: Show Tunes and Theater in the South End

Last winter David and Jennifer had their first date: Hamlet at the Calderwood Pavilion. Recently I met up with them back at the theater to shoot their engagement photos before they caught a show later in the evening. As luck would have it, we came across a woman who just happened to be practicing piano, and she played a flawless rendition of Some Enchanted Evening from South Pacific for Jen and Dave through the window. It was magical! A lot of these images are in series; I was kind of obsessed with their fluid, dance-like motion. There were so many images that I wanted to use, but I've tried to narrow it down to my favorites. Enjoy, and be ready for another post next June!

Alex and Kate's Engagement Shoot

I know I've said it before, but I love photographing teachers. They give so much of themselves to others that when they take the time to stop, breathe, and focus on themselves, there is a calm satisfaction that washes over them. That's what I felt when I brought Alex and Kate up to a hill at the Belmon Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary and asked them to sit in the grass. They quickly got comfortable, and you can see their love and mutual respect for each other shining through these images. Did I mention that we were serenaded by the soft grunting of their pug, Skittles, from the sidelines? Don't worry, skittles got her time to shine, too. Look for wedding images next spring!

Emily and Pat - Engagement Photographs

Meeting up with Pat and Emily, I think we were all a little nervous... I wanted to capture something really special for one of my dearest friends, and they were just in the beginning of this whole wedding journey, excited and anxious for all that will unfold this year. They brought me to the Rockland Town Forest in Rockland, MA, the site of one of their very first dates. Since then, their family has grown to include Harry, a happy go lucky black lab mix. We had a great time in the setting summer sun. I can't wait to celebrate with Em and Pat next June!

Bristol and Hal, Engagement Photographs

I've known Bristol for years as a teacher, but her start in science happened long ago, in college, when she was a horticulture intern at Arnold Arboretum in Jamaica Plain. You can't imagine how happy I was when Bristol and Hal allowed me to take them on a fun walk through this meaningful green space on a beautiful, sunny summer evening. They'll be getting married in December, and you'll never see a better group of teachers throw a party. Congratulations, Bristol and Hal!