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

J&M Memorial Day Weekend Wedding

J&M's wedding was a turning point in my path towards becoming a professional photographer.  For the first time, two people who didn't really know me but who simply liked my work invited me to be part of one of the most intimate, precious days of their lives. Choosing a photographer is an incredibly personal experience, and I felt so grateful that they decided to take a risk with me.

I hope I've done them justice in capturing the love that was overwhelming - from their children, from their friends and family, and between them - as the whole crew celebrated under a rainy tent at Friendly Crossways in Harvard, MA. As always, a continued thank you to Kendra Engel, my long standing partner in crime.

Family Shoot in the Arboretum

We all knew that local banking helped out local economy, but who knew it could be so personal! After opening my new business account a few weeks ago, I was delighted to get a call from Stephanie at Eastern Bank in West Roxbury asking me to meet her family for a photo shoot. We were supposed to go out back in April, but had to navigate around a rain delay. I am SO HAPPY we waited - everything in the Arboretum seemed to blossom overnight. Check out Stephanie's beautiful family in the arboretum yesterday.

Fisher Family Photos

It has been a dark, snowy winter, made only slightly more hectic by the arrival of two baby boys to our house back in January, but the sun is shining again and I am thrilled to be back behind the camera! Keep your eyes open for weddings galore starting in just a few weeks. In the meantime, a few images from a photo walk with the Fisher family recently. I can't get over those ocean blue eyes!

Sylvia and Keith: 12/12/12

I have to admit, working with Sylvia and Keith has been a bit of whirlwind. A 6 week engagement coupled with the falling temperatures and early sunsets in New England have meant that this wedding has kept me on my toes, but I've enjoyed meeting the challenge. Just a few days ago, on 12/12/12, Sylvia, Keith, their pug LBJ, and family and friends gathered in Massapoisett, MA, to celebrate their love. It was so fun to capture Sylvia's subtle yet striking style and Keith's laid back attitude - it made the whole shoot so much fun - and a huge thanks to Kendra Engel for joining me on this adventure.

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!