When I first talked to Sarah about her expectations for her engagement session with fiancé Sam, the first thing she told me was “I don’t want a typical engagement session.” The two of them are getting married at Fonthill Castle in Doylestown, Pennsylvania next May, so traditional is not our cup of tea for these photos. 

The couple are both musically inclined and met through art and melodies. They share a home in historic Doylestown with a vast backyard filled with, on that unseasonably warm early November afternoon, dropping colored leaves and hidden flowers sprinkled here and there. We created interesting scenes along different corners of the property, all with whimsy and fancy in mind, and decided that there was no need to continue our session at another location as we had previously discussed. There was no reason to — we had mossy fence posts, peeling white paint walls, shady nooks underneath tall oaks. 

Truthfully, though, this session could have taken place anywhere and it would have been beautiful, simply because of the way they interact and the easy love with which they surround the other. When one stepped away, for an outfit change or to grab a prop, everyone I think felt like a little piece of them was missing — their love is just so grand. Sarah has these ice-blue eyes that just mesmerize you. My camera was in love! And Sam’s smile and old-time looks are so captivating, too. 

Let’s take a moment to honor Sarah’s ring. 

She joked that they would have been engaged a few months earlier if she hadn’t requested such a unique ring! Rather than a typical diamond, the bling features the birthstone of both Sam and Sarah and it’s just magnificent. 

I feel so lucky to have spent a beautiful day with these two, their gorgeous green ring and their peaceful backyard. Their wedding in May will be nothing short of spectacular. 

And on a slight sidenote, I was joined by the lovely Kris, who is an up-and-coming photographer from the Annapolis, Maryland, area. She’s been beautifully photographing families and babies part-time for quite a while now and has wanted to explore wedding and engagement photography to see if it’s something she’d like to do in the future. I’m so grateful that Sarah and Sam appreciate teaching and education as much as they do and didn’t mind an extra set of eyes and an extra camera peeking in on their session. The best way to learn anything is to just get your hands dirty and jump in, shadowing, exploring, experimenting. You have to help one another! 

Enjoy some of these peeks into the love that is Sarah and Sam — not always traditional but always incredibly special.