Stephanie & Joel Engagement Session
Stephanie and Joel had an exquisite engagement session at Sayen House and Gardens in Hamilton, New Jersey. This spot is basically a historical landmark and garden paradise wrapped up into one. The original owner was world traveler and he surrounded his property with plants and flowers from all across the globe. The groundskeepers still preserve his vision to this day and tend to the flourishing garden year-round.
The Sayen Gardens make you feel like you have been transported directly into a Monet painting with its breathtaking natural scenery. The walking trails, bridge, and gazebos located throughout the grounds make it the perfect romantic location for an elegant engagement session or even a wedding.
We began our session at the bridge and fountain trail covering the pond. Stephanie and Joel were naturals and caught on to my posing cues right away. I always try to teach my couples how to pose at the start of the session to prevent them feeling awkward. After the first 15 minutes, we nail down posing and by the end of the session it’s practically second nature! Taking the time to do this helps reduce any nerves my couples may have, especially since most people are not used to being in front of a camera. It is so useful in the long run because, come their wedding day, they still remember all the poses and techniques they learned at their engagement session!
The lovely gazebos are my personal favorite parts of the park. The first one we saw was already decorated for the holidays and perfectly paired with the red tones in their outfits. The next gazebo we moved to was much more ornate and glamorous. At this point, Stephanie and Joel changed into their second outfit that they saved for more dressy and classic shots. It complimented the landscape beautifully. As I always say, an outfit change can completely transform your session! In this case, the first half of their photoshoot could be featured in a Hallmark Christmas movie and the second half is right out of a wedding magazine!
On our walk back to the car we spotted a small trail with a rocky pathway and stopped there for some additional photos. These turned out so whimsical and woodsy!
Stephanie and Joel originally met on the dating app, Bumble, as many couples do nowadays. They dated for a short while and then actually ended up ghosting each other! Then, during lockdown in 2020, Stephanie’s computer broke. Knowing that Joel fixes computers, she decided to message him online and ask for his help. They have been together ever since. And to quote Stephanie directly, “He still has not fixed my computer!” This story made me burst out laughing and is an adorable reminder than people who are meant to be together will find their way back to each other…even if it takes a broken computer to do so!
