I could not believe I did not have this engagement session up on the blog! I photographed Anayet and Lindsay on one of the last beautiful days of fall in 2020 at the Skylands Botanical Gardens in Ringwood, New Jersey. I am talking one of the literal last days where the temp was above 50 and golden leaves still adorned the trees. I am no stranger to Skylands. I grew up two towns over. Though, there is art in not being complacent. On any beautiful day the 300 acre grounds will be filled with photographers all doing pretty much the same thing. My duty is to make sure my photographs are interesting and not stereotypical to this location. It’s a beautiful place. I can see why it’s flooded daily with photographers but it doesn’t mean my photos have to be boring!

We were blessed with low humidity and a gorgeous(quickly) setting sun so in my head I was planning out the spots I wanted to hit. It may look like there is nobody there but these to gorgeous kids but that’s a bit of photography magic. Here’s a magic photo tip, patience. Too many people in a scene will ruin that scene. Sometimes the difference between taking a standard photo or an amazing one is mere seconds. Sometimes it can be 15 minutes. The first image you see in black and white took those 15 minutes to create. The facade of the manor house is very popular and getting a clear shot with no human obstructions can be difficult. In the end I put my big boy voice on and asked politely, yet firmly, if a family could get out of the way so I could take this shot.

These two were absolute gems and you’ll be excited to hear that I will also be photographing their wedding at the Crystal Plaza later this year. Lindsay even remarked that I made Anayet actually laugh which is a high bar to cross. I knew clown school came in handy. Anyway, enough talk. Please enjoy these images from a place I know too well but always want to experience for the first time each time I photograph there.