Bethany & Olen | Culpeper Engagement

When Bethany and Olen filled out my client questionnaire they said they didn’t think they would be able to look like the other couples on my blog, they were nervous about not being able to look natural in front of the camera.  About 20 minutes into their session I showed them a couple images and told them they were setting the bar high for future couples!  They looked amazing in front of the camera and were complete naturals!  As I was guiding them through some easy poses they would do something that looked so good and I’d yell “Wait, do that again!!!”  They didn’t need my help at all 🙂  Even their puppy Duncan was the perfect model, he was great at looking at the camera, giving me a doggy smile and then showing me his model face.  Bethany was awesome at finding two perfect locations for our session, I wish I could shoot every session in Culpeper!  Beautiful mountain ranges in the distance, abandoned barns and rolling green hills!!  It was hot the night of our session and at some points it wasn’t just the temperature steaming up my lens, Bethany and Olen were smokin!  For two people who thought they couldn’t pull off my posing they totally rocked it!  Completely gorgeous!  I literally found myself squealing out loud when I was editing their session!

I can’t wait for their wedding this August at Prince Michel Winery!!  Olen is making some beautiful wooden poles to hold up their outdoor lighting.  I can picture it already, sweet fairy lighting set among the rows of vines with Bethany and Olen having their first dance as husband and wife!  It is going to be perfect and I’m so honored they chose me to document their day!!  Bethany and Olen, you guys are amazing and I’m so excited for our portrait time on your wedding day!!  Any girl that can rock shorts and t-shirt as well as Bethany will be a stunning bride!!

Bethany looked gorgeous and her makeup was perfect thanks to Kristen from GoGoGorgeous!  This is my second bride to have her makeup done for her engagement session by Kristen and she does an amazing job.  Kristen takes beautiful girls and enhances their natural beauty so they look and feel stunning.  That really comes across in their photos!

To see more of Bethany & Olen’s Culpeper, Virginia engagement session, CLICK HERE for a slideshow! Yes there are more gorgeous photos, I had way too much fun with these two!!

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Melissa Arlena

Melissa Arlena is an award winning lifestyle newborn photographer in Charlottesville and Richmond, Virginia who has earned her Master Photographer Certification from NAPCP in maternity, newborn and family photography. Her natural and simple work has been featured in magazines and online blogs worldwide. She has been named Best Maternity and Newborn Photographer in Richmond and Charlottesville, VA in 2024.

melissaarlenaphotography.com