There are so many things I love about this session!!! To start it was a sunrise session so Lauren and Craig met me at 7am which you are probably thinking why would I love that but it meant we had GORGEOUS light!!! In fact sunrise may be my new favorite light. Second thing I LOVE is Lauren’s hair! When David and I first met I used to dye my hair about her color and after several years of trying to keep up with my coloring appts I gave up. Lauren is super lucky to have that color naturally! Ugh I wish my hair was that color naturally, I love red hair! Plus she has gorgeous blue eyes! Before I had my son when I swore I was having a girl I prayed for a red haired blue eyed girl, basically Lauren ;)! Instead I got a cute little boy and I get to photograph a very pretty red haired blue eyed girl, lol! Side note: Will kept staring at my computer screen while I was editing their session, I think he likes Lauren too. Watch out Craig! Anyway third thing I love is how cute these two are together, look at that photo above….FREAKING ADORABLE!!!!! One more thing, they’ve known each other since kindergarten but didn’t start dating till after college. They grew up in the same neighborhood which makes me think of all those romantic girl next door movies where one day the guy realizes his best friend’s sister is the one :)!
Funny story, we had their engagement session on the books for the first weekend I was back after maternity leave. That week I get an email from Lauren worried about Hurricane Sandy interfering and I literally said “What hurricane!?!?!”. Yes I have been in a baby bubble with no idea what is going on in the real world. Ask me about diapers and feedings though and I’m all over it ;)! So we bumped up their session one day and were treated to beautiful weather! We met at Gari Melcher’s Belmont in Fredericksburg, Virginia which is ironically where Lauren had her senior portraits done! I love Belmont, there are so many fun nooks and crannies there to use for backdrops.
I’m so excited for their wedding next June at Rose Hill Manor! I know Lauren is going to be a stunning bride and I can’t wait to see Craig’s face when he sees her for the first time. What I’m looking forward to most is capturing their excitement and their love after they say I do! Now let’s get onto some photos of my favorite engagement session to date!!
Virginia has the most beautiful fall colors and gave us this gorgeous back drop!
These two are so adorable!
Gorgeous and classic in black and white!
I love these three! The colors are so pretty and the light is beautiful! You guys look like models!
Every couple has one pose that is just them and the one on the left is it for Lauren and Craig! I have some other images further down with them in the same pose that are some of my all time favorite photos!
Models, what did I tell you!
Lauren rocks the model face, gorgeous!!
Beautiful ring! Nice job Craig :)!
I love this spot! I found it while wandering around before their session but I had to wait for the sun to rise to use it :)!
And here we go, some of my absolute favorite images!
AAAGGGHHH!!! I LOVE this photo!!! Color or black and white it doesn’t matter! I love it! The color version made it into the slideshow on my website home page.
Lauren you are just gorgeous in these two! I really cannot wait to photograph you in your wedding dress!
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.
What a beautiful dress! And the hair and makeup too! We love these engagement photos!