Handley Library – Winchester Virginia – Old Hollywood Glam Engagement Session
Sometimes the stars align and an engagement session goes better then you could have even hoped for!!! This was one of those! A gorgeous bride to be in a gold sequin dress along with her dapper groom in a suit plus a stunning backdrop that could pass for a location in Europe. The whole session I felt like paparazzi photographing famous movie starts at their chateau in France. Old Hollywood Glam is the best way to describe it and I love it!
I’ve known Samantha for a few years now, I photographed her sister Amanda’s wedding back in 2011 and we became Facebook friends. I’ve kept up with her adventures in horse training and I remember when she first started tagging Dustin in her status updates. I remember it specifically because something struck me about those posts and I knew she was in love and he was a keeper. I can’t tell you why I knew it then because I really didn’t know Samantha that well and she wasn’t being obviously lovey dovey when she talked about him but I just knew. It’s weird I know but I remember being really happy for her!
When Samantha and I first started talking about their engagement session she told me she wanted something different. She wanted something with stonework and dramatic architecture. We were initially talking about an alternate location and while we had seen photo shoots done there she found rules that prohibited photography sessions. She told me she wasn’t really a rule breaker and I laughed because I am the exact same way. In fact at the location we used there were signs everywhere to not sit on the railings etc so while it would have been a cool shot I’m a rule follower and there was no rail sitting!
I can’t wait for the wedding next month but in the meantime enjoy these stunning photos!
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.
