This couple is super close to my heart. I’ve known them for years, even before they got engaged! They are two of the most hard working, selfless, people I’ve ever met. From their engagement photos sitting on a dock at sunset, to making silly faces with the kids on their wedding day, and all the hockey games, doggy play dates, and hilarious game night christmas parties in between – being their photographer and their friend is a big deal to me. Their life together is just starting a new chapter, and I’m the one that gets to make the pictures to the stories they will tell their little boy one day. Maybe when he is little, he will like to hear how Mama is really a fairy princess – but when he gets older, I want him to be able to look at these photos and see the LOVE. The absolute, overpowering, crazy beautiful love his parents have for each other and had for him even before they ever laid eyes on him. I want him to see and feel their happiness. Photos aren’t just for now, in fact – I’d argue that photos aren’t for now at all. Photos are time capsules. If I could send a message to the future, to tell this little boy about his Mom and Dad, I would want it to be all about this LOVE.
For their maternity photos, we knew we would be shooting on Mother’s Day weekend (their first mother’s day ever!!) and so we wanted to do something extra special! They booked a baby moon get away at one of my favorite destinations in Pennsylvania, Gateway Lodge in Cook Forest! (If you’ve never been there, click the link and check it out – it’s amazing! Rustic luxury in the woods! They have a main lodge with rooms (fireplaces and hot tubs and balconies overlooking the trees), a restaurant, spa, and cabins to rent. The Cook Forest area is one of my favorite places in the state. Most western PA locals grew up taking weekend trips to Cook Forest for picnics and camp outs and float trips down the Clarion River. (Also, to the locals, we actually call it Cooks Forest since the land was originally settled by the Cook Family after the French and Indian war. #historyisawesome ) Cook Forest is home to the largest section of old growth pine forest in the northeastern United States. Many trees in the forest cathedral section of the park are over 300 years old and 200 feet tall. If you never plan on making it to California to see the sequoias, this is the next best thing.
Our weather that weekend was a little touch and go. We had planned to shoot on Sunday since they were staying at the lodge through the weekend, but the forecast called for a temperature drop down into the 40s and storms. We decided to move up our plans and do their photos right after they checked into the lodge on Friday evening. The weather was warmer, but the sky was still grey and the forest was wet and quiet. A little off camera lighting magic brought out the sun for us though! We had so much fun exploring!
^^^^^^ This is that off camera lighting magic I was talking about! We recreated sunset light on a grey gloomy day. ^^^^^^^^
^^^^^^ This the face your clients make when you decide to abandon all hopes of professionalism and just jump a ditch and sink ankle deep into the mud to get the angle you want. I had to wash my shoe in the creek later and drive home with soaked feet but it was totally worth it!
Location: Cook Forest, PA
Check out Gateway Lodge to book your own get away to the woods!
These are truly magical! And what a lovely couple. Congratulations and best wishes to you and your little one.