Boston Engagement Photography in the North End

Boston Engagement Photography in the North End | Apollo Fields Engagement Photographers | Massachusetts Wedding Photographer | Golden Hour Engagement Pics | Destination Wedding Photographers

Tyler & Rachel

Despite being a die-hard New Yorker, I love Boston. Well, everything except driving there and their baseball team, but Boston really does pack a lot of charm and a guaranteed good time.

I got to meet up with Rachel and Tyler in the North End for their engagement photos. The timing worked out perfectly because we were already up in the Cape for the annual Huie vacation so I was able to scoot over to Boston pretty easily. We immediately hit it off and started exploring the neighborhood together.

I asked them what spots they had in mind and after informing me that the vibe they were going for with wedding planning was “elegant”, they suggested a “great alley and parking garage” as potential spots to shoot in. Now these two don’t normally go hand-in-hand, and if I didn’t know any better, I’d probably be sketched out. But away we went, and I must say, I’ve NEVER seen a parking garage look better than the one we hit. The alley was pretty dope, too.

The views up there boasted the skyline with a perfect golden hour to boot! A total hidden gem, and a bit of a nice reprieve from the more touristy things that people usually do in the city. We had such a great time together adventuring around and chatting about their favorite things to do there. One of the other great things that the North End has to offer is amazing Italian food, which was one of my other favorite quotes that these two cuties left me with— when I asked what they loved the most about living in that neighborhood, they replied “that it always smells like garlic when we open our windows!” I mean, girl after my own heart, right!?

Long Wharf Boston Engagement Photographers

Jessica and Matt's Boston Engagement Session at Long Wharf and Somerville | Apollo Fields Wedding Photography | Massachusetts Engagement Photographer

The “Big Dig” I have against Boston, aside from my predisposition as a New Yorker, is that goddamned Callahan Tunnel. I say this knowing that 1) most Bostonites would agree with me, and 2) I haven't even driven there during rush hour. Other than that, the 3rd most walkable city in the U.S. was a dream to explore while donning a mask on a morning run through the Boston Commons and alongside the Charles River. My admiration continued when we met up with Jessica and Matt in the North End, popping into quirky alleyways and onto cobblestone streets as we captured their undeniably fun and playful vibe.

I’m not sure which I enjoyed more: learning Jessica and Matt’s origin story of how they got to know each other over countless lunches as they worked together; or stumbling across a location where they shot a scene in The Departed. Around every corner there seemed to be a cornerstone of the city’s history or a memory of their budding relationship, turning their entire engagement photo session in Boston into a beautifully light trip down memory lane. 

 Jessica and Matt then brought us north over the Tobin Bridge to Somerville, a quaint city adjacent to Cambridge where they spent a significant amount of their relationship. Just imagine if Boulder, Colorado came 2,000 miles east or Burlington, Vermont, came 200 miles south-- that’s Somerville. Jessica and Matt amusingly did their best to explain the Davis Square Statues, the strange non-Covid-related mask-donning bronze metal statues stationed around the cozy downtown area (apparently the masks were added after their creation as a result of vandalism). We then grabbed some ice cream and took a stroll by The Foundry on Elm to commemorate the place where they had their first date.

As we looked ahead to their wedding, Jessica and Matt sang their praises to their wedding planner, Liz with Elegant Aura, who is helping them with the fine details of their June 2021 wedding at Granite Ridge Estate in Maine. Lucky for them, Jessica and Matt both have families equipped with skills that will fit perfectly into their day. Jessica’s father runs a prominent catering company in Boston and can turn a skint cabinet into a delicious meal, and Matt’s mother is happy to crush the floral arrangements. It was really wonderful to hear how excited they were to see it all come together.

Whether it's learning a new city or about a new couple, Heather and I are just stoked to be (cautiously) back at it again. We thrive on new experiences and pull on the threads of the stories of our couples that give us goosebumps and bring smiles and laughter to the world. As we move through 2020 together my optimistic side continues to be fed by amazing people like Jessica and Matt who remind me to always keep it light. Here’s to a city I never thought I’d like, a couple whose doing it right, and all of the positive vibes we can send to anyone who has to drive in that god forsaken tunnel.