Montauk Engagement Session at Camp Hero State Park
Montauk Engagement Session at Camp Hero State Park | Hamptons Engagement Photography | East End Wedding Photographer | Apollo Fields Wedding Photographers
Ijeoma + Richard
Target Rock Beach Engagement Photography
Target Rock Beach Engagement Photography
Caity & Mike
New England Autumn Engagement Session
New England Autumn Engagement Session | Connecticut Foliage Engagement Photography | Apollo Fields Wedding Photographers
Jacki & Tim
Timing the New England foliage is never a perfect science– anyone who has tried to chase the leaves knows that all it takes is one nasty frost or snowfall and the whole landscape can get nipped overnight. So trying to schedule engagement sessions around the leaves during busy season can be especially tricky. However, with Jacki and Tim’s session, I think we nailed it (part luck, part good timing— true for most good things in life right?)
We met up in Washington CT (fun fact, the same town that “Stars Hollow” was based on in Gilmore Girls) on a beautiful Sunday and thought that this cozy, quiet little town would be all ours. We were in for a bit of a shock when we realized that the leaf peepers had taken over and pretty much every restaurant was booked except for one, which boasted a whole lot of motorcycles out front and a pretty good burger. We had a great lunch and caught up about all things wedding planning, quarantine life, and of course horses.
The horse world happens to be the common denominator between Jacki and I. Many of you guys might know how much of a role riding has played in my life (I have been riding since I started walking) and I actually went to boarding school in CT for four years to compete on the riding circuit. Jacki and I know each other from that past life, and we both are lucky to still be riding and own our own horses. So naturally, it only took us about five minutes to start chatting about that world and her sweet fiancé, Tim, was happy to let us go on and on about horses.
Terrence has less of a bandwidth for the pony-talk and certainly does not want to spend his weekends at the shows, so Tim got major brownie points from me for being such an enthusiastic horse-hubby! After lunch we went over to Hidden Valley Preserve to shoot and got so lucky to have an amazing golden hour against the beautiful New England foliage!
Enjoy Tim & Jacki’s beautiful autumn engagement photos:
Location: Hidden Valley Preserve, Washington Depot CT
Photography: Apollo Fields
Autumn Foliage Engagement Photos in Connecticut
Autumn Foliage Engagement Photos in Connecticut | West Hartford CT Photography | Fall Leaves for Engagement Pics
Ashleigh & Joe
It was 6:30AM when I pulled up to the parking lot at the reservoir near Hartford, CT where I was going to meet up with Ashleigh and Joe for their engagement session. I was relieved that these two were all aboard for the idea of a sunrise sesh (turns out they are early risers anyway!) because the light is just SO worth it, and this morning did not disappoint.
The parking lot was totally empty and only a little bit of light had begun to break at that point. The morning chill was pretty real and wasn’t promising to warm up any time soon, but I was walking around by the reservoir watching the fog rising up gave me a real sense that I was happy to be out in nature, despite the early wake up. I sipped on my coffee and waited for the dawn to break and Ashleigh and Joe to arrive.
When they pulled up, I could just tell that we were about to have a great morning. Ashleigh and I both went to The Ethel Walker School and it was fun to have that common ground while also catching up on life post-high school. It has been twelve years since I graduated from Walkers, and it was there where I discovered photography for the first real time in the darkroom. My graduating class was only 36 to paint a picture of how small our school was, so even though Ashleigh was in a younger class, we were such a tight knit community that everyone knew everyone. I’m so lucky to get to revisit many of these friendships now as a lot of my old classmates are getting married and we have the privilege of shooting their weddings!
I also loved getting to know Joe a bit, too. They have such a fun and whimsical energy between them, but you can also tell that their relationship has a super solid foundation. I think my favorite takeaway from our morning together was when we were chatting and I asked them how quarantine has been for both of them. I got a surprisingly positive response from Joe, “It' has been amazing for us!” he started, “It sort of fast-tracked our relationship, actually”. COVID was the reason that Joe was able to move up to Ashleigh and brought them closer both literally and figuratively. A silver lining for an otherwise crazy year, indeed!
Enjoy these pics from Joe & Ashleigh’s sunrise engagement session in CT:
Fire Island Lighthouse Engagement Photography
Fire Island Engagement Lighthouse Photography in Long Island NY | Apollo Fields Wedding Photographers | Robert Moses Beach Photos | Engagement Session Outfit Ideas
Stephanie & John
After a few days of debating “should we reschedule?” versus “should we hold out?” for this engagement session when an ominous rainy forecast loomed over the day, I had a gut feeling to hold out and I am SO glad that we did! For some reason, I just had an inkling that the weather and light would break, and luckily it did in the best way. I don’t always get this inclination (for example, today was supposed to be a shoot day for me and I ended up rescheduling because I didn’t get the feeling that the weather and light would break— and as I type this, I’m so glad because it’s just one of those East Coast *bleh* days that’s kind of crappy and gray).
I knew right away with Stephanie & John that we were about to have some fun— they brought a few fun outfits, lots of energy, and a little champagne. The perfect trio in my opinion! We got to explore the Fire Island Lighthouse together and follow the sunset back towards the ocean. It is always a bit windier down by the beach, and this day was no exception, but we all just laughed through the gusts of wind and these guys braved the elements like champs!
I loved the fun, flirty, and playful vibes that Stephanie and John had and it just made me so happy to watch them embrace the evening together. The lighthouse is one of my favorite places to shoot because it gives such a variation of architecture and scenery— you can get awesome boardwalk shots with fun vantage points, beach shots, and the beautiful lighthouse all in one easy spot.
My absolute favorite part of the night was towards the end when Stephanie and John were running around by the water together. The light was closing in on us fast and the waves were pretty wild from the storm the night before. Of course, the photographer and artist in me was dying to get them in the waves but there was no way I could have asked them to do that in their clothes, but just then they got that twinkle in their eyes and suggested in first. Yes, yes, YES!!! They grabbed each other’s hands and just ran into the waves and made my creative dreams come true!
We wrapped the night and began to drive away when someone called attention to the Harvest Moon that had begun to rise. I’m so glad they did because we hopped back out, with Stephanie and John both cold and soaked and wrapped up in a blanket, and got a few quick moon shots with the epic autumn Harvest Moon! I’m so excited to share this sweet engagement session and feel so lucky to have been apart of their story!
Enjoy these pics from Stephanie & John’s beach engagement session:
Photography: Apollo Fields
Heckscher Park Engagement Photos in Huntington, NY
Vince & Meredith’s Engagement Session | Heckscher Park Engagement Photos in Huntington, NY | Long Island Photographers | Apollo Fields Wedding Photography
We first met Merideth at her sister-in-law Sage’s wedding in September 2019 when we walked into Sage and John’s home on Long Island. Hair spray was in the air, bagels on the table, and mimosas in hand. Meredith and Sage made sure we had anything that we wanted and we really felt the warmth of their welcome. Their kind of hospitality never goes unnoticed on our end.
We met up with Merideth and Vince almost a year later in Huntington for their engagement photos at Heckscher Park. We walked and talked and laughed as the early autumn sun warmed us in the breeze. They spoke about how excited they are for us to become parents and how they’re in the process of moving. I’ve definitely noticed a pattern of families becoming closer both literally and figuratively during 2020, and it makes me grateful to come from a large family. We can bicker and fight each other all we want, but when it comes down to it, there is nothing more valuable in life than having people in your corner.
For me, part of the fun of doing engagement photos is seeing how a couple reacts to one another. Are they playful, does PDA come naturally, or is this whole experience an exercise in torture. Heather and I love to make the experience as light as possible because the vast majority of people have not been in front of a camera like this before. There are different strokes for different folks but we can guarantee by the end of it that we will capture the nature of your relationship because it will naturally pour out of you. There is no putting a lid on love.
Right from the get-go Merideth and Vince had their hands on each other, whispering things into each other's ears, and giggling. People think that engagement photos have to be something more than this but at Apollo Fields this is all we want--for you to be unabashedly yourselves. In a world where our social media lives are as curated as the art that hangs on museum walls, authenticity still reigns supreme. No photo will ever be as good as the one that you let yourself go and exist as naturally possible. That kind of peaceful confidence is the best outfit any of us could wear.
It’s the kind of confidence that we have when we’re around our families, catching up in the living room on a holiday or summer vacation. It’s so easy for us to slip into the roles that we’ve been carving our whole lives and our egos wind up taking the back seat to the speed of a witty family back-and-forth. There is no time to wonder what we look like or where our hands are when a relative walks by and either physically or verbally jabs us. We just exist naturally.
And that’s what I’ll remember from Merideth and Vince’s engagement photos. How they and we just walked in the park and took some pictures. It was as easy as a summer night and that’s all it had to be.
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.
Harlem NYC Engagement Photography
Mike and Madelyn's NYC Engagement Photos in Harlem | Apollo Fields Wedding Photography
There’s always one moment during our engagement photo sessions—when I’m holding Heather’s backup camera lenses and am more-or-less a glorified coat rack—when a tingle goes up the top of my spine and out onto my shoulders. It is the same feeling you feel at the crescendo of a theatrical performance when you’re seated in the front row, or the first time as a kid when you walk up the tunnel of old Yankee Stadium to the bright lights and green grass; it is being witness to something spectacular. For us wedding photographers, it’s when you watch a couple look into each other’s eyes and really mean it.
As professional performers, Mike and Maddy were no strangers to the camera. It is almost literally in their job description to turn their facial expressions on and off like a light switch. But the first time we asked Mike and Maddy to bring their faces close and look into each other’s eyes it wasn’t a performance. It was real. It gave me that feeling that I’ve discovered that there’s actually a word for: frisson; a brief moment of emotional excitement. It is accessing that space and capturing that genuine connection between our couples that drives us. We just can never get enough.
Lucky for us, Mike and Maddy had moments like that on the ready as we moved through New York’s steamy summer streets. We started the photo session at the Hamilton Grange in Harlem, where they typically take their adorable dog, Millie, on a walk to a wonderfully secret local dog park. As the early evening golden light came through the trees, Mike and Maddy effortlessly showed us what it looks like to love someone. Turns out the fairytale vibes were just beginning.
In a beautiful combination of Heather’s understanding of the way that light refracts off of water and New York being New York, we stumbled across a fire hydrant spraying into the street. Whereas I would just walk by and smile as the neighborhood kids played and cooled off, Heather stopped all of us in our tracks and shouted “hol’ up!” She then told Mike and Maddy to do what they do best and love up on one another with the mist in the background. This moment led to one of my favorite images that Heather has ever taken and I look forward to storing it in my memory bank for years to come.
Mike and Maddy have decided to have a small wedding to celebrate their love in a couple weeks and it will be the first wedding we get to document as an Apollo Fields team since Covid-19 happened. I’d be lying if I said getting through the uncertainty of 2020 has been easy, but its engagement photo sessions in New York like these that my optimistic side will choose to focus on. Frissons of happiness may’ve seemed to be in short supply for the last few months, but if these photos of Mike and Maddy are any indication, we’ve got plenty of 2020 to look forward to.
Enjoy these sneaks from Madelyn and Mike’s Engagement Session:
Photography: Apollo Fields
Loveland Pass Engagement Photos in Colorado
Logan & RJ's Loveland Pass Engagement Photos in Colorado | Continental Divide CO Engagement Photos | Rocky Mountain Photography | Apollo Fields Wedding Photographers
I spent the morning before Logan & RJ’s engagement session in Denver with my friend Frances. The day felt so “Colorado”— sun shining, no clouds, almost 70 degrees even though it was November. We had lunch together and I was wearing a no-sleeves shirt, and on my way out of the restaurant, Frances kept bugging me to make sure I had proper winter clothes packed in my car.
I’m no stranger to the extreme weather changes in Colorado, or the temperature discrepancies at altitude, but I will say that there are few things I’ve been more grateful for than the pair of winter gloves that Logan & RJ threw me after about five minutes of shooting at about 12,000 feet with 28MPH winds!
It wasn’t snowing, but every time the wind gusted and blew the top layer of powder up into clouds it sure felt like it was. The summit is stunning any time of year, but it holds a special meaning for this sweet couple because it is actually where they got engaged! So we really wanted to make this spot work. Truth be told, we did… for about five minutes.
The wind was absolutely GUSTING, and while I’m a sucker for the whole dirty-boots-messy-hair look, at some point you have to ask are we having fun right now?
I had spotted a pull-off that was only a short drive down the mountain, and Logan and RJ enthusiastically agreed to head down that way and let me tell you, it was a GAME CHANGER. The wind and temperature and light was so much more manageable, and just then, the alpenglow broke over the snow capped rockies.
If you don’t know what alpenglow is, well, you should. Alpenglow happens around sunrise and sunset and is the result of the light being directed through more atmosphere as the sun either rises or falls. It’s also epic. It creates that warm orangey dew on the tops of the mountains while the bottoms remain cool and blue. I was so excited when the light began to fall along the backdrop of Loveland and we got to close out this chilly, windy evening together before heading back into Denver.
Enjoy Logan & RJ’s Engagement Photos:
Lifestyle Engagement Session Photography
Edie and Christopher's Lifestyle Engagement Photos in Their Home in PA | Apollo Fields Wedding Photographers
When Edie first called me, I almost didn’t answer the call. Not because I don’t love inquiries (duh) but because my cell number has apparently been sold to every telemarketer on Google, Yelp, Healthcare provider, and credit card company. It is almost unbelievable the amount of blocked calls and no-spam lists I have, but nothing seems to work. Sadly, as a result, I often let unknown numbers go to voicemail.
But for some reason when Edie called, I actually picked up and it was the best surprise! She is a close friend of my best friend’s mom, and it was her turn to get married!
We immediately clicked over our love of animals and spent most of our call chatting about our fur-families, so it only made sense to do their engagement session at their home with their four legged loves. They have two stunning black labs who compete in dog shows which also brought me back to my own childhood of being toted all over the country when my family showed Dobes.
They also have two cats (one indoor cat who is BEAUTIFUL, and one indoor/outdoor cat who is scrappy but adorable), and while I’m definitely #teamdog, both of these kitties were pretty awesome! It was so much fun to hang at their home in Pennsylvania, especially because they are located in one of the prospective areas that we’re looking in for our own farm.
In-home engagement sessions hold a special place in my heart. There’s something so unique about being in a shared space that holds so much meaning to a couple. Some of my favorite pictures of us were in our little cottage in CO because we put so much heart into that space. When I look back on those pics, it brings me to such a wonderful chapter in our lives.
We are so excited to shoot Edie and Christopher’s wedding in Blue Bell, PA next month! Enjoy these pics from their lifestyle in-home engagement session:
Boulder Colorado Engagement Photography
Olivia and Tim's Engagement in Boulder, Colorado | Eagle Trailhead Hiking Path | Adventure Engagement Photographer in CO | Rocky Mountain Weddings | Apollo Fields Photographers
Sometimes I feel like our identities are torn between New York and Colorado. It’s hard because I have a serious love for both states but for completely different reasons:
My NY side loves the art scene, ethnic food, the fast paced lifestyle, the ocean, and getting to dress in all black.
My Colorado side loves the mountains, the sense of adventure, the laid back culture, local beer, and getting to wear flannel.
Sometimes, I feel like we’re supposed to choose between these two worlds, but then I remember that we have intentionally carved out a lifestyle that allows us to wear both hats instead of picking only one or the other. It’s pretty damn cool and I think we are so lucky to be able to work in such epic places. What is extra cool for me, though, is when both of my worlds collide. Olivia and Tim’s engagement session was the perfect example of this.
Here’s the backstory… Olivia’s mom is one of the owners and the head trainer of the barn that I board my horse at in Northport, NY. Olivia and Tim recently relocated to the wild, wild west and just like that—BOOM—my worlds collide!
I love showing people around some of our favorite Colorado digs, so this was especially fun for me because they haven’t had a lot of time to explore the front range yet. We hit Eagle Trailhead for golden hour, and it did not disappoint.
Olivia and Tim have such a sweet and fun way about them. It made my job VERY easy because I barely had to pose or direct! It was more of, “okay so let’s go into this light and then just hang out together” click-click-click-click. It felt more like us all chilling by the foothills swapping war stories about turning my horse out than a formal session (AKA the dream for me). And trust me, there are always plenty of stories about Limbo to go around— one of Olivia’s first things she said to me was how my horse had a major meltdown with her when she was bringing him back to the barn once. Oh, Bimbo… he’s so adorable sometimes!
Enjoy Olivia + Tim’s engagement pics:
2020 is booking fast!
Reach out ASAP to check in on your date :)
DUMBO Brooklyn Engagement Photos
DUMBO Brooklyn Engagement Photos | NYC Wedding Photographer | Industrial Engagement Session in New York | Apollo Fields
I absolutely love shooting in DUMBO but unfortunately, the secret is out. This spot is incredibly popular for locals and tourists alike, and on a nice weekend during the summer, you can bet it is going to be flooded with people and cameras.
There are only a few ways to make DUMBO engagement sessions feel less crowded and that is either to pick an “off peak” time or to work around less-than-ideal weather conditions. Since Michelle and Rob only had weekend availability and I love to shoot during golden hour, we were braced for it to be SUPER busy down by the water, but ended up getting lucky when a flash rainstorm rolled in and cleared out my favorite spots!
However, most couples that want to shoot there, I do suggest either doing a sunrise session (especially if you want to hit the Brooklyn Bridge because DON’T EVEN TRY for sunset), or heading out during the weekday. Luckily, this spot has ideal light for both golden hours (sunrise and sunset) because of the way the light moves across the city skyline and then glistens over the river. I’m sure that this has leant to part of the popularity of this spot, besides the obvious jaw dropping NYC skyline as your background.
DUMBO stands for “Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass” and has an interesting history. It wasn’t always the booming spot that it is now, and its seedy reputation does not actually date that far back and did not officially become known as DUMBO until the 1970s. The area was originally a ferry landing before it became a hotspot for the art scene and loft apartments.
Photography: Apollo Fields for Salzman and Ashley
Great Falls Washington DC Engagement Photography
Allison & Jamie’s Engagement photos in Washington DC | Washington DC Engagements | Great Falls Potomac River | H Street Corridor | Apollo Fields Wedding Photography
You know how the Best Man and Maid of Honor are supposed to hook up at a wedding? Well, that’s sort of the case with Allison and Jamie— except there was a couple of years before they actually got together! It’s hard to believe that in 2016, we were all up in Quebec for Jen & Jon’s wedding where Allison and Jamie stood up at the altar as the wedding party. Fast forward a couple of years and now they are planning their OWN wedding for June 20, 2020!
We’ve been lucky to get to know them as friends since then and I cannot wait to shoot their Brooklyn wedding at St. John St. Matthew Emmanuel Lutheran Church next year. This church also has a special meaning for them, as it is where they officially met as witnesses for Jen and Jon’s US Marriage certificate signing and is where Allison has been a member for many years since she lives close by in Park Slope. It was fitting then that Jamie asked Allison to marry him at this church and proposed with a custom ring made from two separate family rings (one from each side of their families).
They are both sentimental people who really value their family, friends, and faith but also love to explore and adventure together. Allison and Jamie have been killing the long distance relationship game, alternating weekends between NYC and DC, so it only seemed fitting to do their engagement photos down by Jamie to really round off the story of their relationship.
We started the day down in the H Street Corridor which is an energetic and artsy part of the city. I wanted to shoot in places that felt more local and less touristy, so this was the perfect urban start to the day. We detoured for a quick happy hour drink and then went to the Great Falls for a short hike. We got super lucky with the foliage and weather and were able to get some great shots down by the water. Jamie and Allison even climbed up to the top of the falls which looked way easier from the bottom (AKA where I was standing) but they were champs and it made for some epic pics! We closed out our afternoon in the theater at the school where Jamie works for a few pics that show their theater-y side.
Enjoy these photos from Allison & Jamie’s DC Engagement:
Photography: Apollo Fields
We love to travel for shoots!
We don’t just travel for weddings! We love exploring new places and cities for engagements, too.
Golden Gate Canyon State Park Engagement Photography
Kat & Brett’s Engagement Session | Golden Gate Canyon State Park | Colorado Engagement Photography | Jeep Wrangler Engagements | Cannonball Brewery Beer Photos | Apollo Fields
The crunch of pine needles under your hiking boots. The kind nods of strangers walking by. The mountain wind that sings aspens into a dance also fills your lungs with movement. The comfort of adventuring in Colorado where the unknown trail feels like a well worn couch. Sink your soul into nature and the wild woodland sounds will lull you to sleep. A community of one in the safe outdoors—or better yet—bring a friend or two and set the trail ablaze with laughter and conversation. Expand your community, bring people together, and fill your heart with trust.
Hiking Golden Gate Canyon State Park with Kat and Brett for their outdoor engagement session felt just like this. Light with laughter and steeped in love. It made me miss living in Colorado, but it made me grateful for the communities we’re helping bring together. “Talking with a friend about friends you meet and I’m so glad we met,” Kat said in a text yesterday, and I couldn’t agree more. We cross paths with strangers and acquaintances on city sidewalks, hiking trails in the woods, and in line at supermarkets—and it is up to us to decide who we should invite into our lives.
Kat and I met working at Oasis Brewing Company together and I still love to use that space as our hub for connecting when we’re back in town. Firstly, because beer; secondly, because of the honest and kind-hearted eyes of Morianne and Erik Smith that welcome me back into that building; and thirdly, because the beautifully decorated rustic modern space is a comfortable and conducive atmosphere for meetups of all sizes. By purposefully perpetuating relationships out of this space (I’m not forgetting you Kael and Kelly), Heather and I hope to cultivate long-lasting friendships that never end at the bottom of the glass.
When we met up at the brewery this past Monday, we held a meeting with Matt and Julie, a couple potential (now actual!) clients, followed by an open invitation to all of our friends in the area. The turnout exceeded our expectations, including climbing buddies, fellow industry professionals, old friends, horse barn neighbors, and even a couple, Meghan and Armand, whose wedding we shot in the summer of 2018. Meghan and Armand were the real MVPs of the meetup as they beamed with happiness, recounting to Matt and Julie just how positive their experience with us was. Funny thing is, the meeting of these two couples was unintentional if not downright serendipitous, because we didn’t tell most of our friends that we were coming early to meet with Matt and Julie. Yet because we choose to cultivate relationships with our couples and with people in spaces that mean something to us, we continue to connect and create communities.
It’s that same feeling that washes over us when we take our puppers on a walk in the woods. It’s a community of one turning into a community of many, linked by trust and adventure. We’ve only known Kat and Brett, Erik and Morianne, Kael and Kelly, and now Meghan and Armand for a year or two, but as we hike forward towards the future, we aim to bring the Matt and Julie’s into our community one couple at a time.
AS SEEN IN ROCKY MOUNTAIN BRIDE MAGAZINE
Photography: Heather for Apollo Fields
Writing: Terrence for Apollo Fields
Colorado Location: Golden Gate Canyon State Park
Dress: Madewell
Beer: Cannonball Creek Brewery
Oozlefinch Brewery Engagement Photography
Naomi & Johnny’s Engagement Session | Oozlefinch Brewery | Noland Trail | Norfolk Virginia Engagements | Apollo Fields Wedding Photography
It’s no secret that we love to travel! It’s one of my favorite things about the business so we always jump at the opportunity to shoot destination engagements and weddings. Throwing the dogs, cameras, backpack of clothes, and a board game or two in the back of the car and hitting the road is what we do best.
We got the chance to shoot Naomi and Johnny’s engagement session in Norfolk, VA because they are air-force and have been stationed in separate states. Naomi is currently in Colorado and Johnny is in Virginia, and this was going to be their last weekend together before their wedding in May so we cruised down the east coast to meet up with them for a rainy afternoon. We began the session at Noland Trail which is where they got engaged (fittingly enough it was also raining that day) but we could only stay for a short amount of time before the weather really moved in.
So off to Oozlefinch Brewery we went! We were so excited when they suggested this location because we’re totally craft-brewery people and were already mapping out our brew tour of the east coast :) The beer was all amazing and we gladly enjoyed a few flights together. It was great to hang out with them, snapping pictures, chatting about how they met, and wedding planning. We’re shooting their wedding in May at The Pines at Genessee in CO which we’re really excited for! We are also looking forward to recognizing a few faces in the crowd since Naomi is the cousin of Dylan (one of our 2017 grooms) and how we originally met this fun couple!
Virginia Engagement Photography: Apollo Fields
Locations: Noland Loop Trail, Noland News Virginia | Oozlefinch Craft Brewery, Hampton VA
Mount Falcon Colorado Engagement Photography
Anna & Jeff’s Engagement Session | Mt Falcon Engagements | Morrison, Colorado | Red Rocks Photography | Apollo Fields Wedding Photographers
I’m so excited to be working with Anna and Jeff because they are both outdoorsy, laid back professionals who are very much so our ‘vibe’ of people! I first met them through a dear friend, Kerry, since they had just relocated from the East Coast to Colorado for work and were recently engaged. Anna was in the beginning phases of wedding planning so we were chatting about some of my favorite venues in the mountains. They were between Colorado and Maine and of course, I was down for either location!
They ultimately decided to have their wedding in Maine at the Granite Ridge Estate & Barn in Norway, Maine which was a totally win-win for us! We love barn weddings and I’m a huge fan of Maine :) so we jumped at the opportunity. But I still loved the idea of doing an epic Colorado mountainy engagement session to represent the different parts of their lives, so in December, we set up an awesome photo sesh at Mount Falcon in Morrison, Colorado.
I love this location because it’s easy to get to, puts you right in the mountains, and you have Red Rocks Amphitheater in the background. Red Rocks was one of the big things that ultimately drew us to CO so I just love everything about the energy there. We met up and Anna and Jeff had such an awesome energy together that I immediately knew we’d be a great fit. They are a lighthearted and easygoing couple, but we were quickly able to connect about our mutual friends and East Coast boarding school life. They both transplanted from Taft School which was part of the same New England consortium that I was a part of in high school (I went to Ethel Walker for four years in addition to working for a boarding school so I can totally relate to this industry!)
This engagement session was so much fun because they had such a great time hiking and hanging with each other in the mountains while the sun set. I loved wrapping up the weekend with these guys and I am so excited to shoot their wedding in just a few months!!!
Photography: Heather Huie for Apollo Fields
Location: Mt. Falcon | Morrison Colorado
City Park Denver Engagement Photography
Frances & Bryce's Engagement Session | City Park Urban Photography | Denver, Colorado | Apollo Fields Wedding Photographers | Doberman Pinscher
This engagement session is a little extra special for me (not to play favorites but Frances is a total favorite). I love shooting fellow photographers because they * get it * but we can also always laugh about what it’s like to be on the other side of the camera. Frances is a super, super talented wedding photographer and one of the few industry gals that I regularly second shoot for. She’s the owner of Frances Photography and to put it bluntly, is a total badass. She’s been in the industry way longer than I have, and has a reputation for being an awesome boss babe who doesn’t take shit from anyone. She has an immaculate eye for detail and is also business savvy while being a total blast to shoot with. We are two peas in a pod which is almost surprising considering that she is basically my older-sister-twinsy-photographer-stunt-double.
Anyway, these guys got engaged shortly after we did, so it’s been super fun shooting weddings with Frances while simultaneously chatting about planning our own weddings. Right off the bat, we knew we’d want to do a fun session in City Park since she and Bryce had recently bought a house in uptown Denver. When I first met these guys, they were living in Arvada near Standley Lake, so we’d frequently bump into each other in Olde Towne hanging at the same digs (spoiler alert, we love all of the same restaurants and bars too). But then they eventually found this edgy house in the city of Denver and the kicker was this epic artists studio that Frances had bigs plans to turn into her full time boudoir studio. Her house in Denver was set up for her amazing boudoir business, but the only downside was flipping it for shoots. This new space meant that she could ROCK sessions with tons of natural diffused light and tall ceilings, while having a designated space for all of her gear and editing. It was a no-brainer.
The only downside was stricter leash laws and smaller open-spaces for their Doberman, Bodhi. Oh yeah, did I mention that they are also Dobie people!? Our similarities are a little freaky at times, and Terrence and Bryce love to jokingly commiserate about what it is like living and loving this personality type ;) We had a great time shooting in City Park and then wrapped up the night absolutely indulging in Sushi Den because the four of us do a great job at eating out like champs!! I’m very excited for their wedding in Denver later this year and just love this awesome couple.
Photography: Heather Huie for Apollo Fields | Weddings
Location: City Park | Denver, Colorado
Cherry Blossom Engagement Session at City Park in Denver
Eve & Bobby's Cherry Blossom Engagement Session | City Park, Denver | Spring Engagement Photos | Colorado Wedding Photographer | Apollo Photojournalism
Eve and Bobby and are fun loving couple who are able to roll with the punches. They wanted their engagement session to be outdoors and since they live close to City Park in Denver, shooting there seemed to perfectly reflect their lifestyles. They are laid back and go-with-the-flow, which was great when the weather was freezing cold, overcast, and rainy on the day of their engagement session.
Rescheduling wasn't an option, so we crossed our fingers for a break in the weather and met up in the park. I'm so glad we did, because the shots are so beautiful! It never warmed up and the sun never poked through, but you can't even tell in the pictures. And we had the cherry blossoms all to ourselves, an almost unheard of luxury this time of year because their season is so short.
This was my first cherry blossom session that I have done and I was surprised by how much I love the color palate. I am usually more drawn to earthier tones than pastels, but I found that Eve and Bobby's outfits worked so well with the setting that I really enjoyed the pinks, whites, yellows, and light greens of the grove that we shot in.
We moved quickly through the session because the skies kept threatening a harder rain, and with frozen fingers and no golden light to play with, I wanted to get these lovebirds back in their warm car as quick as possible! They made my job easy because they have such a great balance of playfulness and tenderness. They were just as happy to be dancing under the trees as they were to cuddle up with each other and have a quiet moment together.
Peaking at my viewfinder on my camera and I knew that despite the weather (and the cranky geese) we had some gems to work with! I was so excited to get home to warm up and offload all these beautiful pictures from their engagement session. I'm so excited to shoot their wedding this season!
Denver Engagement Photographer: Erny Photo CO | Apollo Fields
Wedding Coordinator: Jennifer Wetterlin | Denver Event Pros
Location: Denver, Colorado | City Park
Our Engagement Session
Our Engagement Session | Arvada, CO | In-Home Engagement Photos | Apollo Fields Wedding Photographers
Ever since we got engaged, everyone has been asking "who is going to be your photographer!?" And rightfully so... We are lucky to have so many photog friends that this is simultaneously a hard and easy question to answer! I wanted something more intimate and laid back than traditional engagement photos for us to have so it only felt right to do an in-home session with the lovely and talented Sarah Valencia Photography.
We met Sarah briefly in Kansas City while visiting friends, and she was coincidentally moving to Denver. Her style is both engaging and unobtrusive. We spent most of the time just lounging around and laughing with each other. We casually made dinner and ate together and Sarah snapped away as we just played games, cuddled with our pups, and cracked a couple beers. It goes without saying that we highly recommend her for her personality, aesthetic eye, and charming company.
This type of engagement session felt super personalized and unique, which is why we both really enjoyed taking the pictures. In every way, it reflected our relationship: cozy, fun, sentimental (I could go on-and-on)! Without getting too sappy, our everyday life is so good, and these pictures represent all of that for me. We have this balance that just seems to work. I'm lucky...
We've also created this home together, and the reality is, we're not going to be here forever. In fact, if all goes as planned, we'll be moving on sooner-rather-than-later from this little cottage that we have been renting for the last 1.5 years. We have hopes to purchase our own place and big dreams to fill for our next home. But in the meantime, this little cottage on Cody Street has become so much our own and I love that these pictures tell our story of us in our home that we have created.
When we first moved into this house, it was blue. The window frames were also blue. And the inside walls? Bright blue. We quickly got hold of some paint and rollers and repainted every square inch of the house. It then began to fill up with quirky second hand pieces of furniture that we renovated. And then it began to fill up with plants, photographs, memories, and eventually more pets.
So now what? We are keeping wedding planning simple, heartfelt, and wholesome. We aren't cluttering our plans with tons of vendors, unnecessary purchases, or timelines. We are, however, looking to spend real quality time with the people we love the most. We want to share adventures and dances with them. We want to laugh and love alongside our friends and family and can assure you that we will be having fun the whole time.
Love,
Heather & Terrence
Central Park Engagement Session in New York City
NEW YORK CITY ENGAGEMENT PHOTOGRAPHY | CENTRAL PARK PHOTOGRAPHER | DESTINATION WEDDINGS ERNY PHOTO CO
Before moving to Colorado, New York City was my home. It still holds a piece of my heart, with so many wonderful memories there, including meeting my awesome boyfriend. As much as I love Colorado, I miss it from time to time. So I was really excited to head back to my old stomping grounds and photograph Morgan and Matt's Central Park engagement session in NYC!
Their entire session was really relaxed and upbeat. It felt more like hanging out than a photo session! We all laughed as we explored Central Park together. Morgan and Matt were also really playful throughout their session, which was so awesome. I love how they were able to just kick back and be themselves. It allowed me to really get into my groove and take some amazing photos.
About Morgan and Matt
These two have it all. They are smart, outdoorsy and they can cook. They're kind of the perfect couple. They also enjoy hiking, which happens to be what they were doing when they got engaged, and they also have two adorable cats.
I cannot wait for their upstate New York wedding next summer at Handsome Hallow!
Morgan and Matt's Central Park Engagement Session in New York City
Heather Huie of Apollo Fields is a New York Based Wedding Photographer who loves to travel. If you're planning a Central Park or New York City wedding, she'd love to chat with you! Reach out by using her contact form!