Horsetooth Reservoir Engagement Session in Fort Collins
Horsetooth Reservoir Engagement Session in Fort Collins
Central Park Engagement Session
Central Park Engagement Photography | Bethesda Fountain and Terrace Wedding Photographs | NYC Engagement Photographers | Apollo Fields Husband and Wife Photo Team
Natalie & Eugene’s Engagement
Anytime I get to walk through Central Park it reminds me of my old running route. I’d start at West 112th Street and run down Broadway to 79th Street, cut across the avenues past the Museum of Natural History, and stop at a pull up bar near the Great Lawn to do some calisthenic exercises. I’d continue my run south towards Sheep Meadow to play Ultimate Frisbee with one of the best communities I’ve ever known. I’d eventually make my way back to the west side strolling by Bethesda Fountain, past the Bow Bridge, and along my favorite path on the south side of The Central Park Lake, the body of water where tourists take out the cute paddle boats. I can’t help but think about this time of my life without a great longing, reminiscing about the freedom of my twenties. It seems that no matter how old I am I always ‘[\want to be somewhere else or be older or younger. It makes me beg the question: is there any way to get over this “grass is always greener” mindset over the course of our lives?
Heather and I met Eugene over the summer at one of our friend’s going away parties, but this was the first time we met Natalie. We connected with them through our mutual friend, John, who went to Marymount Manhattan College with Eugene. We didn’t expect John to come along for the engagement session in Central Park but there he was, giving Eugene style tips and busting his chops like a good friend and quintessential best man. We started the shoot at Bethesda Fountain, dabbled in the Mall between street performers and skateboarders, then finished up by The Lake and Bow Bridge because Eugene and Natalie are set to get married at the Loeb Boathouse in just a few short months.
Eugene and Natalie have one of those quiet connections, and according to them it’s been there since their very first date. One of the questions we ask on the questionnaire we send over to our couples is: “When did you realize that you loved your significant other?” Well, for Eugene and Natalie, all it took was one date, because afterwards they jokingly referred to each other as ‘husband’ and ‘wife.’ The way they interact with one another is intimate but casual, conversational and playful. There is an understanding beneath their every exchange that made them very easy to photograph through our walk in Central Park. We all decided to grab a drink on the Upper West Side afterwards.
The most unfortunate thing about love is that it all comes down to timing. The kind of understanding that Eugene and Natalie and Heather and I have all stems from meeting someone at a particular time in our lives when each of us 1) had a strong idea of who we were as individuals, and 2) had a strong idea of what we wanted our significant other to be like. The alignment of these two factors is critical to a healthy relationship with any hope of longevity. A lot of us spend most of our lives trying to figure our “who we are” and a lot of us are too wracked with doubt and insecurity to effectively learn what a good partner for our particular needs looks like. Every time I try to explain how Heather and I have such a working, loving relationship, there is a feeling of an insurmountably large chasm between being alone and being where we are. The best thing I can suggest is to start with a better understanding of yourself.
Despite always feeling like “the grass is always greener” most of my life, I can confidently say I am thoroughly enjoying my thirties. Heather and I have hit a stride in our business, and we have one happy, healthy boy. I still get frustrated and am overtired most of the time, but once I hear Capa giggle or see him peacefully sleeping any sort of bullshit stress just washes away. Capa helps ground me in a way that makes life feel finite for the first time. For as long as I can remember I’ve always felt that I’m going to live forever—and each day and year that passes its hard to wrap my mind around all that has changed—that is until you see a newborn baby become a ten-month-old. We all grow older everyday and it is up to us to appreciate the green grass beneath our feet.
Enjoy these images from Eugene and Natalie’s Central Park engagement:
Princeton University Engagement Session Photographer
Danielle and Kevin's Engagement Photos at Princeton University | Princeton, New Jersey Photographer | Apollo Fields Wedding Photography
Talk about a fun blast from the past! I was so lucky to get to spend the afternoon with Danielle and Kevin at one of my old digs— Princeton University— for their engagement session. A little backstory: Danielle and I used to ride together YEARS and years ago at Fox Chase Farm in New Jersey. I was riding and training professionally all throughout my undergrad career and Danielle was one of my favorite riders at the time. I always loved her determination, quiet demeanor around the horses, and our shared love of art and photography.
Danielle actually took photos a few times around the barn when Riddy was a puppy that are still some of my favorite pics of him to date! We bopped around the shows together and always had a blast until Danielle left for SCAD. I hadn’t heard from her in a while besides casually following one another on social media, and then when Danielle and Kevin got engaged, I was so excited to hear from her again— this time for US to shoot HER wedding!
When I arrived at Princeton and hooked up with them, the only thing about Danielle that had changed was her badass hair! Other than that, she’s still the same fun spunky and energetic gal that I used to ride with. Except now, she’s engaged! So I also got to know her fiancé Kevin a bit and quickly realized what a great pair these two are.
We had such a fun afternoon as we caught a perfect golden hour on the campus and the last bits of autumn. The foliage and leaves really popped and I just love how the colors play with the classic artictecturhe of this epic campus. I’ve always loved Princeton and I was so stoked to be able to finally shoot at one of my favorite places to be.
Enjoy Danielle & Kevin’s engagement photos:
Photography: Apollo Fields
Venue: Princeton University
Hats are in!
We’re so excited to finally have some swag.
Autumn Engagement Photos on Long Island
Kristen & Mike’s Engagement Photos on Long Island | Apollo Fields Wedding Photographers in New York | Blydenburgh park | Smithtown, NY
“Now kick your heel out behind you,” Heather said to Kristen and Mike as they posed for their engagement photos on Long Island. Never in Apollo Fields history have we seen a man in Timberlands lift his heel off the ground instead of the woman—but Mike made AF history that day. A funny miscommunication turned candid moment, the rest of Mike and Kristen’s engagement session in Blydenburgh County Park in Smithtown was a literal walk in the woods.
Kristen and Mike’s engagement session began at the beginning of a path adjacent to an outdoor horse ring and historical building, which couldn’t have been more perfect. It’s too bad that our horse, Limbo, is a diva who doesn’t do trail rides, because the serene scenery was something out of an impressionist painting. As we made our way down to the path to Stump Pond, we passed a quirky, pink dollhouse-like old home down by the water that Kristen and Mike (more likely just Kristen) wanted to snap a few pictures in front of. The fall patterns of their wardrobe choices perfectly complemented the palate of the leaves, especially contrasting nicely with the eccentric muted pink of the house.
As we moved further down the path, Heather and I were surprised with the number of fisherman posted up along the shore. They reminded us of a story from Heather’s childhood, where her animal-loving aunt Pam, freed all of her family’s bait worms on a fishing trip while they weren’t looking. Mike’s family is a big fishing family so he got a good kick out of the night crawler jailbreak. He was also very familiar with the park as his family home is just on the other side of the pond. We finished their engagement photos on a dock as the sun set behind the trees; and we even got a few shots with Mike and his favorite fishing rod.
It’s very refreshing to be shown new places in the area that you grew up. I’ve lived on Long Island for over twenty years of my life and I had never been to Stump Pond or Blydenburgh Park before. Yet because of Kristen and Mike, we now have a new place to escape stress and stroll in serenity. It made me realize that part of the fun of running a wedding photography business is being invited into places where our couples have significant memories or moments. It’s a wonderfully romantic image to imagine little Mike on the same dock with his father, learning how to fish on a starter pole. If you’re reading this and planning an engagement session of your own, take Kristen and Mike’s lead and pick a place that is not only beautiful but also makes you feel comfortable or means something to you. It will be impossible to hide your happiness.
Kind of like it was impossible not to laugh when Mike lifted his heel off the ground. Who knows, he might even be starting a wedding photo trend in this 21st century world that we live in. All I know is that I’m just happy to have shared that walk in the woods. Cheers to you, Kristen and Mike!
Enjoy Kristen & Mike’s Engagement Pics:
Photography: Apollo Fields
Boulder Colorado Engagement Photographer
True Friends - Matt & Kerry’s Intimate Engagement Session in Boulder, Colorado
There are many different types of friendships. There are your drinking buddies, your work acquaintances, your lifelong second grade secret holders, and your intimate bonds with your significant others. There are exchanging “hello’s” on the street with strangers and there’s giving your time to the elderly or relationships that require a bit more patience. In every type of friendship there’s always something to learn—but even more important—there’s always something to be grateful for. This post is dedicated to our friendship with Matt and Kerry, who helped see us through the most difficult time of our lives.
As you may well know, in the beginning of December 2018, Heather was diagnosed with an ectopic pregnancy. I received this news through the speaker of my iPhone while nervously pacing in our cozy kitchen in East Northport, NY, while Heather lay alone, sobbing in a hospital bed in Westminster, Colorado. I immediately began to book a flight the next morning to be with her, to console her, and to just hold her and tell her everything was going to be all right. But two people (among others) were there before I arrived—Matt and Kerry.
Prior to receiving the news that day, Heather snapped an engagement session of Matt and Kerry at the feet of the Flatirons in Boulder, Colorado. Let me first say that Heather and Kerry go way back—they taught and mentored students at a fancy art school together in the Hamptons over seven years ago—and it’s crazy to think how friendships can evolve so much over time. But back to the sunshine, the smiles, and the genuine happiness that lived in their unsuspecting eyes during their intimate engagement photography session in Colorado.
Matt and Kerry never could’ve known the confusion and worry that whirled about Heather’s mind as she snapped away behind her Nikon camera. They never could’ve guessed that they were about to prove their stripes as people in the next few weeks. All they were probably thinking about was how most people feel during photo shoots—awkward as fuck—yet just like the mountains in the landscape behind them, the solid character that roots each of them to the earth—knew something was up.
Without hesitation or reservation, they opened their doors for Heather to stay as long as she needed. We weren’t sure if this process would be a week or a month—but it didn’t matter. Matt and Kerry couldn’t see anything but a friend in need, and they were prepared to help in any way that they could. We wound up staying at their place in Boulder for about a month as they left for a holiday trip, and our only responsibility was to take care of their plump orange cat, Nerboo, who kneaded our legs like an angry Italian baker with unforgivingly sharp nails. Matt and Kerry had no other expectations except to provide us with a private space to work through this unpredictable and unimaginably difficult time.
Their friendship, among many others of ours in Colorado, has stretched our understanding of relationships to new heights. Matt and Kerry gave their home to us without expectation, reservation, or judgment, teaching us what true friendship looks like. It was a trust fall in real life. And they caught us. I will never forget that and I will forever be grateful. This one is for all of you out there who have sturdy hands and are always waiting to catch someone. We love you all like true friends, Matt and Kerry.
AS SEEN IN ROCKY MOUNTAIN BRIDE MAGAZINE:
Contact us to set up your own engagement session!
Engagement Photography: Apollo Fields
Pikes Peak Engagement Session by Apollo Fields
Jenny & Tara's Epic Mountain Engagement Session | Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs | Denver Engagement Photographer | LGBQ Weddings
I was so excited when I first heard from Jenny. She is friends with Lindsey, one of my beautiful brides from 2017 and happened to be looking for a wedding photographer when I delivered Lindsey's photos. She loved them and immediately reached out to have me photographer her own wedding! So much of my business is word-of-mouth and I am so grateful for my awesome couples who refer me and connect me to their other awesome-couple-friends.
I met up with Jenny and Tara and immediately clicked with their fun personalities, and the sweet way in which they interact with each other. They have a great energy, and I knew right away that I wanted to be their photographer. They must have felt the same way, because I asked them at our meeting, "Do you ladies have any questions?" and they seamlessly responded with, "How do we book you now?" Love it!
They initially weren't looking for an engagement session, but I'm so glad that they decided to do one because look at how epic these mountain backdrops were! A photographer's dream. I had never been to Pikes Peak before, so I was just in awe of the landscape the whole time. We caught golden hour (my favorite!) just in time before the park closed. Literally, they were closing the whole roadway up for sunset and we were being swiftly shuffled out of the park by the time we had captured every last golden ray that we could!
They also brought their three children and new puppy along for the shoot. I have quite a few couples that have children and while it might not seem obvious at first to have them present for engagement photos, I feel contrary to that old-fashioned traditional expectation of what it means to be an engaged couple. Marriage is about partnership and family, and if kids are already part of that equation, I feel like they should be included in some of the pictures. Oh, and if you have a cute puppy too... that doesn't take any convincing! We are animal lovers to the core, and have an impossible time keeping our composure around tiny pups.
Colorado Adventure Photographer: Erny Photo CO | Apollo Photo
Location: Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs
In Home Engagement Session Ideas for Lifestyle Photography
Kerry & Patrick's Lifestyle Engagement Photography | Sloans Lake, Denver Colorado | In Home Session | Apollo Photo
In home engagement sessions are definitely some of my favorite to shoot! As much as I love the dramatic landscapes and nature sessions, there is something so intimate about being invited into a couple's home that they have created together and really seeing the inner workings of their daily lives and love.
It’s also a nice chance for couples to get in front of my camera. It definitely helps to ease some of the camera-shyness that most people feel before your wedding day. Plus, I love the chance to spend a little more time with my clients before their big day, too! As much as I love outdoor sessions, Colorado mountains, hiking and adventure sessions, I am equally as excited for lifestyle sessions. I get to hang out and snap away while they go about their normal routine, whether it’s cooking, cuddling up on the couch, going on a dog walk, or clinking their glasses to a great day.
Lifestyle engagement sessions also make for great save the date cards. To me, the most important part is the feeling of candid and natural moments, even if we have intercepted a little with our posing expertise.
Kerry is sweet and accommodating, and Patrick is composed and easygoing. Their rescue pup adores them, and the whole time we were there never took an eye off of them. Playing fetch in the backyard, going for a leisurely stroll near Sloan Lake, and hanging out in the spring sun were so easily woven into their engagement session.
I’m so excited to shoot their wedding in May at Skylight in Denver alongside Lindsey Bartell. This new venue boasts a modern urban architectural design with tall whitewashed brick walls, exposed ceilings, floods of natural light, and geometric pops with classic flair. Working in such a new space is exciting because it really is a blank canvas, which is one of the big draws that the venue boasts. They let their couples bring in their own vendors, and they get a full 24 hours to party as late as they want and not worry about cleanup that same night.
Since moving from New York City, I rarely get to photograph in urban settings anymore! I do prefer rural country weddings, but it will be a fun chance to get back into a city environment for their wedding. I do love the neighborhood that Skylight is nestled into: Denver's Sante Fe Art District, with loud pops of colorful graffiti, funky coffee shops, and busy streets.
Kerry & Patrick's Lifestyle Engagement Session | Colorado Wedding Photographer | In-Home Engagement Photography
I love shooting in home engagement sessions because they are intimate, personal, and always tell such a great story about the couple. When couples such as Kerry and Patrick welcome us into their home, we get to see the space that they have created as their own.
As much as I love outdoor sessions, Colorado mountains, hiking and adventure sessions, I am equally as excited for lifestyle sessions. I get to hang out and snap away while they go about their normal routine, whether it’s cooking, cuddling up on the couch, going on a dog walk, or clinking their glasses to a great day. It’s also a nice chance for couples to get in front of my camera. It definitely helps to ease some of the camera-shyness that most people feel before your wedding day. Plus, I love the chance to spend a little more time with my clients before their big day, too!
Most couples are engaged for around a year, and these photos are a sweet momento from that time in their lives which seems to go so quickly in the midst of all of the wedding planning, booking vendors, guest lists, timelines, and all of the other fun – but sometimes stressful – parts about planning the ceremony and party exactly the way you want it.
Kerry is sweet and accommodating, and Patrick is composed and easygoing. Their rescue pup adores them, and the whole time we were there never took an eye off of them. Playing fetch in the backyard, going for a leisurely stroll near Sloan Lake, and hanging out in the spring sun were so easily woven into their engagement session.
Lifestyle engagement sessions also make for great save the date cards. To me, the most important part is the feeling of candid and natural moments, even if we have intercepted a little with our posing expertise.
I’m so excited to shoot their wedding in May at Skylight in Denver alongside Lindsey Bartell. This new venue boasts a modern urban architectural design with tall whitewashed brick walls, exposed ceilings, floods of natural light, and geometric pops with classic flair. Stay tuned for pictures of their wedding in just a few weeks!
Engagement Photography: Apollo Photo
Lifestyle Photography: Eden Photography
Farm Engagement Session in Arvada, CO
Allison & Michael's Engagement Session | Farm Engagement Photography | Clear Creek in Arvada, Colorado | Nature + Wildflowers + River | Apollo Photojournalism
Allison and Michael are a fun and energetic couple from who came up from Colorado Springs for their engagement session at Clear Creek in Arvada. I love this location because it has open space as well as woodsy and intimate natural settings. The golden light pours through the trees and if you go during the right times in the season, you get these wonderful pops of wildflowers.
Best of all, it's not oversaturated with too many people, photographers, or foot traffic. My couples get an intimate and unique backdrop to really ease into one another to get those truly connected moments where they can just settle into each others arms without any awkwardness. Alli wore a fun white dress that complimented the country setting so well, while Mike was clean, classic, and preppy. We chatted about their wedding plans and details, which I am very excited for because I have had a great experience in the past working alongside a few of their vendors (dream team status)!
I love getting to do engagement sessions in the woods and farm spaces like this one because you can immerse yourself in the fresh air while listening to the creek running next to us while we play some music and go for a nature walk. It doesn't get too much better than that in my opinion!
Alli and Mike are getting married this upcoming May at the Highlands Ranch Mansion and I can't wait to shoot their wedding. They have been so wonderful to work with! They have an easygoing relationship where they can just stroll with one another and hold hands, but still play around and make one another laugh. They met at the Air Force Academy and have big plans for their future and I'm excited to be able to follow along their journey, camera in hand!
Colorado Engagement Photography: Erny Photo CO | Apollo Photo
Location: Clear Creek, Arvada Colorado
Lindsey & Jeff's Colorado Winter Engagement Photography at Lake Dillon
Lindsey & Jeff's Winter Engagement Session | Lake Dillon, Colorado | Mountain Engagement Photography | Adventure Couple | Dog Lovers | Apollo Photojournalism
Lindsey and Jeff are everything that I love about my Colorado couples: they are fun and easygoing, outdoor enthusiasts, dog lovers, and down to earth. Lindsey is bubbly and outgoing, and when I first met her she was planning a wedding while wrapping up her nursing degree. Jeff is composed and polite, and when they first met, it was only fitting that they hit a park together to take their dogs on a walk together.
They quickly connected over their love of dogs and nature, so we knew right away that we wanted the pups to be part of their engagement photos! They wanted those epic Colorado mountain landscapes and Lake Dillon was the perfect backdrop. It was a chilly Denver day, but the sun was out which made it surprisingly bearable. However, by the time we made it up the mountain and out to Lake Dillon, the wind had picked up and the elevation was doing us no favors. It was a balmy seven degrees Fahrenheit (are you picking up on the sarcasm yet)??? Oh my lord, it was FREEZING! With the wind chill coming off the lake, the "feels like" weather report was well into the negatives.
As soon as we stepped out of the car, I thought Lindsey and Jeff were going to want to reschedule. No way they were going to want to shoot in this weather, I thought to myself. But they just smiled and said, "Let's go!" I loved their can-do attitude, embracing the harsh Colorado sun that was bouncing off the pristine snow, and absolute chill that was running over the lake. We did take a few breaks to warm back up in the car and I kept having to warm my camera up in my jacket because it was struggling to keep up, but we got these awesome shots which made it SO WORTH IT!
Lindsey was so sweet because as we were headed back to Denver, she thought the pictures were going to be horrible. She said thought her face was all frozen and her eyes would be too squinty, but I sent her a sneak-peak that night and she was over the moon! This is one of my favorite parts about my job, when the conditions are less-than-ideal and we can turn around and make epic photos anyway. Any photographer can shoot beautiful pictures in optimal weather with diffused golden light, but I pride myself on being able to 'wow' my clients when it's freezing and we're only able to shoot in blaring direct sun, too!!
Colorado Engagement Photography: Erny Photo CO | Apollo Photo
Location: Lake Dillon, Colorado
Mitch & Bobby's Engagement Session at Golden Gate Canyon State Park in Golden, CO
Mitch & Bobby | Colorado Engagement Photographer | Golden Gate Canyon State Park | Golden, Colorado | Apollo Fields Wedding Photography
Golden Gate Canyon State Park is a real gem for photos because you get such a wide range of landscapes to use as your backdrops. The mountains are lush on one side and arid on the other which gives a lot of variety for photos. There’s also some great areas with open space and good hiking trails to roam around and keep moving around.
This was great for us because Mitch and Bobby wanted to bring their rescue dogs to their shoot. They were recently engaged and so excited, and naturally, their fur-family would be included. We’re the same way! We couldn’t have imagined not having our dogs a part of our engagement session or our wedding. We’re total dog lovers (no surprise there) and love when couples want to bring their four legged friends along!
Mitch worked at a dog grooming and boarding facility and her and Bobby are enthusiastic about rescuing over buying dogs. It was obvious right away that their dogs have a great quality of life now because you could just tell right away how loyal they were. When I wanted to snag a few shots without the pups, Terrence held their leashes and they both couldn’t wait to get back to their owners! Being able to have the trails and paths to keep everyone walking was great for the pups, too.
One pro tip for this location is to meet at the visitor center because the cell reception in this state park is pretty much nonexistent. That is probably the one and only drawback of the spot, if you are meeting up with your photographer in the park instead of driving in together, it can make it hard to actually find each other. The visitor center is pretty easy to find (also, there is an entrance fee so do your due diligence) but it is really convenient for actually hooking up with one another so you’re not driving around the (beautiful) roads unable to find one another!
