A Fairhope Pier Engagement

November is one of the most popular months for engagement sessions. It’s usually starting to get cool in the Deep South this time of year, but this year we’ve been experiencing a lot of warm temperatures. I haven’t decided if this is a good thing or not. On the one hand, my clients aren’t freezing during their session. But, on the other hand, I think we’re all ready for cozy sweaters and winter boots.

It was a trip to Tuscaloosa to visit friends that led Mary Cameron to meet her future husband. Eric was a student in Tuscaloosa at the time, while Mary Cameron was going to school closer to her hometown of Fairhope. Mary Cameron said she didn’t think anything of it when Eric said he’d call her sometime, but he kept that promise. After three years of dating, Eric asked Mary Cameron to be his wife! It’s so amazing to think about how some of the smallest decisions lead to life altering circumstances. Imagine if Mary Cameron never went on that trip that particular weekend?! It’s stories like this that always make me smile and I love that my couples share them with me!

A few weeks before I first spoke to Mary Cameron on the phone, I had the chance to photograph a food story for Mobile Bay Magazine at The Hope Farm in Fairhope. During the shoot, I kept thinking about what a beautiful location The Hope Farm would be for a wedding reception. Imagine my surprise when just a few days later that was the venue Mary Cameron told me she had booked for her special day! I was so excited because it’s always fun to get to photograph a wedding at a new venue! Plus, the food at The Hope Farm is amazing!

A Sunset Surprise

Mary Cameron and Eric originally wanted to do their engagement session at Mary Cameron’s grandparents’ bay house, but due to the property being under a landscaping overhaul, we switched plans and chose to do most of their session at the Fairhope Pier. It was another overcast day on Mobile Bay. The clouds made it look much cooler than it actually was! We had to imagine that it felt like fall. Seriously, is this really November?! Bizarre weather is clearly another oddity of 2020.

I was amazed that the Fairhope Pier was practically deserted the day of this session! It’s usually so crowded that I don’t venture past the entrance to the pier. In my experience, no couple wants to get caught between fishermen casting their lines and nets, or have a bunch of people staring at them while they are having their portrait taken. I suggested we make our way to the end of the pier for a few last photos.

Midway to the end of the pier, I noticed a spot I wanted to use. I thought the gate to this area was locked, but Mary Cameron pointed out that it was open! How fantastic, I thought to myself. I knew if the sun came out for a bit before setting that this would be a good spot to capture it. We took a few photos and then Mary Cameron said, “I think we are about to get kicked out.”

I turned around and saw three police officers standing behind me. In my mind all I could think was that we must have been in a forbidden area of the pier! There wasn’t a sign for this section, or was there? I am a rule follower to my core, so you can imagine my inner panic.

It turned out that the officers were just closing the pier at sunset. I hadn’t realized that the power to the pier lights, which typically come on at sunset, was still out from the recent hurricanes. The kind officers, who clearly value photography, let me take my final shots just before sunset. Ironically, we found out as we chatted with the officers on the way to the parking lot that one of them was originally from Tuscaloosa, Eric’s hometown. Talk about a memorable end to an engagement session! I know it’s one I’ll never forget!