A Langan Park Engagement Session

I was fresh out of college when I signed up to teach Children’s Liturgy at church. I met Zelda the first Sunday it was my turn to teach. She was in the class with her younger brother. I had to hold back a giggle when she raised her hand and let me know that she was “technically too old to be in the class” but that her brother wouldn’t go without her. It was the sweetest thing and I knew from that moment that Zelda was a special girl.

Years later, when Zelda was old enough to volunteer herself, she, her brother, and the rest of her family started helping me serve the coffee and doughnuts after the 9 o’clock Mass. I soon became friends with the whole family. To say that it blows my mind that sweet Zelda is old enough to be engaged is a major understatement! I look at her and I see both that little girl who was in the Children’s Liturgy class and the sweet young lady that I count as a friend.

When Zelda was 14 years old she met Graham. Even before I’d met him, I could tell he was equally as sweet and kind as Zelda. I met Graham briefly at Zelda’s Confirmation (I was her sponsor!), but that was a few years back. It was wonderful getting the chance to spend time with just the two of them at their engagement session.

Both Zelda and Graham have been involved in theater for several years, so of course they were totally at ease in front of the camera. I love that their session incorporated a location that is sentimental to them. I also love that we were able to incorporate three spots that were all in proximity to one another. This gave us a ton of variety for backgrounds!

For the Love of Gardens

Zelda and Graham have a love of gardening and gardens. They frequently visit the Birmingham Botanical Gardens together. In fact, that’s the location Graham chose when he asked Zelda to be his wife! Since these two are both from Mobile and we were doing their session here, I suggested we stop by the Japanese Gardens on the way to Langan Park – my session with Linda and Ralph a few days prior had given me the idea!

To my surprise, Zelda and Graham had never been to the Japanese Gardens before. It turned out to be so perfect that they got to explore a new garden together for their engagement session! After spending some time at the Japanese Gardens, we headed to the Mobile Museum of Art at Langan Park. Zelda and Graham took photos at the park before the first dance they went to together in middle school. I love that we returned to this place that holds special memories for them!

Finally, to wrap things up and squeeze every ounce of light out of the day, we headed for the Longleaf Pine Forest at the Mobile Botanical Gardens. On the way, Zelda asked, “Is it weird to take photos in front of the mural at the recycle center?” My response was, “not weird at all!” I love that Zelda suggested this because I have always loved this mural. The photos we took in this spot turned out to be some of my favorites from the whole shoot!

Zelda and Graham, I am so excited to work with the two of you as your wedding photographer! Cheers to the season of being engaged!