[Engagement] Kelly & Rob – New Jersey Wine Country

I remember meeting these two lovebirds one rainy evening not long ago. I had arrived early for our meeting at a local bookstore chain, and settled in with my coffee while I watched tiny droplets form on the giant windows next to me. It’s a similar affair for most of my week nights when I’m not shooting, conjuring my plans for world domination of the wedding photography industry, while tucking myself quietly between the maternity and monster truck sections of the magazine racks.

The cafe was filled with the usual types: studious students, couples on their first dates, retirees looking for a quiet place to read their papers along with other wedding photographers. Wait. Other wedding photographers? Of course, Central New Jersey is filled with them, to the brim actually :). How was Kelly & Rob ever going to find me in this sea of leather bound albums and swipe-y iPad action going on around me?

I felt a tap on my shoulder. “Are you Ben? You look kinda wedding-photographer-y” Well, who am I to argue with such an astute observation :).

After a brainstorming session that lasted a couple of weeks, we decided to trek across New Jersey wine country for Kelly & Rob’s engagement session. Wait, NJ has a wine country? You better believe it :). Karis and I are huge wine drinkers (though not so much at the moment – involuntary sympathy sobriety on the account of #2 on the way), so we felt totally at home with the open country. It was a nice change of scenery from the urban jungle of New York City.

How cute are these two?

When we tired ourselves in the open fields, we took a spontaneous drive around the country side.

When couples ask me if they could squeeze in a quick jumping shot for their engagement session, my answer will always be an emphatic “HEEEEYLLZ YEAAAH!” Many thanks to Hopewell Valley Vineyards for their kindness and generosity, and a big “WOO HOO!” to one of our newest couples to take the plunge this year with Ben Lau in attendance. We are so incredibly honored to be capturing Kelly and Rob’s special day. Cheers to many more jumping pictures in your futures :).

(Eat,) Drink and be married! Ben