A Picnic in Wheeling Engagement Session | Jocelyn & TJ

OOooOo my GOSH…there is SOMETHING in the air and I’m FREAKING out in a great way! The last two weeks have been a DREAM for wedding photographers like me…but really…it’s just my couples – like Jocelyn and TJ! These two came to the studio with a wedding vision. They booked me! THEN, Jocelyn had a plan for her engagement session. She sent me the inspiration and then she trusted me to execute it and THAT led to a very exciting and oOooOo so beautiful engagement session gallery! SO, please give these two all your Hannah Barlow Photography love…their engagement session preview is live on the blog right now! ENJOY! *Brace yourself…I have a lot to say about this one!*

So, we opted to start with the more casual outfit. Jocelyn wanted it to have a cozy, picnic vibe (you’ll see here in a second). She also wanted some fall…and fall took its SWEET time this year to shift so I had them meet me in this little spot in Wheeling, WV and it was just the perfect light and some changing leaves!

Also, fun fact…I’ve NEVER photographed this little location before! It’s true! Another thing I LOVE is a fresh canvas…somewhere new. It seems backwards…but it gives me all the joy and excitement to photograph something brand new to my camera…aside from a new couple, of course! Gosh, they take a great photo, don’t they?! I love all the warm tones too!

Let’s have a picnic! I MAY have gone through her bag and found the save the date while they were setting other things up…and added it for some fun!

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! Sitting photos are not easy…add in a picnic? HARD! They made it look easy…and the light…the water…the whole thing! AHHHH!!!! I’m still freaking out over these and I photographed them last week!

Then, we’re taking a hard right turn and pivoting on the vibe and theme of this session and blog. Are you ready?! I knew what outfit was coming up next…and Jocelyn reminded me that her colors were black and white for the wedding! A lightbulb (no pun intended…but ironic that the light bulbs were literally on at this point) went off in my head and I put them in my car and we drove to the other side of Wheeling to one of my favorite (and only photographed one other time) spots that is…black and white! Perfection!

I’m not usually big on golden hour because it takes away my “pop” of color and contrast I’m known for but some of her inspiration photos had hazy sun and I like to give my couples what they want…and now I may be changing my tune too! I couldn’t believe it. I also couldn’t believe how perfect the light and location was…considering this was our third date. Rain and schedule delays forced us to reschedule twice…and LOOK. Her and I kept just staring at each other saying, “I think…I really THINK…it was all meant to be!” It was…Oooo my goodness!

More sitting photos!! They nailed it again!

Shoutout to Justin Geery for giving me some ideas where we could get high on a rooftop! So, back in the car and to the rooftop we go!

These two are the kind of people I get with…and talk way too much to…because I’m just way too comfortable! I’m sorry…but not sorry…but TJ also had to go to work midnight this evening. He was probably so sick of me! HA! But I needed more and more and MORE photos! For real though, how beautiful are these?! The amount of times I’ve said ‘beautiful’ and ‘perfect’…and I’m not taking it back! NOPE!

Weddings and engagements are practically all I do so I’m usually go with the flow…but there are sessions like this one that just light that fire inside me and it makes me feel like a brand new photographer again who nailed a perfect session for the first time ever! I’m SO busy this time of year and this is allllll the feels I needed! I feel energized again!

Just a few more and then we’ll wrap it up!

I’m telling you…sessions like this inspire me! Next year’s couples so far are 10/10 humans and going to have the BEST weddings…I just know it! Jocelyn said, “I don’t know what I expected but they’re better than anything I could’ve imagined!”…END QUOTE. I had sent her a little sneak peek. Yes…same, girl…SAME! That’s exactly how I feel about this session too. I knew going in since I’d already met the couple and I knew the outfits and vibe…that it was going to be grand but the wedding Gods really showed up and said “Let me add some love and light and perfect weather”! Everyone raise their praise hands…I hope every other couple this year gets this experience for their engagement photos (spoiler alert…I just did another last night and it was JUST as good)! I’ll say it again…it was PERFECT! ALL OF IT!

Thanks for reading everyone…have a GREAT day!

OoOo and also…don’t be afraid to reschedule when the weather forecast is cruddy. Ask Jocelyn and TJ! Ok! That’s all, BYE!

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Disclaimer: Hannah Barlow Photography engagement blogs only represent a small portion of photos the couple actually receives in their private gallery.  The blogs are meant to highlight my own favorite photos and favorite moments of the session and do not represent an entire gallery.

With permission specifically from the couple, galleries can be shared if you wish to view it in its entirely and/or order prints.

info@hannahbarlowphoto.com for more info.