TEAMMATES FOR LIFE:  A LOVE STORY

Katharine and Hans met in high school through soccer and have been girlfriend/boyfriend since they were 17.  Each year they play together in a co-ed soccer tournament in Virginia Beach.  The previous year, he proposed to her at their team dinner, asking her to be his "teammate for life."

I loved that story!  

So we incorporated a soccer motif into the first part of their engagement session, taking photographs of Katharine and Hans in their soccer jerseys at a beautiful recreation area near my Ashburn studio.  Having scouted the area earlier in the week, I selected a location on the edge of a ballfield near rolling hills and forest.  The setting would be lovely on any late afternoon; but, late in the day in early Spring, it was incredible.  As the sun dipped below the tree tops, the still-bare trees cast shadows down the field like the teeth of a comb.   What visual interest and tremendous depth these shadows gave to the background!  

Two off-camera strobes, carefully balanced with the sunlight, provided a strong main light and accent light for the portraits.  Add in some playful, loving attitude -- which came easily to Katharine and Hans -- and you have memorable soccer-themed portraits, commemorating the role that soccer had played and continues to play in their lives.  

But, as great as the soccer portraits were, we were not finished!  The romantic part of the engagement session was yet to come.  

Katharine and Hans changed clothes, and we scooted over to another nearby park.  The new location was actually a change in plans, since I had already scouted some lovely romantic spots (a pond and a gazebo) at our first location.  On the day of their engagement session, however, I happened to drive by a little park with white tree blossoms in full bloom -- absolutely gorgeous!  I just had to do Katharine and Hans' romantic portraits there instead.  

And I'm glad I did.

The little park provided so many lovely backdrops, with soft beautiful lighting, that we ran out of daylight before we ran out of places to photograph.  All of the romantic portraits were done with natural light only.   With proper technique, this approach allows the love that Katharine and Hans feel for one another to take center stage.  The couple's kisses and embraces stand out beautifully against the soft-focus natural backgrounds.   And, by adding a few dashes of direct sunlight and flare, those romantic moments become oh so soft and sweet.  

Congratulations, Katharine and Hans, on your engagement, and best wishes for a wonderful life together!