ashley + jake | an avam + federal hill engagement full of love + bubbly
/As a native Marylander, Ashley has a ton of pride for Baltimore (and Jake, a native Texan, is quickly learning how great it is here! ;)), so choosing to take their engagement photos at the American Visionary Art Museum then walking atop Federal Hill Park as the sun was setting, made for the most iconic Baltimore photos that I can’t wait to share with you!
If you want a glimpse into why these two are so special, cue the happy tears when you read the simple trait that is Jake’s favorite thing about his fiance:
“When she laughs, it lights up my day in an amazing way.”
I love the details of their college meet-cute! (and totally random fun fact: the architecture firm I used to work for, designed Turman Hall at Emory University where they first met… how’s that for a small world!?)
“Jake and I met in the very stereotypical way: we lived one floor apart from each other in the same freshman dorm, Turman Hall, our freshman year at Emory University. We both had kind of odd roommates, so instead of spending time in our dorm rooms, we both spent a lot of time in the dorm lounge at the end of the hall – myself and Nneoma (a girl in my hall who became my best friend and now bridesmaid) downstairs in the girls floor lounge, and Jake upstairs in the boys floor lounge, which was open to our lounge below. We spent sooooo much time in that lounge our first year, including one memorable night where the 3 of us legitimately stayed up from 6pm until 6am talking about anything and everything. Jake and I had very different experiences growing up. Our story-sharing provided a really great foundation of friendship that I was totally clueless as to any potential feelings starting to get involved until it came out that Jake was interested in me around December of our first year. It came as a total shock, but once I calmed down from my fear of the risk of hurting the friendship if something were to work out (always a concern but was even more terrifying as an 18-year-old at the time where EVERYTHING is a huge deal), I realized how well we could work. We spent all of winter break texting nonstop and I remember being so excited to go back to school in January to see him and start to try things out. We started “officially” dating the day after Valentine’s Day and have been together ever since – 10 years by the time we get married!”
And it just keeps getting sweeter — Ashley was serenaded during Jake’s proposal. You have to read their proposal story below!!!
“Jake and I spent a lot of time during the pandemic in Patterson Park in Baltimore, lying out on a picnic blanket and reading, people-watching, and just enjoying the sunlight (grabbing some ice cream from Bmore Licks or a pizza from Verde on our way out!). It definitely became a “thing” so it was only natural he worked it into the proposal. We were sitting on a blanket under a tree not far from the pagoda, and Jake got up to go “get something from the car” – and returned with a barbershop quartet who sang and serenaded us before he got on one knee and asked me to marry him! I was in an a cappella group in college (on top of many other choirs throughout my life), so the music was a nod to that and overall just the most charming thing – it was a group of four older men who traveled all the way from Reston, Virginia to come and sing for us, and they seemed almost as excited as Jake was! We got Bmore Licks and spent some time relaxing at home (Jake passed out on the couch from relief and I remember taking a picture of my newly-ringed hand next to his sleeping self lol) and celebrated with dinner at Fells Point that night. It was an awesome day.”
Ashley + Jake, honored and excited doesn’t even begin to describe how I feel about photographing your decade-in-the-making love story; you are very clearly meant to continue laughing together for many, many years! Let’s get you two married!!!
xo,
Naomi
lianna + brian | an intimate baltimore rooftop elopement in federal hill
/The amount of joy and laughter Lianna and Brian exude is nothing short of contagious… I honestly can’t stop smiling and am so happy you two were able to celebrate it in the intimate, meaningful way you wanted!
L + B planned an intimate weekday rooftop elopement at their home, but first they celebrated in their own adorable way by making stops for photos in Fells Point, Federal Hill park and ending at Little Havana for a fun and cozy dinner reception with 🌶 sauce as their favors, yummy margs🍹, a cigar bar and my fave: a candy s’mores bar with 5 different flavor combos (genius, really)!!
When I asked Lianna if there were any important or significant details they were incorporating into their elopement, she replied with this… “Nothing inherently special or significant besides being surrounded by our families, in our home and favorite places to spend time in together…” Pretty sure that’s all you need in life.
Enjoy these favorites from their intimate Baltimore rooftop elopement!!!
I love their ‘how we met’ story…
“Every year, my college sorority would host a duck hunting-themed date party where everyone dressed in camo and jorts - classy! In 2013, I took one of my friends (who happens to be a great friend and former roommate of Brian's) and he went with one of my "sisters". We spent the night in the same circle of people but not really chatting too much with each other one-on-one. For the next year, Brian referred to me as "Naime's date" because he couldn't remember my name (and to be honest, I had no clue what his name was either... I just thought he was the cute guy in the crew!) Finally, we called each other out on it and haven’t stopped talking since (unless of course, he is on the golf course)!”
And since their proposal took place on their roof deck, that’s also where they got married…
“On October 3, 2020, Brian and I spent the whole day just the two of us (and our pup, Abby, of course!) This is pretty rare for a nice Saturday in golf season so I was excited to just have a nice day together! We started out by taking a walk around Lake Roland and eating brunch in Hampden. The rest of the day we watched our college team actually win a football game (also pretty rare these days) and being lazy at the house. When night rolled around, Brian suggested we go have a drink on our roof deck. He had strung lights and lit our firetable so it was a beautiful scene to walk up to. That is where he got down on his knee and asked me to be his wife, just the two of us!”
Congratulations, sweethearts! Your excitement, joy and laughter is contagious… hope you never stop enjoying each other’s company like this! You’re absolutely onto something with beginning your married life together by celebrating in all of your favorite Baltimore spots.
We were honored to be a part of this day with you and your families! Cheers to more rooftop sunsets and keeping things spicy… just remember to always keep laughing and “be cool, be cool, be cool”.
xo,
Naomi (+ Liz, associate photographer)
vendor love:
bouquet and rooftop florals: Thurman & Fig
restaurant florals: Fleur de Lis Baltimore
beauty: Brushed Beauty
dinner reception: Little Havana
cake: Codetta Bake Shop
nora + ross | bright and colorful federal hill engagement
/If there was a consistent theme running through Nora + Ross’ engagement session, it was complete and utter joy in being around each other. Nora’s sense of style (that bold red lip with those glasses and a vibrant orange-y red patterned jumpsuit!) paired with Ross’ easygoing and thoughtful nature was so much fun to document - these two have so much personality!!
The 4 reasons Nora + Ross’ engagement photos at AVAM and Federal Hill will inspire you:
Exploring the American Visionary Art Museum’s outdoor sculpture gardens together made for so many fun backdrops to their photos; brick, mirrored mosaics, bright colors, texture, ivy-covered walls… I could have easily spent all day with them and I’m so glad they felt at ease being themselves here!
Since Nora grew up in Baltimore but they currently live in New York, choosing an iconic Baltimore location along the Inner Harbor meant their photos would hold special meaning to them while allowing us to incorporate 3 very different settings; the waterfront, a modern art museum and Federal Hill, a park with hilltop views like no other.
The way Nora’s smile and laughter lights up every image. When you love being around your person, it shows…
Speaking of, their love story is like something out of a movie. It all came to be because of a missed subway connection. And that subway line and stop is where Ross proposed after careful planning “and nearly torpedoed Nora”.
Are they not the sweetest couple together?! I’m such a sucker for black and white images where genuine emotion shows through and this one just makes me smile from ear to ear.
I know this weekend is bittersweet since we were supposed to be celebrating together at Frederick Douglass Maritime Park, but thanks to COVID demanding we spend another year looking forward to it, I hope you’ve been able to celebrate in your own way!
Here’s to more epic golden sunsets along the Baltimore waterfront the next time we’re together! *fingers crossed*
xo,
Naomi
julie + joe | federal hill park sunset engagement
/as soon as I met Julie + Joe over coffee and we chatted for almost 2 hours, I knew they were my people: dog people, pizza and beer first date people…
Read Morecourtney + mike | federal hill | baltimore engagement photographer
/Courtney + Mike are my kind of people... dog people. :) They also live in a rowhouse in Federal Hill with amazing city views and so much character.
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