Sometimes all the elements fall into place perfectly.

The right location, the right time of day, the right light and a couple who are willing to reveal something of who they are together. Then all you have to do is be present. We all need a little bit of luck sometimes as photographers, and I had some the afternoon I went out to spend time with Noelle and Aidan. We waited in the car for the rain to pass. I’m so glad we did. Murlough Beach is one of my favourite places. I think we were all a wee bit in awe of it that day. *sigh* The heat warmed the cold waves and mist rolled off them over the sand. The sun peaked out gently from behind the curtain of Slieve Donard mountain. Fishermen and dogwalkers smiled as they passed. And Noelle and Aidan laughed and kissed. Just happy to be enjoying this piece of time together. When there was just two people in love, with the sun on their backs and an ocean of possibilities in front of them.

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Tis’ the season for engagements, starting with Jayne and Christopher. This has to be one of the best times of the year to be out shooting. Autumn glory everywhere!  Jayne and Chris chanced upon a beautiful afternoon in Belfast for a walk with their photographer :)  They had their session ‘almost to the same date’ as next year’s wedding. Lets hope we get more of these rustic colours in the sunshine in Lusty Beg. Jayne is like me, a wee bit camera shy. But I think that shyness makes her all the sweeter in these photos.  And anyway, she’s saving up her confidence for the big day! And as long she has Christopher by her side, she’ll have absolutely nothing to worry about. He gives her lots to smile about. What a cuddly, cheerful couple to start off the sessions. Enjoy!

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Now for one of my favourite ever engagement sessions.  I can’t help feeling we have our own ‘PS I love you’ story right here with Conor and Alise. (without the sad part!) Plus Conor has a much better Irish accent than Gerard Butler and Alise could easily be more ‘Holywood glamour’ than Hilary Swank.

I’ve been chatting to Alise by email for months now. She was just the sweetest person I’d never met. It’s funny how things happen. Initially we were  just planning for an Irish engagement shoot and I never dreamed I’d be invited to do their wedding.  But next year, as it happens, I will be off to Georgia for their big day! That’s right – my first ever international, cross-atlantic wedding!!! I’m beyond excited about this and so honoured to be asked. It’s such a beautiful story. The old romantic in me couldn’t resist it. I knew this was going to be very special. And now that we have the engagement shoot over, I’m even more thrilled for what April will bring.

Alise is from Georgia and Conor is from Belfast. They met last summer when Alise was backpacking with a friend around Ireland. They met on the last night Alise was to be in Belfast. Fate maybe? Alise then had to travel on to London but came back to fly out of Dublin to America. She spent her last wonderful days in Ireland with Conor. It wasn’t easy for Alise or Conor going back and being separated after that. They knew this was it. This love was worth the struggle of being thousands of miles apart. They’ve crossed the world for each other many times. Struggled through snow storms and lost luggage to see each other. They email and skype each other everyday. And now they are planning for the most wonderful day of their lives.

Alise and Conor love photos and they suggested lots of places where we might go. I mean, we have so many locations here in the north to choose from. We’re lucky that way and it’s a hard choice to make.  But for some reason I had this mountain where I used to walk come into my head for them. It seemed so perfect. Or maybe I’ve just watched ‘PS I love you’ too many times and dream of the scene where Gerry meets Holly for the first time along the mountain road and they are surrounded by all that beautiful Irish purple. *sigh*

Here is some of that sweet love…

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Just one photo. So many more beautiful frames to come from this engagement session soon.

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