The day of their Bon Air Rose Garden engagement session, the air was thick with smoke. Canadian wildfires had caused pretty intense air pollution in the DC/Northern Virginia area that week. I wondered how an engagement session might be impacted. Would the light fade? Would my clients breathe comfortably? But as the day went on and the session approached, the air seemed to clear just enough. We went for it.

I met Tess and Vince at Bon Air Memorial Rose Garden in Arlington, VA. Before meeting them in the parking lot, I already knew part of their stories. I had met on Zoom with Tess’ mom, Martha, just the day before. She gave me all the swoon-worthy details about their love story, nearly 10 years in the making.

Tess and Vince each live with high-functioning intellectual disabilities, and they met through a job skills training program they both attended. After hearing their story and learning more about their interests and personalities, I just knew I wanted to make this session extra special for them. Martha so kindly shared her tips on how best to work with Tess and Vince to get natural, glowing photos of them. All of which proved helpful in the end, but honestly, these two were just cute as buttons without much coaching.

Every couple I work with learns how to pose in front of a camera. It’s new to most people, so I gladly take my time showing flattering poses before we dive headlong into a session. But Tess and Vince caught on so quickly and easily. It was all because their adorable love was impossible to miss. The two were just so sweet with one another, and so kind toward me. Also, their patience as we walked through the garden from spot to spot, pose to pose, was truly key in making this smoky evening a success.

I truly enjoyed learning more about them as I photographed their connection. Like me, Tess and Vince are cat people! They have three cats, Donut, Grits, and Bacon! And Vince was absolutely tickled that my husband loved shopping at the Italian Store in Clarendon. Vince’s dad is the kitchen manager there, and we bonded over our shared Italian family heritage (though mine is through marriage alone haha). Tess was especially excited to share all about her wedding plans. She lit up as she told me about her bridesmaids, her dress shopping experience, and her venue.

As we wrapped up their Bon Air Rose Garden engagement session, we met back in the parking lot with Martha. The three of us were nearly skipping with happiness. I was thrilled at the photos we produced and the friendships made. And Tess and Vince seemed relieved that the session went so easily. Since delivering the photos, they have not stopped saying the sweetest things about our time together, and the resulting images.

I cannot wait for their wedding day next year, June 2024. It will feel like reconnecting with old friends again, I just know it. I will be photographing their wedding as an associate photographer for Compass Studios.

Did you love Tess & Vince’s engagement session? See more of my work below!

• David & Selby’s Smithsonian Castle Engagement Session
• Joey & Mary’s Capitol Hill Engagement Session
• Andrew & Lauren’s National Gallery of Art Engagement Session
• Nick & Lauren’s Sunrise Lincoln Memorial Engagement Session
• Jordan & Lacey’s Dover Hall Wedding
• Luke & Ashley’s Springtime Evergreen Country Club Wedding
• Wayde & Kayla’s Enchanting Barn at Timber Creek Wedding
• John & Theresa’s Branch Museum Wedding in Richmond, VA