The man in the photo says, “She is in love.” Nino Quincampoix, collector extraordinaire, exclaims in exasperation, “I don’t even know her!” But the man in the photo is wise. He smiles with all the wisdom of the world: “Oh, you know her.” Bewildered, Nino asks, “Since when?” And the answer — says the man in the photo: “Since always. In your dreams.”

When I met Rachelle and Daniel, I couldn’t stop thinking about this scene in Amelie. It’s one of my favorite films. If you talk to me about France, and French movies, ah, prepare to hear me sigh, and sigh again. Amelie is one of the most romantic stories ever, and Rachelle and Dan are one of the most romantic couples I’ve ever met. They were at Disney to celebrate Rachelle’s birthday but it turned out to be more than just that.

The lovely couple:

While they were at Epcot, they decided to walk by the France section of the World Showcase. There, with the Eiffel tower creating a fantastic background and setting the mood, Dan proposed to a very surprised Rachelle. It was the stuff made of dreams. And we sought to recreate the moment for their engagement session, which just melted all my bones!

Dan, the romantic:

And Rachelle, who can’t help but tear up all over again:

I am filled with joy whenever I see these two:

And you know what I’ve noticed? Time seems to stop for the two of them with just one look:

And they always seem to make each other smile, it’s adorable:

Rachelle and Dan have been together a long time. Eight years! Simply amazing.

True love does exists, says an old man at the Two Windmills bar, where Amelie works. And I can’t tell all of you how extraordinary it is to be a witness to such a thing. When Dan proposed to Rachelle, she asked him, “Are you for real?” Oh yes. Everything between the two of you is so real and genuine, my dear.

I can’t wait for the wedding you guys!

Wow, I haven’t done a Friday Five in awhile! Which is why this post feels so good and delicious. Hope you are all pink and tickled with love and laughter at the moment. Happy weekend, everyone!

1 / either way, some musings on relationships at Le Love

2 / Underwater wedding photos by Michelle King

3 / like an eternity from Le Love

4 / Balloons

5 / “Drink Me” bottle tags from Truly Smitten

Friday Five are things that make me swoon and all that jazz. These amazing people make me love what I do even more!

Could the location be any more fitting? Photographing Brynne and Matt for their engagement session was like making a lot of romantic postcards to send to family and friends! I’ve never seen two people who are so fun, vibrant, and love to make each other laugh. We had a great time at the Postcard Inn at St. Pete – everywhere I look I see gorgeous stuff, hip decor and wonderful people – but there’s nobody there more amazing than Brynne and Matt, who light up the whole place with their smiles and love. I mean, just look at them – they are perfect for each other:

They are so comfortable with each other and a natural in front of the camera! I think when you reached that point in your relationship – that closeness, when you can let your hair down and be yourself, and find that your partner loves you just the way you are – it’s a rare treat, no?

Some black and white shots – so sexy and romantic!

They said that laughter is the closest distance between two people. I think it’s one of the truest things in the world. To Brynne and Matt – I look forward to your wedding! Keep smiling

P.S. If you want to see more, the rest of the photos are in a video highlight here.

A lot of brides are so excited as their wedding day draws near – it’s like all the days pass by in a blur, blending together in a colorful whirl of preparations, checklists, following up the caterer, and what-have-you. I love being with them at this time of their lives, when you know they’re on the brink of something so monumental and exquisite, that the journey itself is as joyful as the destination.  Come wedding day, everything just falls away, and there’s nothing else that matters but that man waiting for her at the end, The One whom she’ll be spending the rest of her life with.

I first become witness to this union during an engagement session. This is the time when I get to know the bride and groom, and where I get a glimpse of their life together and their love. As a wedding photographer, I encourage couples to have an engagement session, because it is one of the most important moments between you and your loved one. It is intimate and revealing at the same time. It is an opportunity to capture your love in the little details: a glance when you thought he’s not looking, a kiss on your shoulder, your two holding hands, a sweet kiss. It’s something you can both look at, weeks, months, years down the line and think, Gosh, I love you. It’s something to show to your kids someday. It’s something to show your family and guests at the wedding, too.

Now, a lot of brides have been asking me for advice, and I gave it some thought. Here are 5 tips to make your engagement photo session awesome:

1. Location, location, location. A great location makes for a great photograph – and it becomes even more extraordinary if it has a special memory attached to it. As a photographer I suggest looking for places that mean something to you – places where you two have met, where you spend most time together, or where something special has happened (i.e. first date, first kiss, where he proposed). Immediately this will add a character to your photos and you will likely feel more at home because of your fondness for the place. On the other hand, a location with an amazing backdrop or scenery can be effective as well because it’s a chance to take everybody’s breath away. Go the extra mile by exploring your area and finding an obscure nook that not a lot of people has been to yet – this adds a level of uniqueness to your session.
2. Wear what you feel. Better yet, wear what makes you comfortable. You and your fiancé can mix and match your outfits to make both of your looks coherent, but be careful in being too perfectly matched (i.e. same shirt color or same outfit altogether). The color of your earrings can match his belt, or his tie can match with your dress, or your shoes with his shirt. You can also opt for a theme – if your location is at a hotel, you can both wear something glamorous. If you are shooting at the beach, you can wear something casual.
3. Do not be afraid to show emotions. Be yourself. My job as your photographer is to make you comfortable as much as possible and not be too self-conscious. Enjoy this time to just laugh, talk, hold hands and be sweet with your partner. If you have any poses in mind, or if I have any poses I would like to do, I will take the time to guide you both and position you so that you look your best. We can discuss fun, candid poses that will add a lot of personality (jumping, kissing, etc.) and I promise to be game if you are
4. Bring props or things that mean something to you. They add so much to the photo and make your portrait pop. Some of the props that will be fun to do are: balloons, flowers, sparklers, and anything that’s unusual. It would even be better if the prop has a special relevance to both you and your fiancé. Whether it’s a dog, or a car – if it’s special to you then I would take the time to incorporate it in the photos.
5. What’s your story? In the end, the engagement session is about you as a couple. I love to include elements of your personality into the photographs, so that people who will see it will get a grasp of who you two are, and how much you love each other. If you’re a teacher and he’s a painter, we can include elements of your jobs into your outfit or the location or even the poses. If you both love the beach we can use it as our backdrop and make fun portraits like digging your toes in the sand, or running by the shoreline, or even kissing as the sun sets.

An engagement session is also essential in establishing a connection and rapport with your wedding photographer. It’s a chance for me to get to know you both as an individual and as a couple, and for you to get comfortable with me as well. This is vital in capturing the emotions flowing between the bride and groom. As the person who will be documenting your wedding, it’s important for me to know what makes you comfortable and uneasy in front of the camera, what poses you like and what makes you look good. The engagement session gives us the chance to bond and to trust each other, and this is what makes each photograph special.