Elaine Palladino | Miami Portrait and Wedding Photographer » The photography blog of Elaine Palladino, a wedding and portrait photographer based in Miami, Florida.

My amazing brother-in-law, AJ, got engaged to his wonderful girlfriend, Ashley, while we were on family vacation in New Hampshire last week. I know the blog title says Andrew but I only ever call him AJ and that’s how it’s going to stay. Anyway, the proposal itself was wonderfully sweet and had my father-in-law and me lurking in the bushes with our long lens cameras. We went paparazzi. Because there is no way that Mike and I can shoot their wedding (though I want to so badly), I asked if we could have the honor of shooting their engagement pictures. I sent AJ an encoded email and everything to plan ahead. Something about fishing and hunting. Take my word for it, it was awesome.

Mike and I wish that we had at our disposal in Miami all the woods, lakes, fields and all the other fantastically natural things you find in New Hampshire. We don’t, sadly, but what are we going to do? I made the most of it, while we were in my version of Heaven. Some photographer hot shot said that he hates shooting around anything green. Says it distracts from the subjects. I say he’s full of crap. Give me green all day, every day.

The morning of the shoot, we woke up extra early and headed out to the rock where AJ proposed. Never mind that we were woken up earlier in the morning by some jerk college kids who decided to stay on the lake the whole night. It was all I could do to not get up and yell (Yes, I’m already an ornery old lady). Despite the lack of sleep, went to the woods near the house and on Mirror Lake. Later on, I even got that field I covet on a daily basis. Oh, and Mike was on fire during this shoot. ON. FRIGGIN’. FIRE.

I won’t lie, it’s a special kind of thrill when you make people cry with your photos or move them in some way. And I mean cry happy tears, of course. I so wanted these pictures to reflect AJ and Ashley’s relationship and I know for certain it did. I even got Ashley to cry. Score!

Settle in, I’m showing a whole bunch of pictures. While you’re at it, check out the full slideshow of brilliance HERE. They chose the song “Please Forgive Me” by David Gray. I’m going to quote it throughout the post because, well, the words take my breath away.

“Please forgive me if I act a little strange

For I know not what I do

Feels like lightning running through my veins

Every time I look at you…”

My future sister-in-law is FIERCE!

“Help me out here, all my words are falling short

And there’s so much I want to say

Want to tell you just how good it feels

When you look at me that way…”

Mike hit it out of the park with these next two pictures.

“Throw a stone and watch the ripples flow

Moving out across the bay

Like a stone I fall into your eyes

Deep into your mystery…”

That picture on the right? Intense. One of my favorites. Actually, both are.

AJ proposed on this rock hence forth dubbed, Diamond Rock.

He was supposed to read this note to her during the proposal but brought the wrong paper.

In front of Polly’s Pancake Parlor. I love that horse. I shall call him Pancake.

“I got half a mind to scream out loud

I got half a mind to die

So I won’t ever have to lose you girl

Won’t ever have to say goodbye

I won’t ever have to lie

Won’t ever have to say goodbye…”

Left, my view. On the right, Mike’s view. Team Palladino!

“Please forgive me if I act a little strange

For I know not what to do

Feels like lightning running through my veins

Every time I look at you…”

I love this session. I think it’s my favorite, but I’m biased.

Thank you AJ and Ashley for letting us take your pictures. You can’t know how much it means to us.

I can’t wait for the wedding and to be a part of, what I’m sure will be, a rockin’ marriage.

Miss you guys already.

Love, e