Connecticut Surprise Proposal and Engagement Photographer

Connecticut Surprise Proposal & Engagement Photographer

Planning a surprise proposal at the beach in Waterford, CT.

Planning the proposal

In late fall Daniel contacted me to photograph the perfect surprise wedding proposal to his girlfriend, Megan. He knew the date and he had a location in mind, so we worked together to plan all of the details.

The perfect proposal location

Picking the location of where you are going to get down on one knee and propose to your loved one typically involves a location that has meaning to your relationship together. Harkness Memorial Park in Waterford, Connecticut was the perfect location for Daniel and Megan and it was a location I am very familiar with.

I ventured to Harkness about a week before the photography session date and I sent Daniel some photos of the area on the beach I though would work perfectly. I showed him where I will be hiding out with my camera gear ready to go and also where I felt would be a good place for him to stand to be sure to capture both his and her reactions from the side as the proposal took place.

I kept the time of day that worked for Daniel and the lighting from the sun during that time in mind when choosing the location and position for them to stand in and it came together beautifully.

Ironing out the engagement details

On the day of the surprise engagement I had Daniel send me a text message of what clothing they are wearing and also let him know what I was wearing, making it easier for us both to spot each other but not obvious to his girlfriend. Daniel and I decided just a slight head nod was a good clue for him to give me that he was about to get down on one knee and propose to his girlfriend. I knew where I wanted to stand so that I could see them approaching the beach and turn my back to them slightly so I appeared as just another beach goer enjoying the ocean on the mild late Fall day in New England, but so that I could also keep an eye on where they were walking. Now that the details were planned out, we were ready to.

The surprise proposal

I arrived at Harkness Memorial Park about 10 minutes before they were set to arrive. I headed to the location of the proposal on the beach and got my cameras set up for the current lighting situation. I had a long zoom camera lens on me so that I could keep some good distance between us as to not make myself obvious to Megan. As Daniel and Megan walking across the boardwalk and approached the sand I was ready to go.

Daniel lead Megan to towards to water to look for shell and sea glass, as Megan was facing the ocean Daniel gave me a quick nod and I knew it was go time. Megan turned around just as Daniel got down on one knee and took the ring out of his pocket. It was absolutely perfect, everything he envisioned.

After he placed the ring on her finger I have them a few moments to embrace before approaching them. As soon as Megan saw me she jumped up and down in excitement. “Yes! all I wanted was a photographer when he proposed! yes!” She was so thrilled that her special moment was captured.

After the proposal

We spent the next hour exploring the beach and gardens on Harkness Memorial park capturing the excitement of just getting engaged. Megan couldn’t wait to get on the phone and tell her loved ones.

After we parted ways I headed home to edited a handful of photos to give to Daniel and Megan so that they could share the excitement of their recent engagement with their friends and family.

Planning the perfect surprise proposal has a lot of steps to think about, but when it comes down to it, your love for each other is all that matters.

Are you in Connecticut and planning a surprise proposal for your girlfriend and looking to hire a photographer to capture it all? Reach out to Rebecca Lynne today to photograph your proposal and engagement session.

The Difference Between Copyright and Print Release

Copyright? Print release? What is the difference?

So, you are researching photographers for your wedding day and are noticing the phrases “print release” and “copyright” being tossed around but it isn’t clear what that means and what the difference is between them. Let me help out.

When a copyright is purchased for images, that means the photographer no longer owns any right to those images. The photographer can not reproduce the image in any way, they can not display that image on their website or on their social media, among a list of other things.

Most professional wedding photographers will have wording in their contract that allows them to retain the copyright of the images, but allow their clients a print release for those images. Photographers retain the copyright to prevent clients from editing our work, using the images for advertising, selling our images for profit, and other uses that are non-personal. Images that are used for personal reasons are inherently less expensive because they are not meant to turn a profit for another person.

With each of my clients, I offer a print release.

A print release is actually what most people mean when they ask for copyright of their photographs. They want to be sure that they will have access to their digital images after their session or wedding day to download them and print them for their own personal use or to place images on their social media to share with friends and family. A print release will give the client the ability to have the images for personal use while the photographer retains the copyright.

However, some people do actually want a copyright versus print release. Those people are typically celebrities or other wise among the rich or famous. They want to be able to sell the images for publication, or don’t want the photographer building their brand off of images of them. Those clients expect a quote that is close to four or five times the price of a wedding quote with a just a simple print release.

New Haven County, CT Engagement Photographer

Wooster Street Pizza Engagement Photography

Joe and Grace have a love for really, really good pizza. Can you get any better pizza than at Sally’s Apizza on Wooster Street in New Haven?

Joe and Grace hired me to photograph their wedding at Anthony’s Ocean View in the early Summer of 2022. I love getting together with my wedding day couples for a fun photo session before their wedding day. It is such a great way for us to meet, laugh, enjoy each other’s company and for them to get a feel for being in front of my camera. They grabbed their favorite pizza and met me at the park down the street for their engagement session. After we enjoyed a slice (or two, or three) we cleaned up and headed out to explore the streets of New Haven. Along the way we found some great urban areas for fun portraits and ended on the famous Wooster Street.

Are you a recently engagement Connecticut couple looking to hire a fun wedding photographer that focuses on natural poses and genuine love and laughter to document your wedding day? Reach out to Rebecca Lynne Photography today.

Micro Wedding Day at Geer Mountain Farm | Robin and Pete

Litchfield County, Connecticut Wedding Photography

Robin and Pete said “I do” on a warm Fall day at Geer Mountain Farm located in Kent, Connecticut. They were joined by an intimate group of their closest friends and family. Geer Mountain Farm provides the perfect location for a lakeside ceremony and poolside or barn cocktail hour. The intimate feel of this Connecticut wedding venue is perfect for a micro wedding day.

This day began with Robin getting her hair and makeup done with her bridesmaids and flower girl in the main house. Her soon to be husband, Pete was with his groomsmen and ring bearer in the guest house getting on their suits and pinning their boutonnières.

As their friends and family began to arrive the sun rose over the top of the trees and provided beautiful natural lighting at their ceremony site in front of the lake. Guests found their seats and the ceremony began. Pete and Robin invited some of their family members to join them in a unity sand ceremony with them. It was such a sentimental moment during their wedding day to show the joining of two families into one.

As the sun began to set Robin and Pete carefully climbed into a canoe and paddled out onto the lake and we captured studding wedding day photos in the canoe. What a unique moment to share together in their first moments as husband and wife.

The day transformed into an evening of dancing, amazing food, and laughter surrounded by great company. Having an intimated wedding day with 30 of their closet friends and family allowed the Robin and Pete to mingle and spend time with each of their weddings guests.

As the night began to wrap up they met their loved ones in the field for a sparkler exit and the bride and her wedding party jumped into the pool together.

Some words from the bride and groom:

“We met through an online dating site in Sept 2016. Pete messaged Robin first but she replied back saying “sorry you seem great but you live too far away”, luckily Pete responded by telling her he didn’t mind making the long drive. 3 days later we had our first date at The Monkey Farm in Old Saybrook, CT. After that Pete drove from Enfield to Old Saybrook every Friday night to pick Robin up then back on Sunday afternoon since she can’t drive due to vision loss.

Every weekend was a fun adventure exploring breweries, vineyards, markets and traveling. Robin’s dog Logan also fell in love with Pete just as much as she did. 3 years after the first date we moved in together. Pete proposed in 2020 in Moosehead Lake, ME. when he took her out sunrise fishing on a little fishing boat in front of Mount Kineo on the perfect calm, beautiful morning.

We are excited about all the travels and fun adventures we have ahead. We both love exploring bee destinations and are especially excited for our honeymoon to Exuma, Bahamas in April. We can’t wait to swim with the pigs! We will also be going on our 3rd annual trip back to Moosehead and hope that tradition continues every July.”

“Our wedding weekend was absolute perfection. The location, venders, weather, food, etc were all incredible. Every single detail came together magically for us and our guests. So many of our guests told us it was truly the best wedding they had ever attended. Our event was a perfect blend of elegance and relaxed fun. From the ceremony, beautiful cocktail hour with the harpist, canoeing while a drone flew filming overhead, taking photos snuggling in the hammock, dancing our butts off, sparklers, the cops making an appearance, to the hilarious pool jump -there were so many laughs and happy tears. We will never get tired of talking about the fun we had and the love we felt that weekend at Geer Mountain Farm.

We had 30 guests but it truly felt like the energy of 150. The intamacy gave us the time to spend with everyone.

The weather couldn’t have been any better-the best weekend all year. We had been so nervous about it not cooperating and were so grateful it was on our side that whole weekend!”

“All of our venders came together so incredibly to help in making every detail work flawlessly. We wish we could relive our wedding weekend every year because it was baying our wildest dreams! Thank you for documenting it in such a beautiful way for us to treasure forever.”

Wedding Vendors:

Venue: https://cloverandivyevents.com/work
Hair/makeup: Resurge Beauty Bar
Catering: Molly Darcys
Donuts: The Donut Station
Florals: Fika Florals
DJ: DJ Donny D
Rentals: Durants Party and All Season Rentals
Harpist: Harppro
Videography: @joshualicursiphotography
Wedding Dress: Beautifully detailed beaded white mermaid style dress from Going to the Chapel Dress Shop Her bridesmaid Daphne came from NH to help her “say yes to the dress!”. She got it tailored to fit her perfectly at Aytens Alteratiins in Enfield. She wore drop Pearl earrings also purchased at the bridal shop and a Pearl necklace from the Old Mill Shops in Granby. Ladies dresses were long dresses they chose the style in the color Caribbean from Azazie online. Men’s grey suits were rented with pool color ties at men’s warehouse.

Sarah + Robin | The Barns at Wesleyan Hills Wedding

A Summer Wedding day in Middletown, Connecticut at The Barns at Wesleyan Hills.

Sarah and Robin celebrated their wedding day at The Barns at Wesleyan Hills located in Middletown, CT.

The Barns provides a beautiful location for an outdoor wedding ceremony with big beautiful willow trees adding greenery to your ceremony. Inside, The Barns provides a rustic wooden style with beautiful string light detail in the reception space.

This Summer wedding day began with the Bride getting ready with her family and friends inside of the bridal suit at The Barns. After their hair and makeup was completed by Two Spa Girls and Image Hair Studio, Sarah got on her dress with the help of her Mom and then did a First Look with her girls. It was such an emotional moment watching the bride reveal her final look on her big day to her bridal party.

Following the getting ready portion of their wedding day, we headed outside and the bride had a First Look with her Father and then with her Fiancé. Both moments were so special to everyone.

We had a lot of fun during the wedding party portraits, kicking it off with the bridesmaids surprise “icing” the groomsmen. It was such a fun way to kick off the formal images.

Sarah and Robin’s ceremony was officiated by their good friend and Robin’s best man, Mike Shaw. Mike’s familiarity with the bride and groom provided the perfect balance of humor, love, and personalization that can only come from someone who knows them so well.

Doing the bulk of the formal images before the ceremony allowed Sarah and Robin to enjoy the majority of cocktail hour with their guests. I love being able to capture lots of candid moments during cocktail hour of the bride and groom with their family and friends. Cocktail hour is the perfect time for brides and grooms to be able to have the time to mingle with their loved ones, and I love when brides and grooms work their timeline with me to be able to be at cocktail hour with their guests.

Following cocktail hour the reception was filled with first dances, amazing food, and a super fun dance floor.

Makeup: Two Spa Girls
Hair: Image Hair Studio
Florist: In Bloom Event Designs
DJ: Power Station Events

First Look on the lawn at The Barns at Wesleyan Hills.

White rose bouquet details

Wedding Ceremony at The Barns at Wesleyan Hills in Middletown Connecticut

Engagement Photographer in Connecticut

Litchfield County, CT Photography

An engagement session in Kent, Connecticut

Robin and Peter reached out to me earlier this year interested in booking me for their micro wedding at Geer Mountain Peony Farm located in Kent, Connecticut. . Robin and Peter are planning to spend their intimate wedding day celebrating with 30 of their closest friends and family. Their Connecticut wedding venue is a beautiful private property with a lake and being hosted by Clover and Ivy events. Not only are small intimate wedding days a favorite of mine to photograph, but this wedding is special to me because I grew up right in Kent, Connecticut just five minutes away from their venue location.

As we talked more about the details of their wedding day we thought it would be a great idea to have their engagement session at the location of their wedding venue. It was so wonderful to be able to walk around and get familiar with the venue before the big day. Robin and Peter showed me their vision for their wedding day details, pointing out where tables will be set and the ceremony location.

Gear mountain farm in Kent, Connecticut is an absolutely stunning location for your wedding day. From the beautiful lake you can row out into with a kayak, to the fire pit to sit around as the sun goes. There is also a beautiful barn silo and a gorgeous barn converted to a bar perfect for cocktail hour and serving your guests and your wedding day. So many beautiful details in a stunning setting surrounded but greenery.

recently engaged couple during connecticut photo shoot

Connecticut engagement photography session under a willow tree

man with his arms wrapped around his fiance

couple holding each other during kent, connecticut engagement photography session

engagement photography at Connecticut apple orchard

engaged couple embracing in orchard

soon to be married couple holding hands and walking

fiances enjoying a mid summer day together in kent, conneticut

fiance with arms wrapped around his fiance

engaged couple standing new silo

engagement photography posing

photography at Kent, Connecticut wedding venue peony farm

wedding venue located in Litchfield County, Connecticut

engaged couple popping Champaign during the engagement photography session in Kent, CT

couple walking candidly at wedding venue

After you have shared your engagement with loved ones it is time to start planning your wedding day. Starting to book your vendors early gives you the best chance of snagging your dream team for your specific wedding date. Don’t hesitate to reach out to Rebecca Lynne Photography to discuss your wedding day photography needs and to start planning your fun engagement session.

Connecticut Engagement and Wedding Photographer | Em & Jim

Engagement Photo Session in Central CT

Emily and Jim wanted to head into the woods for their engagement photography session, so that is exactly what we did. Connecticut is overflowing with gorgeous locations for photography sessions. We headed to one of my favorite spots in Central CT.

I love to start of engagement sessions just letting the couple be themselves. Be silly, be serious, be camera shy, I love it all. I enjoy seeing the natural chemistry between two people first. Then as we move throughout the session I will give guidance on as needed on hang placement and poses. I have been known to thrown in a very corny jokes if that’s what it takes to break the ice and help the couple relax and have fun.

Are you a recently engaged couple in Connecticut who is looking for wedding day photography? Reach out to Rebecca Lynne today. Rebecca Lynne Photography specializes in candid and natural wedding photography throughout all of Connecticut. Capturing your wedding day as it naturally unfolds.

Five Bridge Inn Rehoboth, MA Wedding | Jason & Nicole Say I Do

Fall Wedding Photography in Southern Massachusetts

Jason and Nicole’s October wedding day at Five Bridge Inn in Rehoboth, Massachusetts was the most beautiful New England Fall day to say “I do”. The air was cool and the leaves had changed color on the trees adding the perfect pop of Fall color to their intimate wedding day.

This Bride and Groom had their beloved dog, Leeloo join in on their big day.

We started the day off with a first look with Nicole and her bridesmaids. Such a lovely sentiment to have some of the most important women in your life in such a special moment on your wedding day.

Jason and Nicole’s First Look outside of the Inn that so emotional. Jason couldn’t even speak after he saw his Bride for the first time in her wedding dress. They both agreed that having a first look together allowed them to get some of the wedding day nerves out of the way before their ceremony.

The rest of their wedding day flowed beautifully with their emotional ceremony, followed by visiting with the Llamas on the property and a crazy fun reception with a special appearances from a t-Rex dinosaur.

Nicole had sewn in a patch from one of her Father’s work shirts into the underside of her wedding dress. It was such a lovely way to have her Father with her on her wedding day, as well as adding to the tradition of having something blue while you walk down the isle.

Connecticut wedding photographer travels to Southern MA and all of New England to capture your wedding day in a candid and natural photography style.

Intimate Wedding Phototgraphy in Connecticut

CT Small Wedding Photographer

A warm Summer backyard wedding at David and Kelsey’s home in New Haven County.

Are you recently engaged and looking for Connecticut photographer for your intimate wedding or backyard wedding? Reach out to Rebecca Lynne Photography today. Connecticut Wedding Photographer Rebecca Lynne documents your wedding day with a natural and candid photography style, capturing the big and small moments of your wedding day in an honest way.

Middlefield, CT Enagement Photography

Middlesex County Connecticut Engagement Photographer

Sunset photo session in a field

I met Robin and Sarah at their engagement session in the Fall of 2019. Robin and Sarah were due to be married in the Fall of 2020 at The Barns at Wesleyan Hills in Middletown, Connecticut. Due to Covid-19 they have decided to move their wedding to 2021, so we decided to get together again in the Summer of 2020 for another photography session with their sweet little fur baby.
I knew the perfect location in Middlefield, CT with a big open field and man it did not disappoint.

Are you a recently engaged couple living in Connecticut who is looking for a Connecticut Wedding Photographer? Reach out to Rebecca Lynne today. Rebecca captures real honest emotion on your wedding day with her photography. Documenting your wedding day in a natural and candid style.

Middlesex County, Connecticut Engagement Photographer

Killingworth, CT Engagement Photography
Fall Photo Session in CT

I met up with Ben and Jill at one of my favorite Fall photography locations in Connecticut for their engagement session. I met Jill when she was in the bridal party of a wedding I photographed at the Hill-Stead Museum recently. When she and Ben reached out letting me know they were interested in having me photograph their wedding day in Avon, Connecticut I was over the moon.

Here are some of my favorite photographs from their engagement session.

Are you recently engaged in Connecticut and looking for a photographer for your wedding day? Reach out to Rebecca Lynne Photography today. Rebecca Lynne is a Connecticut wedding photographer that captures your wedding day in a natural and true to life style. Focusing on the intimate moments of the wedding day and capturing candid moments.