Some sessions just have a feeling from the very beginning. This was one of them.
Fiona had reached out about photographing her elopement with Chris. A few days before we were set to meet, she mentioned something that made me smile: she thought she had spotted me on the Blue Trail at Alice Newton Memorial Park, camera in hand, out with my family, while she was there with Chris. We had been hiking the same trail without even knowing it yet. Is that not the most Woodbridge thing ever?
From that moment I just knew this was going to be a good one.
The session
We met at Woodbridge Town Center on a Friday evening and we just clicked. I walked Fiona and Chris through posing at the start, giving them the "this might feel a little weird but it will look amazing" speech, and they were immediately on board. No awkwardness, no stiffness. Just two people who were happy to be there and happy to be together. We were all smiling basically the entire time!
Then we moved to the colonial house, with that gorgeous bench under the trees and the most beautiful purple rhododendrons blooming behind it. Chris mentioned he had attended Boy Scouts there as a kid, which I thought was adorable and reminded me of my own son who just started Cub Scouts this year. Those little moments of connection are everything to me. Woodbridge is not just a backdrop I use, it's my community, and feeling that during a session is really special.
And then I brought them to the rhododendron garden I'd found on the side of the church when I'd scouted the location. I couldn't believe how beautiful it was! Mid-May and it was absolutely in its glory, white blooms everywhere, lush, a little wild, and completely stunning. We were all laughing and I was shooting as fast as I could because every single moment was beautful. These are my favorites from the whole day and I think you will see why.
In Fiona's words...
Noemi is a wonderful photographer! We hired her for our elopement wedding shoot, and we are so happy we did—she captured the moment perfectly. From the very first message, Noemi was incredibly friendly and helpful. She suggested the perfect time and location, and the communication throughout the entire process was amazing.
Neither my partner nor I had ever done a professional photoshoot before, so we were a bit apprehensive. However, the moment Noemi arrived, she put us completely at ease. She guided us on exactly where to stand, walk, look, and smile, which was incredibly helpful since we were pretty clueless! Noemi created a relaxed environment and picked out some lovely backdrops that she had scoped out beforehand. We were thrilled with the final photos and wouldn't hesitate to recommend her. If you’re feeling a bit nervous about being in front of the camera, Noemi will absolutely comfort you, and you’ll end up with amazing photos to cherish for years to come. Thanks, Noemi!
A note on elopements
Not every couple wants a big wedding, and I think that is wonderful. Fiona and Chris knew exactly what they wanted: something quiet, something theirs, and then real photographs to remember it by. If that sounds like you, I would love to hear from you. And if you are local to Woodbridge or anywhere in New Haven County, you already know how beautiful it is out here. Let me show you what it looks like through my lens.
