John & Shannon | Apple Orchard, Virginia Engagement Photographer

What a sweet couple!!! Just looking at these photos, even without knowing them, you must think the same thing. 🙂 I really enjoyed the opportunity of photographing John and Shannon’s engagement, but also getting to know them when we weren’t shooting. We met at a local apple orchard where the apples were in clear sight for the photos. Although, we had to watch our steps because it was like an obstacle course walking around the smooshed fallen apples. Haha! Just around the corner was a field COVERED in sunflowers! I don’t think there is a happier environment!! This session had “fall” written all over it. 🙂

I knew I liked these two from the getgo, but I couldn’t help but laugh when we started talking about our kitties. Apparently, their cat, Brad, and John like to scare and sneak up on Shannon for fun. I made sure to incorporate that into the session. 😉 Haha! Especially to celebrate the Halloween season. 😉 Of course, after laughing over the fact that even their cat jumps out and scares Shannon, turned out the next morning Pixie did that to me!! Stinkers…

I love John and Shannon’s gentle and sweet love towards one another. 🙂 They look SO good and HAPPY in these photos and I know undoubtedly, their love will shine just as so and even more on their wedding day next fall! Eeppp!! So excited!!!

Thanks to the talented Kara from Best Face Forward for Shannon’s beautiful hair and makeup!!

John & Shannon’s Love Story

How John and Shannon Met
from Shannon’s Perspective

When John and I were still hanging out as friends, one of the first things we bonded over was Mark Wahlberg movies. I was quoting “Fear” which I had just watched for the first time, and John finished the quote, so talking about Marky Mark movies became a go-to joke as friendship turned into more. We had planned to go see “Pain and Gain” starring Marky Mark as our first date. We snuck dollar store candy into the theater (sorry Regal Cinema), laughed at how ridiculous the movie was, and by the time the movie was over we weren’t ready for the night to end. We went to a nearby park with a path circling a lake, and walked around. We took a break at a little pier, put some music on Pandora and just talked. When Somewhere over the rainbow came on we just kinda hugged and swayed along to the music. There we were, dancing together, looking out over the lake at sundown, both of us stopped talking. In my head it was the perfect moment for a first kiss… and then the song ended. We stopped dancing and started walking back to the car. Then when John went to open the car door for me, we looked at each other, and leaned in. I thought he blew the perfect storybook first kiss, but made up for it with a funny story of the almost-perfect perfect first kiss. He’s my goofy, awkward guy and I’m glad he leaned in for that kiss (even if it happened five minutes later than I thought it would). All that stemmed from a love for Marky Mark movies, and we’ve been a funky bunch ever since (get it? Marky Mark and the funky bunch?).

How John Proposed to Shannon
from John’s Perspective

I wanted to make the proposal involve something important to us, so that Shannon would know how important she is to me. We knew each other since high school but we really became friends through rowing. The docks where we used to row have the potential to be really romantic and it seemed like the perfect location, but I knew I would have to do something to really make the night stand out. So I wanted the first song we ever danced to (Somewhere over the rainbow by Israel Kamakawiwoʻole) to be playing in the background. Now I figured that by the time I got her down to the boathouse, had the music playing, and got down on one knee, she might already be on to me; I would need a way to surprise her a little more. In my free time I took a sheet of plywood, and drilled out holes that I would put lights through spelling out “Will you marry me?” like a billboard lighting up our special night. I had a plan, I just needed to execute it. So a few days before the proposal I went and asked Shannon’s parents for their blessings (or stood in front of them mumbling and making vague hand gestures, I’m not sure how it happened). After Shannon’s parents said yes to the awkward guy rambling on in their living room, I asked my sister to take Shannon for a manicure under the guise of girl-time, since I knew Shannon would want to take some hand shots with her new ring. I told her we were going on a double date with friends so we could get a little dressed up. I claimed to have forgotten my wallet while rowing earlier that morning to make the random trip to the docks less conspicuous. So we got there a little after sundown, and heard the music faintly. We walked towards it, and as we were walking towards it I told her about how much I love her, and how I was glad that we got to know each other down by the docks. Then when we got in position, I got down on one knee, pulled out the ring, and sat there in the dark for a solid minute. We had technical difficulties, but the lights flickered on, and Shan’s beautiful face lit up. She said yes, let me put the ring on her finger, and it was hands down the best day of my life. I love her with all my heart, and can’t wait to spend the rest of our lives together.

Thank you, John and Shannon, for coming out and making the most of our time together. 🙂 You two are beautiful inside and out, and I cannot WAIT for your special day next fall!!!! We are going to have the best time frolicking around Big Spring Farm! <3 Congrats and enjoy this preview from our time together! XOXO!