The wind blowing through Alicia’s hair and her dress paired with the beautiful spring sunshine at a couple flawless locations, what is there not to love about this engagement session? After picking up my camera and photographing them for only 10 minutes, I could tell there was something special I was capturing. A tender, gentle, soft and genuine love. Really though, this is my goal out of every session … to capture the couple how they are. Sweet. Loving. Beautiful. This is exactly how Keith and Alicia are together!
A little background story of the farm location you will see half way through this blog post … I live out in a rural area of Fauquier County with mountains surrounding and fields rolling off in the distance. I LOVE it. Everyday on my way home, I pass this one field that always seems to catch my eye with one lonely rustic barn in the middle of a field with mountains in the distance. I always thought to myself, gosh I want to photograph there! I haven’t had the opportunity come across at that point, but it was still on my mind. I’ve even had couples of mine mention that particular field when they come over to my house talking about if I’ve ever done a session there before! So I guess I’m not the only one who notices this space as unique. I was driving home from the gym when I noticed a man in the driveway raking his damaged gravel driveway from the snow storms we’ve had here over the months. In my head, I was going crazy thinking, “Stop Stephanie!”. About a mile down the road, I built up the courage and turned around to approach him about using his property for a session. I had NO idea how in the world I was going to approach this farmer who probably has no idea what in the world I was doing pulling over on the side of the road to talk to him … but it was worth winging it because he gave me permission! I was relieved and doing the happy dance in my car. 😉 I’m so glad I could use this space for Keith and Alicia!!!
Keith & Alicia’s Love Story
from Alicia’s point of view
I met Keith on a fall afternoon in Arlington, VA. I was out in Clarendon with a few friends watching football. I spotted Keith from across the room, probably because he’s hard to miss at 6’6”. It was love at first sight. We chatted for a bit that day and discovered we have a lot in common. We are both Catholic, played sports in college, have sales careers. Keith called me the next day and we’ve been together ever since! We’ve created such special memories the past four years, from moving in together, getting a puppy, and traveling to amazing places. I’m so blessed to have him in my life and so excited to be Mrs. Holdan in September!
I took Alicia on a trip to California to celebrate being together 4 years. We visited California a few years prior and fell in love with Sonoma and Napa. I decided there wasn’t a better place to ask her to be my wife. We drove from San Francisco to Sonoma in a convertible, top down, enjoying the cool breeze and warm sunshine. We stopped at a few favorite wineries before checking in to our B&B in the heart of Sonoma. Alicia and I had stayed at this same B&B two years earlier and loved the owners. The owner also flies planes in his spare time. He offered to take us in a plane ride the next day over Sonoma, Napa, and San Francisco. I still hadn’t figured out exactly where I was going to pop the question and started thinking this would be a perfect opportunity to propose to Alicia. However, with all the excitement of having the ring (and consuming a few glasses of wine) I proposed to Alicia that same evening right before dinner. She couldn’t figure out what to wear to dinner, so I got down on my knee and told her she could wear this, and slipped the ring on her finger. It was perfect and she said YES! We celebrated the whole weekend with lots of champagne and wine!! And we even got to take that plane ride the next day and saw the most stunning views of Sonoma, Napa, and San Francisco. It was the perfect ending to a perfect weekend.
Thank you Keith and Alicia for a great time and trusting me from start to finish. 🙂 Cannot wait for your special day in September!!! xoxo
I love the colors!!! Finally … spring is here! 🙂
She could not have worn a more perfect skirt for this session! Thank you Anthropologie!
Gorgeous!
Love these shots!
GORGEOUS!
Some of my favorites!!!
So sweet!
Off to the farm!
Love the wind in her hair!
You’re stunning, Alicia!
Look at that rock!!
Cute!
This is sweet. 🙂
Thanks again for a beautiful end to a weekend!! xoxo
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