I'm engaged!

(I have waited a week to post about this and it's been eating away at me! I wanted to tell my girlfriends first on the phone.)
Shawn asked me to be his wife in Aruba in the sweetest most memorable way! I had no idea he brought a ring on vacation and had been planning this. He completely surprised me after 14 years! Take a look at the video footage below first of the location he proposed at. I took this a little before he did it. It's a really beautiful area of Aruba where the ocean comes under these rock formations and you can crawl around under them.





















So after I took this photo of a snail he yelled at me to stop taking photos and come look at the sunset. I would not stop so he jumped down on all fours by a rock and made like he was looking under it, at a fish. He told me to come down where he was and check it out. So I looked under the rock and Shawn came up, already on his knees with a ring, (there was no fish,) and said "Heather, will you be me wife?" I lost it! I cried and could not stop hugging him. I did not even look at the ring or answer him I just kept saying " What?! is this for real?!" Finally I said yes and realized he was holding a ring in front of me. I keep playing this moment over and over in my head because it feels like such a blur now, I don't want to forget it!


This photo is blurry but I remember taking it as soon as everything sunk in.


This is me absolutely thrilled that night!


I was so excited to tell Jason, Shawn's brother who was also on vacation with us. I do not have any siblings so Jason has been like a brother and friend since he was 12 years old. He was grinning at me all day long after I told him.


I was so nervous to tell Shawn's parents, I think because I had pictured the moment in my head for so long what his mother's reaction would be like. So I wanted it to be perfect. It was. She screamed and cried with happiness.


We were so happy the rest of the vacation. Thank you, Shawn, for making this the best moment of my life!


some beautiful Aruba shots below:




























None of these photos have been enhanced. This is what the sunsets really look like in Aruba.








I love watching Shawn swim. We both have such a love for the ocean.

Maureen's kind words

Look at the email Maureen sent me after seeing her photos posted below. She is really sweet, I am grinning ear to ear!

"heather, i said this BEFORE i even saw the pics:

apart from marrying bob, hiring you as our photographer was the best decision i made regarding the wedding.

i can't wait to see the rest!!

i'm not a fan of myself in pictures, but i knew you would do me justice.

thanks so much!!!!"

Maureen and Bob's wedding

I photographed Maureen and Bob's wedding at Ballroom at the Ben on March 14th. I am just getting around to blogging about it because I have been on vacation. It was my first wedding of the season and turned out to be one of my favorites. Maureen and bob were so relaxed, easy going and just kind people. It seems these days I know somebody at every wedding. I ended up meeting her man of honor a few days before the wedding through a mutual friend, what a coincidence!
Click here to see more photos from this wedding on my website.











Maureen grew up in South Philly so the ceremony was at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel at 3rd and Wolf. I love this shot of the catholic school girls cheering on the groom!
















Maureen's a strong woman! I hope she does not kill me for posting this!
















Look at those smiles!








I just love this space.


When the dj played mummers music the whole dance floor whooped it up with umbrellas South Philly style. I had to get down below the sea of umbrellas to not get stabbed in the eye! This group was a blast!

Rebecca and Shaun's engagement session

Before I left for vacation I had the chance to photograph Rebecca and Shaun's engagement session. They are getting married this May 4th at beautiful Knowlton Mansion! They are both very sweet and excited.













Shaun was thrilled to get this photo with Rocky! It's funny, he emailed me before the session and said that was the most important shot for him!


They both have great eyes.


This is my favorite shot... a little bit of spring showing through.