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When a session ends, and the strangers I just met feel like my best friends, I am reminded of why I love this job so much. Being a photographer in a small, coastal town in Maine brings me new clients from all over the country while they vacation here on Mount Desert Island.

When Sean reached out to me inquiring about surprising his wife with a 20 year anniversary session on their celebratory vacation, I didn’t realize this wouldn’t be like my typical session. They requested to do their session at the Claremont Inn, in Southwest Harbor, as that was where they’d be spending the majority of their time, and they wanted their photos to truly reflect that. I met them at the hotel and I was immediately greeted with big smiles and their fun energy. They showed me all around the Claremont Inn property (that was just voted one of the best new hotels in the world by Leisure + Travel), I was immediately blown away with all of the photo opportunities that could be had around the hotel.

Sara and Sean were literally up for anything and they were such a blast to hang out with. We started the session by grabbing them a couple of their favorite cocktails at the bar so they could loosen up and be relaxed for our adventure together. From there, we walked down to the pier and they shared a short slow dance on the dock while the golden light lit up the bay behind them. Although there was a bit of a nip in the air, I couldn’t resist having them get cozy in the cutest green and white cabanas by the pool, just for fun. The fall decor that was tastefully sprinkled around the property was a lovely touch to really reflect their time there. After a quick outfit change, we took a couple of bikes for a stroll through the fall foliage. We ended the session on the lawn, where they sipped their cocktails in the Adirondack chairs and watched the final bit of sunlight glisten on the ocean.

Scroll through the photos to see all of the beauty that the Claremont Inn has to offer. If you’re visiting the MDI or Bar Harbor area, I highly recommend considering them for your stay…and don’t forget to plan your photo session with Emily Brianne Photography in advance 😉

Honestly it was our favorite part of the trip”

– Sean