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This Brewery Hopping Engagement Session was one for the books! Let me tell you how this all came to life. Their wedding day was right around the corner, and we still hadn’t done their engagement session yet. This may not sound like a big deal, but I always find engagement photos with your photographer important. Why? Well, it gives us the chance to meet and get to know each other before the big day. More importantly, it allows you to get a feel for my approach to shooting, posing, and how I handle lighting. 

Between our busy schedules, and us living a few states away, they weren’t sure if it could work. Totally understandable, wedding planning can be a lot! I started brainstorming some ideas to find a way for this work. After reviewing their notes from our phone consult, I remembered that they love trying out different breweries. Coincidentally, I had just discovered some breweries and fell in love with their fun aesthetic. Instantly, my creative juices started flowing and piecing together a vision that I low-key dreamt up a few months ago. I messaged them right away proposing that we meet halfway (in Portland) and do their session at these awesome breweries. They immediately loved that idea for a little weekend away in the midst of the wedding planning busyness. To top it off – Jess was able to schedule her wedding hair and makeup trail nearby, on the same day.

Portland, Maine Engagement Photos

We spent the first half of the session at Bissell Brothers in Portland. They had a couple drinks to take the edge off (liquid courage is always encouraged). That made for some cute candids with the brewery as a backdrop. A warm Saturday in November had everyone out and about. So once they finished their drinks we hopped over a few streets to Apres (currently my fav place + drink). We started outside on the artsy streets of downtown Portland. We luckily snagged one of the awesome spots to sit inside so they could set up their game of cribbage. Between little bursts of photos, the three of us just hung out and got to know each other. So many laughs were had! 

Truthfully, I am so glad this session was able to happen. Not only was it refreshing for my creative soul, but I also really got to know Derek and Jess on more of a personal level. They told me their story and let me in on some inside jokes. She shared the sentimental story of her grandfather teaching her how to play cribbage as she casually pulled the whole board out of her purse, and we all laughed about how our dads are so similar when it comes to getting them to cooperate for family photos. When their small, intimate wedding day rolled around a month later, I truly felt like I was there hanging out with friends that I’d known for so long.  

So, if you’re thinking that you don’t really need an engagement session – let this be your sign to just do it! At the very least, it will be worth it to feel relaxed and comfortable with your wedding photographer on your wedding day. 

And also, don’t be afraid to make your session unique and fun!