Luke & Emily's Winter Engagement Session at the Maymont Estate, Virginia

The ducks in the pond were taking turns bobbing their butts up in the air as we started the session. There was a chilly calm in the air as the sun set over the city. Luke is finishing up at the police academy; Emily is a nurse. 2020 has been one for the history books, but I can't think of two professions that have been effected more than the law enforcement and medical fields. And as if it couldn't get any harder on Luke and Emily, the governor of Virginia just enacted two more mandates, throwing yet another wrench into their January 1st wedding plans.

But as we explored Maymont Park in Richmond together, all felt right nonetheless.

As we shot, Luke (a history buff) told us about how James Dooley built the Maymont estate for his wife, but she wasn’t happy there - summers in Richmond were too hot. He loved her so much that he built her a second home, a marble palace on a mountain in Afton, Virginia where she could be more comfortable. However, what we realized after spending just a couple of hours with Luke and Emily is that James Dooley’s love seems to pale in comparison to theirs.

Even though we had never been to Maymont before, Luke and Emily completely trusted us as we ran from spot to spot, shooting as much as we could before the property closed at dark. They were up for anything - from silly games to Luke holding Emily in his arms perched on a stone pedestal - and it was so much fun! Can we do it all again?