Chase Farm Engagement Session in Lincoln, RI | Ali & James

PUBLISHED: OCT 17, 2017

Every six weeks, I get to see one of my favorite people on the planet—Ali, my amazing hairdresser. (I know,… you probably assumed this overwhelming natural beauty just happened on its own. Hardly! She’s that good.)

Ali is one of those rare people who is just so impossibly full of life, genuine, and you immediately love her. So when she asked me to photograph her engagement session with her fiancé, James, I was thrilled! This week I finally got to meet James—and their two adorable dogs, Roxy and Bentley—and spend the evening documenting their little family.

We chose Chase Farm in Lincoln, Rhode Island for their engagement photos because the location holds a special place in their story. Ali and James discovered it on a ride one afternoon on James’ motorcycle, and it’s been a favorite spot ever since. Once you see it, you understand why—rolling fields, gorgeous light, and the kind of peaceful beauty that makes every photo feel timeless.

Ali is incredibly expressive and has the best laugh. Photographing her is a joy because she lives so fully in every moment. She’s also the type of person who might—hypothetically—buy a puppy at a bank the day before her session. Yes. A bank puppy. Her mom is now the proud owner of said bank-purchased dog. #notajoke

Watching the way James looks at her, it’s easy to understand how he fell so hard, so fast. Their connection is effortless and natural, and it radiated through every image!

If you’ve spent any time on my website, you probably know I share most images in color but black and white shots have a special place in my heart. While I adore the warmth of color—especially when fall foliage is at its peak—I’ love being able to capture emotion. I want to capture who people are, not just what they look like.

A well known photojournalist named Ted Grant said:

“When you photograph people in color, you photograph their clothes. But when you photograph people in black and white, you photograph their souls.”

This session with Ali and James is the perfect example of that. Their joy, their energy, their connection—it was a privilege to witness and be able to capture it for them!

And if you're in need of a phenomenal hairdresser, Ali works out of La Bella Vita Salon in Foxboro!