A Sunset Engagement Session at Larz Anderson Park | Boutique Luxury Photographer in Brookline, MA
Although my specialty is family and high school senior photography, every now and then I’ll step out of the norm to capture something different for special people in my life. You know how you meet certain people and there’s just something about them—something magnetic, kind, and full of light?
Well, meet Katie and Shane. These two very much fall into that category. We met at Larz Anderson Park in Brookline, MA (which might just be my new favorite location, by the way!), and spent a few hours together on Sunday evening. It was picture-perfect—a backdrop of the most incredible trees, a gazebo, and even a glimpse of the Boston skyline, which was such a fun surprise.
Katie and my daughter Erin were college roommates, and when Erin got married last year, Katie stood by her side as one of her bridesmaids. I remember dropping Erin off on her first day of freshman year, meeting so many girls in the dorm and thinking, “These are probably the women who will stand beside her on her wedding day.”
And sure enough, that’s exactly what happened. Her wedding day was beautiful — nearly picture-perfect — until it wasn’t. There was a brief, unexpected moment we’ll just call an unfortunate malfunction. But what happened next stopped me in my tracks: without hesitation, every single one of her bridesmaids formed a wall around her, shielding her in a moment of tremendous vulnerability.
My thoughts shifted instantly from “oh no…” to “my gosh, this is so beautiful it’s poetic.” These were the women she chose to walk through life with — and in the moment she needed them most, they quite literally stood guard around her. I felt blessed to witness the love and care these women had for my daughter. I can’t imagine a better gift than knowing your children have people in their lives like that.
And after that? The day was amazing. The joy, the laughter, the dancing — and let’s just say Katie has an unexpectedly impressive worm move on the dance floor! Want to see?! Check out the video here!
And then there’s Shane. I hadn’t met him before Erin’s wedding, but heard SO much about him. He literally received a round of applause when given a shout out during the speeches. Want to know what kind of friend he is? He was a best man at a wedding in California the night before Erin’s wedding. He hopped on a plane immediately after that wedding to make it all the way back to Rhode Island and just made it in time to celebrate alongside us. THAT’S the kind of person he is. To have two people like that in your daughter’s life…two people that love and care about her this much? I can’t think of a greater gift a parent could be given…And that’s just one reason (out of many) that made their engagement session so special to capture.
We spent the evening exploring Larz Anderson Park, one of Brookline’s most beautiful photography locations. There’s a tree there that I’ve been dreaming about photographing since 2020, and there is zero hyperbole there! That tree deserves it’s own blog post, that will come someday soon! Katie and Shane helped me search the park until we finally found it! Between the beautiful lighting, their laughter, and the effortless, genuine way they are together, it reminded me exactly why I love creating boutique portrait experiences that are fun, relaxed, and incredibly meaningful.
To witness people letting their guard down — feeling comfortable enough to reveal who they are rather than just what they look like — that’s such a gift. It takes time, trust, and presence. Spending that time together and witnessing those quiet, beautiful moments between two people who truly love each other? It’s a privilege I will never take for granted.
Through the entire evening, I watched the two of them together, and I couldn’t stop smiling. They had so much fun in those beautiful in-between moments. I have no doubt that they’ll build an incredible life together, full of love and endless laughter. And I know they’ll be surrounded by people who support them and love them the same way they did my daughter. They deserve every bit of happiness that lies ahead.
My prayer for them is the same one I pray for my own daughters — that their life together will be bigger and more beautiful than anything they could ever dream of.
Congratulations to you both, Katie and Shane. What an honor it was to be even just a tiny part of your story. 💛