“If a year was tucked inside of a clock, then Autumn would be the magic hour.” – Victoria Erickson
Autumn engagement Harkness Park Waterford CT: Mackenzie and Steve’s autumn engagement session at Harkness Park in Waterford CT yesterday felt like a dream: a dream in vivid technicolor and soft neutrals paired with the warmth of an Indian summer day. Mackenzie and Steve arrived to our session with the energy and warmth that matched the unseasonably warm November day. We chatted so easily, much like we did when we first video chatted for their initial meeting and immediately hit it off. I felt so comfortable with them, and they with me, it felt more like old friends reconnecting than us both interviewing the other to see if we were a fit. I have to say, I feel like I have been attracting these kinds of clients into my orbit these past few years in earnest, and if I could bottle this formula up and keep it flowing I would! Easy, trusting, open, curious about me and the process of how I work and connect with them to create imagery that is about them, and not about some trend or some way Instagram or social media thinks we should all be. You won’t pull up my feed and scroll through seeing more and more of the same; a homogenized view into my lens that people think they want, but really, if you want something different, you want me. Color, emotion, vibrance, JOY. I see that in you. I see beauty and humor and tenderness. That’s never a trend, for me.
Mackenzie and Steve got that and didn’t hesitate to make the choice to hire me for their wedding and autumn engagement session at Harkness Park and just get this fun bus rolling! And what fun we had, with a light warm breeze on the first of November, on the Connecticut shoreline, with trees a blaze, and little beautiful surprises around every corner!
Like this image below. It’s just the most random tree stump, but because I love to seek that golden light, I just knew it would make a gorgeous image. You think I was right?
Steve is a straight up NUT for the North Carolina Tar Heels, and wanted some images with his gear on, and also he had to sprint around with the flag because hello WHY NOT.
A little surprise that had me talking the whole time. I could NOT EVEN. This ombre rainbow-ish ivy had my heart palpitating something weird, and amazing!
The Japanese maple at Harkness is a staple for most couples that come here! Because: DO YOU EVEN HAVE EYES CAN YOU NOT SEE? Also: fun fact! This is also where they buried their pets, so it’s also a pet cemetery!
Every palette had me squealing inside and out. This neutral hazy little sitch was cash MONEY.
But we all know I was making my way bobbing and weaving through the fields to this bunch of hot nonsense! These burning bushes were straight FIRE! I was loud and proud with my admiration and was also happy that we had this whole area at holden hour to our dam selves! I had to focus on my breathing and stop and change my lenses and walk around and see things from ALL of the angles because it was just so gorgeous!
Then we hit the beach spot that I love, and man oh man we did not feel like we were even in Connecticut anymore! It feels like…. somewhere fancy in some catalog like Portugal or like, Wyoming if Wyoming had a beach. STUDY YOUR GEOGRAPHY KIDS. But you all know you agree. WYOMING. It just conjured up this palette in my brain…!
Mackenzie and Steve are the new poster children for ‘What to wear for your engagement session.” I mean. Neutrals really let the colors in the environment just sing along and harmonize nicely! I wouldn’t say no to a bold lip, or adding in a scarf for some pizzaz, peeps, but this is the gold standard maybe? Unless you are supes fashion forward and can pull off some BS that I can’t even envision, which is highly likely since I shop at Savers.
Every time I see shadows of trees. I melt.
Hello, pretty.
These magical blue doors are like, never closed! Hi Paris Building! But no, we are in Waterford CT! Love it.
Autumn engagement in Harkness Park… you have my heart. Especially this spot omg
Am I a jerk if this is my favorite shot? THIS IS SO STEVE. And I don’t even really know Steve!
Autumn engagement at Harkness Park in Waterford CT on a slightly overcast day yet the sun pokes it’s little head out from time to time are my FAVORITE!
Mackenzie and Steve. What can I even say? Your wedding feels way too far away now! I adore you both and can’t wait to spend some more time with you both just laughing and talking and being goofy. You two are the best! XOXOXO
To see more engagement sessions by Carla, please click the links below:
Sarah + Jim’s Horse Farm Engagement Session
Jenna + Jasmine’s Engagement at Hog River Brewery Hartford
Jill + Mike’s Heritage Homestead Engagement Session
Lynn + Dan’s Autumn Engagement Session at Northwest Park
Megan + Tim’s Autumn Engagement Session at Home
Jessica + Chris’ Christmas Tree Farm Engagement Session
Not sure what to wear during YOUR upcoming engagement session? Check out this helpful Pinterst board I have created for you: What to wear during your upcoming engagement session
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