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By Lauren Fair Photography

The Blog

I’m Jill, a wedding photographer based in New Jersey — and I’m so excited that you’re here! Follow along with the blog to get a glimpse into the heart behind my work.

Early Spring Deep Cut Gardens Engagement

Middletown, New Jersey

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I was SO excited to meet Nicole and Brian for the first time at their engagement session! Now that it’s spring at last and shoots are starting up again, it’s so amazing to finally meet my wedding couples in person, especially after only communicating via phone and email for so long.

Funny enough, these two actually met thanks to Nicole’s dad! Brian actually knew her father from the fire department before he ever met Nicole. Being some of the only two underage people at the annual Wildwood fireman’s convention, they spent the weekend together — but it wasn’t until a few months later that he finally asked her out! In their spare time, this couple loves to cook, go for walks with their dog, watch TV and movies, and go camping.

I absolutely love Nicole and Brian’s proposal story! As Nicole tells it, “We’ve been engaged since last March (right before everything shut down due to COVID), and we’re getting married the day after what will be 10 years from our first date. As for the proposal, I ruined it! I knew that Brian had gotten the ring in January.  He hid decoy ring boxes all around our apartment with notes like “Whatcha looking for?” and even a doodle of him proposing! Every few days, I’d ask when it was going to happen. One day we took our then 5 month old puppy, Dozer, out for a swim at a local pond.  I wanted him to dry off a bit before going back in the car, so we went for a walk.  I jokingly asked Brian again if he wanted to ask me anything (nudge nudge, wink wink), and he said, “You want me to?  Right here?” before pulling out the box and getting on one knee.”

Now I hear a lot of proposal stories, but I’ve never heard one with decoy ring boxes set up to through their partner off — SO good. In any case, I am so happy that Brian popped the question because working with these two is so much fun!

We started our session at Bayonet Farm in Holmdel, NJ because Nicole and Brian wanted to include their black Lab, Dozer, in some of their engagement photos, and Deep Cut Gardens sadly does not allow dogs. Dozer was seriously one of the best dogs I’ve worked with! Despite being a VERY strong boy, he sat patiently and attentively, and was truly a wonderful model. And the camera loves him!

Next stop was the beautiful Deep Cut Gardens in Middletown, NJ. This was actually my first time shooting there, and it did not disappoint. Even though nothing was in bloom just yet, it made for the perfect backdrop for Nicole and Brian’s beautiful, romantic engagement photos. These two were so wonderful to work with, and I can’t wait to capture their special day later this year.

Congratulations again to Nicole and Brian, and I am SO beyond excited for their December 2021 wedding!

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