Danielle + Kyle's Engagement Session

[ Danielle + Kyle ]

Meet Danielle and Kyle! These two met in 2016 while working at a local grocery store. They later decided to continue their education at Liberty University located in the charming town of Lynchburg, Virginia. They both are set to graduate next year with business related degrees!

Kyle proposed to Danielle on July 21st of 2019 in Williamsburg, Virginia. The best part is that each of their families were there and got to witness Danielle say yes! When they aren’t being cute as heck, they enjoy cooking, hiking in the mountains and just spending time enjoying each other’s company.

Their engagement session started at Casa Del Barco on The Canal Walk in Richmond. We started out in the graffiti building and headed up towards the James River where we found a little path and run-down but also rustic beach area. From there we head back up the canal to Browns Island. Being that it is officially springtime, the island had flowers and trees blooming! It was absolutely perfect- even though we thought we may have to reschedule the whole week prior because of the weather. Turns out the sun came out and all was well!

Danielle and Kyle are tying the knot in August of 2020 at Wolf Trap Farm in Gordonsville, Virginia and we are SO excited to be there to witness one of the most important days of their lives!

Carbone Photo Co. LLC is a Wedding Photography company based out of Richmond, Virginia who travels the entire east coast for weddings. Carbone Photo Co. LLC offers photography for weddings, bridal portraits, engagement sessions, events, senior portraits as well as family portraits. This Virginia wedding photographer specializes in capturing the most sentimental moments using a photojournalistic approach to document raw candid moments of you and your loved ones.

Chandler + Christians Engagement Session

[ Chandler + Christian ]

These two are high school sweethearts who have been a part of each other’s lives since middle school. After years of dating, Christian popped the question at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts on Arthur Ashe Boulevard. Chandler described it as “sweet and simple,” which is exactly how it should be, in our opinions.

OBVIOUSLY, we love when our couples incorporate their fur babies into their engagement sessions (and even weddings)! Pumpkin and Thor were so great for their close ups and we could tell how happy they are that their mom and dad are getting married!

Shooting their engagement session was (literally) a walk in the park! We started out by meeting in front of the Carillon in Byrd Park right in the center of Richmond, Virginia. There are beautiful rows of trees that are beautiful, so I knew that would be a great place to start. From there we pretty much walked around the area stopping at every spot that had lots of greenery and character. Byrd Park is HUGE. We actually stumbled upon a little pathway with a lot of cobble stones. These types of stones can be found all throughout Richmond, especially in the Shockoe Slip and more historical areas. They add so much character to the city and make great settings for portraits!

Within minutes of working with Chandler and Christian I could tell they were right for one another. They kept each other (and me) laughing and every time they would look at each other you could literally feel the love between them. We are so excited to be a part of their big day this coming November. Chandler and Christian will be holding their wedding ceremony and reception at the stunning Maymont Park, also right here in Richmond! Stay tuned for their wedding blog!

Amanda + Joey's Engagement Session

This. Engagement. Session. It was seriously an all-time favorite so far and we feel so honored to capture these two and this exciting time in their lives. Amanda and Joey are planning to tie the knot in October of 2020. Their excitement to spend life with each other and the love that they share is undeniable and can’t be overlooked. I’m pretty positive their closest friends and family members could say the same, as I only spent a short 90 minutes with them.

After scheduling their engagement session with us we sent over our ever-growing list of locations around the Richmond, Virginia area. Amanda knew immediately that she wanted to have their engagement session on their family’s property located in the beautiful countryside of Ashland, Virginia- If you have not been to this town it’s an absolute must for when you are in the area. Downtown Ashland is so charming with lots of history and sight-seeing!

Upon arriving to the location, I was surrounded by long country roads, farms and beautiful weather. Everything was perfect. As soon as I pulled down the long driveway, I knew this shoot was about to be very special. There was a HUGE pond, woods filled with pine trees, and stunning panoramic views in every direction. We even utilized the winding roads in some of the images. This is an engagement photographer’s dream session. As we wandered around the property the occasional car would pass and people would stop and stare. I thought this was a little odd until Amanda and Joey told me that pretty much every house on the entire property was a family member in some way. That is so amazing to me. Family should always come first, and we should spend our time with those we love the most. I know I haven’t met their family, but I have a STRONG feeling that Amanda and Joey have an amazing support system at home.

During the session I was speaking to Joey and he mentioned they were in the middle of building a house (on the property, of course). As soon as he said that I knew we had to finish out or session there. I’m SO glad I did. Although it was just the bare bones of the house, it truly was beautiful. These two designed the house exactly the way they wanted it- and let me tell you they did an outstanding job. The joy in their eyes entering their home-to-be by walking across a wooden plank was just so amazing to witness. We are so excited for what the future holds for Amanda and Joey! 2020 is yall’s year! Enjoy it and thank you for allowing us to capture this moment!

So you booked an engagement session with us?!

Where do you go from here? How do you prepare for your session? Here you will find all of the answers & guidance you need to prepare for an amazing engagement session with us. Leaving you with images that you can cherish for a lifetime.

Comfort is Key

We personally believe that comfort is one of the most important aspects to getting that “perfect photo.” If you are uncomfortable- chances are, it will radiate in your final photos. One of the biggest factors that impacts our comfort the most, are the clothes that we wear. When it comes to picking outfits for you and your spouse, it is important to wear something that you would typically wear. For example, if a mini dress with 5-inch heels isn’t usually your cup of tea- we would suggest NOT wearing this. Obviously you want to look your best, so wear something you feel confident in. Something that matches your personality, but also clothing that you won’t be tugging and adjusting on throughout the session. A lot of times we suggest bringing layers whenever possible. This allows us to get multiple looks and have accessories for different shots and areas throughout the shoot. Ultimately this gives you a bigger variety of photos to work with when you receive your gallery.

Most people think you need to go out and buy a brand-new outfit instead of sticking to something relatively new that has been worn and washed and confirmed to fit exactly the way you like it to. Of course a new outfit is exciting, so we totally get it- treat yo’ self. Our advice on this- get it well in advance of your shoot so that you can wear it once or twice and have the opportunity to wash it and make sure it doesn’t shrink in places it shouldn’t, etc. Once you’ve landed the outfit, it’s time to iron & steam that sucker up. Get all of the wrinkles. Some wrinkles are expected and can often be edited out, however if you show up with your clothes looking like they just came out of the back of your dresser drawer, this will be a huge distraction in the image and will make all parties involved very sad (yes, including us).

Next up! Colors! Colors are very important when it comes to achieving great images. If we are doing your shoot in a green setting- it’s probably not a good idea to wear green or natural toned colors. We want you guys to stand out, not blend in with the background. There is a lot of flexibility when it comes to color. When in doubt, ask! That’s what we are here for. To make sure your pictures are perfect. We would also literally NEVER tell our couples to match. Coordinate, sure. Match, never. This can be just as big of a distraction as a wrinkled shirt. It’s important that your photos are consistent and flow well together. Wear colors/textures that complement each other. You could even both have “pops” of the same color in each of your outfits.

CHECK OUT OUR BLOG ON NAILING THE PERFECT OUTFIT HERE!

Hair and Makeup

Although this isn’t necessary- some brides like to use this as an opportunity to “trial” with their makeup artist & hair stylist. However, if you are planning to book a bridal session with us, we would advise using the trial for that instead of your engagement session. If you do decide to book someone for hair & makeup, make sure they are available on the date that you scheduled your session with us in advance so that you do not miss your opportunity to book with them.

Pets and Kids

Your engagement photos should be an accurate representation of what love means to you. Often times this includes our beloved little ones. Whether they have four legs, or two. We can absolutely arrange to have your pets or children in the shot. However, if you do decide to do this, please arrange this with us in advance. Furthermore, we require that you have a close friend or family member join us during the session so they can either take your kids/pets home after we get through those photos OR so they can watch after your little ones so we can focus on the more intimate engagement photos with just you and your spouse.

Bad Weather

When it comes to weather, especially here in Virginia, you never actually know what it’s going to do. Don’t worry. We are constantly watching the weather and have absolutely no problem rescheduling in advance due to inclement weather. However, we are also okay with waiting until the day of to reschedule, for you dare devils. Either way, we will make sure your images are exactly what you are looking for and we know the weather plays a huge role in doing that!

Nerves got you down?

We know just how overwhelming it can be being in front of the camera. We got married in 2017. We have been in your shoes. We will do absolutely everything we can to make sure that you feel comfortable for your session. Our goal is to make you forget that we are even there. Our photo journalistic style of photography allows us to capture the intimate candid moments that mean the most. We always tell our couples to focus on the love you have for one another. Think about the excitement of this new chapter you are taking in life together. This is a very happy time in your lives, and your photos should reflect just that!