It was a beautiful evening at the Brooker Creek Preserve in Tarpon Springs. Even the insects Jake and I had encountered on our scouting trip were nowhere to be seen, as we trailed Amy and Luigi down the boardwalks. Watching them explore the park I was struck by their youthful excitement and sense of adventure, pointing at animals in the bushes and listening intently to Jake’s science “facts” about the wildlife they saw. They will have so many happy years together if they approach their upcoming marriage with the same enthusiasm and love that they showed during their engagement session.
We’re so glad that we will be the photographers at their wedding because Amy and Luigi were such a beautiful and gracious couple throughout our first encounter. Their love for one another was not hard to capture - we never had to tell them to hold hands while they walked, we never had to suggest a kiss, we never had to say smile.
Amy and Luigi are tying the knot next spring, but they will be apart for a portion of the next year while Luigi goes to school in DC. We don’t envy them their time apart, but we know that they will endure - love overcomes obstacles greater than distance - and I wish we could be there to capture the moment when they come together again.
Though the hours of the park were clearly marked we lost track of time during the shoot. When we finished with our photography we returned to the gate to find it closed and locked. Luckily, the friendly ranger returned after a few minutes to let us out. Though we couldn’t ask for a nicer couple to be trapped with overnight, I was glad to sleep at home!
