Last week, I photographed a romantic Tuckerton Engagement Session! I remember when I met with Rachael when she first started planning her wedding. She said her amazing fiance, Chris is letting her do whatever she wants for their wedding! When I hear words like that, I just KNOW that he’s a good guy! I didn’t meet him until the session, but from all of the amazing things Rachael had said about him, he had to be amazing! Well, as you can see from the images below, Chris makes Rachael laugh, all the time! So far, he’s got two amazing qualities of a perfect husband! Rachael and Chris are so in love, and it definitely shows. Throughout the entire session, I just kept thinking about how much fun their wedding will be next year! From the very beginning, I knew I would love them, and I was so right! We went back and forth trying to plan the most amazing engagement session. Rachael wanted beach, but then I found out that Chris owned a boat. So, it was clear that we had to take a few photos on the boat! Earlier that day Chris had gone crabbing, and it was our luck that we found a baby crab on the beach! I had to put it in Rachael’s hand, and she probably cursed me the entire ride home for doing it, but that photos though! It tells the story of their life, and these are beautiful memories that they will be able to tell for the rest of their lives. I also had them write before hand, letters to each other, on why they fell in love with one another. I have to say, I was laughing and tearing up behind the camera. They are the perfect combination of love and laughter, and let me tell you, that is the kind of relationship you want to have, because you can grow old with each other, in this beautiful life, and keep each other happy until the very end! Side by side, partners in crime, it’s the best combination of marriage and friendship.

Rachael and Chris, thank you so much for taking me along on your Tuckerton Engagement Session! I am SO excited for your wedding at the Carriage House next year! You are going to make a stunning bride and one handsome groom!

To book your Tuckerton Engagement Session, email me today! lauren@bokehlovephotography.net

When my daughter told me she wanted Birthday Portraits at the Smithville Mansion for her 8th birthday my heart stopped. Okay, not really but I was not ready for her to grow up and ask for such a grown up gift.

My little princess was growing up. For her birthday, she wanted to be followed around by a professional photographer while wearing a gorgeous dress and high heels. Good thing her Mama Bear is a professional photographer. I was honored to be able to photographer her, and make her laugh, of course I was crying behind the camera.

We really did have a lot of fun though. I am happy that I was able to make this birthday wish of hers come true. She is definitely a girl who knows what she wants! I couldn’t be more proud.

The Smithville Mansion is gorgeous.

It really is one of my favorite places to visit because it is historic and so well maintained. It’s perfectly set up for weddings, events and engagements. Additionally, the casual photo session with a soon to be 8 year old!

If you would like to have your son or daughters Birthday Portraits at the Smithville Mansion, reach out to me today and schedule your session! Or if you are recently engaged or going to propose; this is certainly a wonderful place to do it! I would honored to document these memories for you!

Photography for me, isn’t just about holding a camera and taking a photo. I have a serious passion for photography. Images are my life. A day without my camera is like a day without air. I can not breathe without it. A camera is always on my side, always with me, and ready for any moment that will happen. When I get the opportunity to photograph something special in someone life, I am very humbled and honored. Being chosen to be the person that you trust to capture and create these moments for you, its such a great feeling.

As for my daughter, she put all of her trust into me, that I would be able to document her Birthday Portraits at the Smithville Mansion exactly the way she always dreamt of and better. That is how everyone should think when they hire a professional. Dreams become real life, and real life can be preserved. These pieces are our history, they are our legacy, and one day our children will hang on to these memories, and pass them down to their own. Don’t just pass these moments by, hold them by the hand, and allow me to capture your legacy.

Did you know that every year there is an amazing Breakfast with Santa at Renault Winery? This past December we decided to come and take photos! Each year they have the most amazing breakfast, and their Santa is always so amazing! Renault Winery is such a great place to go with your family, especially around the holidays. They go above and beyond for their customers and try their best to deliver a wonderful experience! I’d say they do pretty well at doing just that and more!

At Renault Winery’s Breakfast with Santa the photos are a great gift or an amazing keepsake to cherish forever! You get a luxury one on on experience with Santa, and the option to purchase the 4×6 print in a card stock folder as a keepsake. These are offered at $10 and are printed on site in seconds!

If you are a business, and looking for an onsite photographer and printer for your next event, please reach out to us! It is at no cost to you! Email lauren@bokehlovephotography.net for details.

Take a look at some of the beautiful images captured by Bokeh Love Photography at the Breakfast with Santa at Renault Winery.

David contacted me earlier in the week to chat about documenting his Congress Hall Marriage Proposal to his girlfriend, Amy. (Spoiler alert, she’s a fiance now!) David had a few really amazing ideas on how he would propose. At first it was going to be on the beach by the lighthouse, but the wind was a bit much. He decided to propose on the lawn at their hotel, Congress Hall. Which by the way, is one of the most amazing Hotel’s in Cape May! (Good choice, David!) He planned out their entire proposal, down to the champagne, ice bucket and flutes (even the chairs that faced the beach for a gorgeous sunset!) I heard it was a very nice bottle of champagne, but you should know that David is one of the world’s leading wine writers and just recently wrote a book titled, “But First, Champagne: A Modern Guide to the World’s Favorite Wine”. (Seriously, what a lucky lady to have a fiance that knows all about champagne and wine!)

As I waited for them to arrive, getting text updates from David, I did my best to hide in the bushes by the parking lot. Hotel guests were staring at me, as I am sure I looked… well… pretty shady standing in a parking lot, hiding behind bushes with a hoodie up and holding a giant piece of black metal (yep, it’s my “stalker lens” as I like to call it. Perfect for documenting proposals from far away and not being noticed!) (Although Amy told me later on, that she saw someone in the bushes with a camera… I think she knew all along this would be the day for a marriage proposal!)

Congress Hall was phenomenal, I met with Casika who unfortunately couldn’t wait to watch the proposal, but she was so excited that this was happening at their hotel! If you are even THINKING about it, stop thinking and do it, have a Congress Hall Marriage Proposal! They were so fantastic and helpful! Ask for Casika!

So, When it came time to pop the question, it was magical. David and Amy hugged and kissed, and all the love was there! I was secretly crying in the bushes because well, who wouldn’t!? When I told the hotel guests, I wasn’t some crazy person, I was documenting a proposal that would go down at approximately 6pm… of course they stayed to watch! Everyone loves a happy ending! After that, we went down to the beach to take some beautiful portraits to capture their happiness! It could not have been a better evening for a Congress Hall Marriage Proposal!

David and Amy, Congratulations on your engagement! I wish you both nothing but success in love and your future together! Thank you SO much for trusting me to capture such an intimate moment between the two of you!

My family is my world. I love our long days, no matter how crazy they may be, or get at times, they are my life, and my life is perfect. I wanted to take them out and have a Documentary Beach Session in Brigantine NJ. Brigantine is my absolute favorite beach. I grew up going to this beach, and I will continue to bring my family here. It’s special, and so are they. They deserve this beach.

I love the beach. I love my family. When I take my family to the beach, I love it so much I just want to cry. I could stay there for ever, in that special place. When we are all together, all having fun, enjoying what is right there in front of us. Nothing is better. Nothing. These are raw moments. Real, pure, in the moment, amazing, EPIC moments. None of this is staged. None of this is posed. This my family, and this is my life. We live in New Jersey,  a good 10-15 minutes from the beach, and we enjoy each others company. We are… perfect. Please enjoy our Documentary Beach Session in Brigantine NJ.

If you could like to book a Documentary Beach Session in Brigantine NJ like this one, please email lauren@bokehlovephotography.net