More Than One Thing to Celebrate? One Session Can Tell the Whole Story.
Behind the scenes of a maternity and post-elopement photography adventure in Acadia National Park, Maine.
Life has a way of life-ing when you least expect it.
Sometimes you're planning a wedding while preparing to welcome a baby.
Sometimes you're celebrating an anniversary, a new home, a growing family, or a completely new chapter of life.
And sometimes? All of those things seem to happen at once.
But here's something I want you to know: You don't have to choose which part of your story deserves to be photographed.
And April and Tom's session in Acadia National Park is a pretty perfect example of that.
What started as a maternity and post-elopement session turned into an evening of dramatic dresses, champagne spraying, cake on the cliffs, a very dedicated dress-tossing husband, and a few unexpected adventures along the way.
That's exactly the kind of session I love.
Two Reasons to Celebrate. One Adventure in Acadia.
When we started planning April and Tom's session, there were two pretty incredible things happening in their lives.
They had eloped, and they were getting ready to welcome a baby.
A marriage. A growing family. Two enormous milestones happening in the same chapter of life.
Rather than treating these as two separate photo sessions, we started dreaming up a way to celebrate both.
Something romantic.
Something adventurous.
A little dramatic.
And something that felt like the two of them just being together.
And with the rocky coastline of Acadia National Park as our backdrop, we had plenty of inspiration.
But here's the thing about sessions like this. As effortless as the final photographs might look, there's quite a bit of thought that goes into making everything come together.
I love that part just as much as taking the photographs.
The Planning Started Long Before We Got to Acadia.
One of my favorite parts of photography happens before I ever pick up my camera.
It's the conversations. The ideas. The little details that slowly turn into a plan.
For April and Tom, we talked about outfits, colors, locations, the different looks we wanted to create, and how we could move between celebrating their marriage and documenting this season of pregnancy.
We settled on three different outfits, each bringing something completely different to the story.
The blue dress.
A beautiful, dramatic dress with a long train that would move against the wind and stand out against Acadia's rocky coastline.
The white dress.
A softer, romantic, bohemian look that felt especially fitting for celebrating their marriage and the baby on the way.
The cozy, everyday look.
Jeans and sweaters. Something comfortable, familiar, and a little more relaxed.
And then we got into the little details.
Could we incorporate champagne? What about a small cake and glasses for the two of them? Something that would make the evening feel like a celebration rather than simply a series of photographs?
We decided to make room for those things, too.
Because I don't want people to feel like they have to stand in front of my camera and perform for an hour.
I want them to have something to do, something to enjoy, and moments that actually feel like them.
Yes, We Even Planned the Hair.
This is one of those little details that might seem insignificant, but it makes such a difference when you're trying to create multiple looks within one session.
We talked through how April could change her hairstyle without having to completely redo it between outfits.
For the blue dress, we started with braids. When it was time for the white dress, we added little touches of baby's breath to soften the look. And for the final outfit, we planned to remove the flowers and loosen a few pieces for something more casual.
Three outfits, a few small changes, and three completely different feelings.
All without needing a hairstylist standing by on the cliffs!
It's those little conversations beforehand that help everything flow together once we're actually there.
Planning Around the Light, Not Just the Clock.
Now came one of the most important parts of planning: the timeline.
When you're photographing in Acadia in October, the light changes quickly.
And with three outfits, changing time, and a sunset we definitely wanted to take advantage of, we needed a plan. We decided to start at 4:30 in the afternoon.
The blue dress would come first, giving us time to work with the dramatic landscape while we still had plenty of daylight.
Then we'd move into the white dress as the light softened.
And finally, we'd finish in jeans and sweaters as the sun dipped lower and everything started taking on those beautiful, warm evening tones.
And this? →
This is what that planning actually looked like.
A timeline I put together for April and Tom before we ever arrived in Acadia.
Outfits, hair changes, time for the little celebrations, and a plan to make the most of that beautiful October light.
It might look like a lot of planning for one evening, but that's exactly the point.
The more we figure out beforehand, the less you have to think about when we're actually there.
And just because we have a timeline doesn't mean we have to follow it perfectly. It's a starting point, not a stopwatch.
But I don't create timelines because I want sessions to feel scheduled down to the minute.
It's actually the opposite.
The more we think through beforehand, the more freedom we have to be present during the session.
We aren't constantly wondering which outfit is next, where we should go, or whether we're running out of time.
We have a plan, and that gives us room to enjoy the experience.
Of course, sometimes the plan changes.
Like when we arrived and discovered that one of the areas we'd hoped to use was blocked off.
So we adjusted.
We explored the areas we could access, looked for different angles, and worked with the landscape in front of us.
And that's exactly why I always leave a little room for flexibility.
Because sometimes the unexpected parts of an adventure turn into something even better than what you originally imagined.
The Dress Toss That Required a Little Teamwork.
Now, let's talk about that blue dress.
If you've ever seen photographs of a dramatic maternity gown floating through the air, you might assume there's a perfectly timed gust of wind involved.
Sometimes there is.
Other times, there's a very patient husband throwing fabric into the air and trying to duck out of the photograph before the camera catches him.
← That was Tom. 😂
And before we could even get to the throwing, we needed to find some flatter rocks where everyone could stand safely.
Not exactly the glamorous behind-the-scenes moment you imagine when you see the finished photograph.
But it was part of the fun.
Tom would toss the dress, try to duck out of the frame, and we'd try again.
And yes, I have photographs of him attempting to disappear after throwing it!
Those are the kinds of moments I love.
The finished photograph might look dramatic and effortless, but just outside the frame there's usually a little teamwork, laughter, and someone doing something slightly ridiculous to make it happen.
And I think that's worth remembering, too.
The Glamorous Reality of Changing Outfits in a National Park.
Okay, let's talk logistics for a minute.
Because three outfits sound wonderful until you realize you're standing along the rocky coastline of Maine, surrounded by other visitors, without a dressing room anywhere in sight.
This is where something like a Car Cabana comes in handy.
If you've never heard of one, it's essentially a portable changing room that attaches to your vehicle.
And for adventure sessions with multiple outfits? Such a helpful little tool.
Because while we're thinking about beautiful photographs, we're also thinking about practical things.
Where can we park? How far do we have to walk? Where can we change? How much time should we allow between looks?
Especially during a maternity session, I want the experience to feel comfortable and manageable.
These aren't necessarily the details you'll see in the finished gallery, but they're a big part of what makes the session work.
And they're exactly the kinds of things I love helping clients figure out.
You're not expected to show up knowing how to plan a three-outfit session on the side of a cliff.
That's something we work through together.
Champagne, Cake, and a Celebration on the Cliffs.
Of course, we couldn't celebrate an elopement without a little champagne and cake!
This was another part of the session we'd talked about while planning. We wanted to incorporate a few things that would make the evening feel like more than just getting dressed up and taking photographs.
So we brought the celebration to the cliffs.
There was a champagne spray, which is always a fun combination of excitement, anticipation, and hoping we get the timing just right!
And then there was cake.
Not a perfectly styled cake sitting untouched on a pretty table. A homemade cake that was actually eaten right there on the cliffs of Acadia.
And I loved that.
Because sometimes the best way to create photographs that feel natural is to give people something to actually do.
Instead of asking them to stand in a particular spot and smile, we can create little experiences within the session.
Spray the champagne. Share some cake. Laugh when things get a little messy. Take a minute to enjoy what you're celebrating.
Those moments give us movement, genuine reactions, and photographs that tell a story beyond what everyone was wearing.
And that's really what I wanted for April and Tom.
Yes, we were creating maternity photographs and celebrating their elopement,
but we were also giving them an evening to enjoy together.
One more little celebration before their next big adventure begins.
And Then the Sun Started Setting.
By the time we got to our final look, the evening had taken on a completely different feeling.
The dramatic dresses were gone, replaced by comfy pants and cozy sweaters.
The light was softer. The sky was warmer. And everything started slowing down.
Of course, the bugs also decided that sunset was the perfect time to make an appearance.
Because apparently, they wanted to be part of the session too. 😂
But we kept going, capturing those last little moments along the water.
April and Tom holding hands. A quiet kiss as the sun disappeared. The two of them sitting together on the rocks, looking out over the coastline.
No elaborate setup. No dress flying through the air. Just the two of them, enjoying a few quiet moments together.
And some of my favorite photographs from the entire evening came from those final minutes.
Not because of the outfits or the scenery, although Acadia certainly gave us plenty to work with.
But because they felt like a beautiful little pause in the middle of everything they were celebrating.
The Part You Don't Always See.
When you look at a finished gallery, you see the beautiful dresses, the dramatic coastline, the warm light, and the moments between two people.
What you don't necessarily see are the conversations that happened beforehand.
The outfit planning.
The hair changes.
The timeline adjustments.
The discussions about props.
The search for flatter rocks.
The dress tosses that didn't quite work.
The blocked-off location.
Or the bugs that arrived just in time for sunset.
But all of those things are part of the story, too.
And they're part of why I love creating sessions that are designed around the people I'm photographing.
Because it's not about showing up with a camera and checking photographs off a list.
It's about taking all those ideas, figuring out how they fit together, and creating an experience that feels personal, meaningful, and just a little adventurous.
And sometimes, the moments that don't go exactly according to plan become some of the best memories.
Your Life Doesn't Fit Into One Little Box. Neither Should Your Photos.
Maybe you're celebrating an elopement and a baby on the way, like April and Tom.
Maybe you're graduating and want photographs with your best friends before everyone heads off in different directions.
Maybe you're celebrating an anniversary and want to include the family you've built together.
Or maybe you're turning 40, launching a business, starting over, or simply feeling like this chapter deserves to be remembered.
There doesn't have to be one single reason to book a photography session.
And you definitely don't have to wait until life slows down.
Sometimes the most meaningful photographs come from those seasons when everything seems to be happening at once.
Because Someday, You'll Want to Remember All of It.
Not just what you were celebrating. But who you were in that moment.
What life felt like before everything changed. The excitement, the anticipation, the uncertainty, and all those little moments happening in between.
April and Tom's session was about a marriage and a baby on the way.
But it was also about creating an evening that belonged to them.
An evening filled with dramatic dresses, champagne, cake, laughter, a little improvising, and one beautiful stretch of coastline.
And that's exactly what I love about designing sessions like this.
So, if life is life-ing and you've got a lot to celebrate, tell me all of it.
The big ideas. The little details. The outfits you're dreaming about. Even the things you're not quite sure how to pull off.
We'll talk through it, create a timeline that makes sense, and make room for the whole story.
