Kim and Jim are the type of people that when you walk into a room you immediately feel at ease if they’re in it. Honestly, they had the biggest smiles on their face our entire time together for their Long Beach NY engagement session and when I met them almost a year ago for their wedding consultation I knew they were a perfect fit for Laura Lee Photography. They are bubbly, fun-loving, completely in love, best friends, outdoorsy, and are DIY-ing their whole wedding. I couldn’t dream up two better people to be a part of the Laura Lee family. So, naturally, I was SO freakin excited for their engagement session. When it got rained out last month we decided it would be easier if I just came to their house to do it, and it would be more personal that way anyway!

Kim and Jim met back in 2012 at the school they both teach at. It was love at first seltzer pour when Kim realized that Jim too, loved Seltzer just as much as she did! Okay just kidding, it may not have been love at first pour but this is when they noticed each other! Jim asked Kim out on a date biking on the boardwalk in Long Beach (hello perfect place for their session!) which turned into lunch, and then Jim cooking her dinner, and then dessert. To this day they love riding bikes and running on the boardwalk, going to the beach, and DIY woodworking every inch of their home. I love these two and their story!

We started their session out on the boardwalk, where thy frequently walk and run together, just a block from their house. It was clear that my first statement above was true as every runner that went by knew them and loved them. The sun was glowing, as were the two of them and they strolled down the boardwalk hand in hand, practiced their first dance, and enjoyed the local artwork.

One of my favorites! AHHHH! 

I can’t wait to photograph this beautiful freckly face for their wedding day!

From there, we went down to the beach and honestly, a photographer couldn’t ask for better lighting! It was golden hour at it’s finest and Kim and Jim were so super eager to jump in the water and have some fun! Naturally, I jumped in right with them (and mistakenly didn’t take off my boat shoes!) and we had an absolute blast! I think these are some of my favorite pictures ever taken. There is clearly so much joy and love between them and when you’re around them you just feel it. It’s contagious, really.  I couldn’t stop smiling the entire time we were shooting and I just didn’t want it to end!

Winnie the Pooh pose on point.
They call this their “Grocery Store walk”.Jim’s signature pose! Had to! Sorry Mrs. Gallina!
Can you get any cuter you guys?
Love this one!! But who am I kidding I love all these. Can’t handle this!Piggy back rides. The best.

After walking, dancing and piggyback rides in the water we went over to the jetty and high tide came up REALLLLL quick. They got splashed with a huge wave and rather than freakin’ out about getting soaked they laughed, embraced it and continued taking pictures. Cause that’s the type of down to earth people they are.

This light. Are you kidding me?ANDDDD SPLASH!Love how the light is hitting the earth.

After we were done at the beach we went back to their SUPER cute house for some cheese and crackers + chips and guac (these two seriously know the way to my heart) and we wanted to take some pictures with the puppy they just rescued, Duke! I was SO excited about this part of the session (which was completely unplanned) and asked if they’d be willing to do a lifestyle type session in their bedroom, snuggling together and with Duke. They willingly agreed and these are some of the cutest pictures ever! I mean, what!! I love how much this is just a slice of their life together. Jim made pretty much everything in their bedroom (cause he’s a baller woodworker + furniture maker + DIYer and NEEDS an Etsy shop-just sayin’) so I loved how personal these pictures were. Every little corner of their house was handmade with their personalities all over it so these are truly truly special!

A ring shot on the map of where they call home!Seriously they have the coolest little home ever!Puppy snuggles with Duke. Just a piece of real life.ALL TIME FAVORITE. Ugh, SWOON!Tongue out and all!I love this snippet from Kim about how Jim proposed!! “Jim proposed in Montauk, on a crazy, rainy and windy day by the light house. I wore heels even though he told me not to a million times that morning and we climbed the rocks to the point of Montauk. We were looking at the waves and he was holding me from behind, asked me to turn around, got down on one knee and said “Kimmy, will you marry me”… I think I answered “shut the f up” and started screaming! It was perfect.”

Kim and Jim, you have no idea how excited I am to be a part of your wedding day and capture the memories that will unfold and last a lifetime. Your love and joy is contagious and I loved being around you. I can’t wait to see what your future holds, and I can’t wait to hang out again! In the words of Jim, I’m so stoked!!