An Engagement Session at Bedford Village Common with Mindy & Jon

Seventeen years together, and Mindy & Jon still danced in a field of wildflowers like nobody was watching.

When a client suggests a location, I never really know what I'm walking into. Sometimes it's a great spot. Sometimes it's a parking lot with a nice tree. Mindy sent me Bedford Village Common, and I'll admit I had no idea what to expect.

Within about five minutes I was thrilled. Bedford Village Common packs a huge amount of variety into a very short distance, which is a dream for an engagement session. We didn't have to drive anywhere or burn daylight moving between spots. Every few steps the backdrop changed, so Mindy & Jon got a whole range of looks without ever leaving the same stretch of grass.

If you've ever wondered what 17 years together looks like in front of a camera, it looks like this: easy. Mindy & Jon were relaxed from the first frame. No stiff poses, no "okay, now what do I do with my hands." They just walked, talked, leaned into each other, and let me work. The knowing-someone-forever thing is hard to describe, but it shows up in the photos.

Mindy is also one of the most creative people I've worked with, and she's pouring that into a very DIY wedding. Between the planning and the projects, she's clearly got a vision, and Jon seems happy to be along for the ride. I can't wait to see how it all comes together.

Then there was the light. As the evening went on, it hit the tall grasses and wildflowers just right, glowing and soft and a little bit golden. The flowers practically lit themselves up, and Mindy & Jon looked fantastic against them. If you want a case for booking around golden hour, this is it.

And the finale: the two of them dancing in front of the flowers. No choreography, no direction from me beyond "give her a spin!," just a couple who've been doing this together for 17 years. These are some of my favorite frames from the whole session.

Thanks, Mindy & Jon, for picking such a great spot and for being so much fun to photograph. Congratulations again, and I'm really looking forward to your wedding.

Julia Webb is a New England wedding, engagement, and portrait photographer. Fun, relaxed sessions, for first-timers and seasoned pros alike. Contact Julia to book your session.