Engagement: Maura + Nikki | Philadelphia Museum of Art

Sometimes a couple is so infectiously sweet together, I just want to zap them with an electromagnetic shrink ray (a la Wayne Szalinski), and keep them in my pocket.

Maura is a trapeze artist who writes freelance knitting patterns and Nikki is a librarian who plays guitar in a band. Maura even whipped up her own dress for our shoot together. Summary: They are way cooler than me. They also happen to be two of the kindest, warmest people I’ve ever met.

Maura and Nikki wanted to have their engagement session exactly one year before their wedding, which will be taking place at Awbury Arboretum in Germantown. A few weeks before our shoot, we exchanged giddy emails in celebration of the legalization of gay marriage in Pennsylvania.

We started our session off rebelliously by hopping the hedges of the Sol LeWitt garden behind the Philadelphia Museum of Art, which is composed of white, yellow, red, and blue flowers. Next, we roamed around the surrounding areas of the Museum — its rolling contours, terraced stone embankments, and lush Azalea Garden.

Maura’s floral crown by Sullivan Owen Floral & Event Design complemented the scenery (and her killer dress) beautifully. I can’t wait to see all of their wedding details come together, especially Maura’s handmade dress.

I am so grateful for the opportunity to work with amazing LGBT couples like Maura and Nikki, and I’m thrilled that marriage equality is finally safe and permanent in Pennsylvania.