So I kinda don’t even know where to start with how awesome Emily and Jake are. I can probably trace their awesomeness back to the fact that Emily is friends with Julia – who is one half of another incredible couple that I had the honor of shooting a wedding for, but I digress.

Emily and Jake wanted to make their dogs Zoe and Dillinger part of their engagement session at Allaire State Park, and I was so stoked to be able to meet the pups that I had heard so much about! Just before our session began, Emily told me that Zoe had received a cancer diagnosis just a couple of days before the session. I seriously wanted to cry. I was so happy that Zoe was able to still do photos with us, and that while she wasn’t quite out of the woods, that her prognosis looked promising.

I seriously always thank my business because it has connected me to so many amazing people and organizations, so when Emily told me about this organization called The Brodie Fund that provides financial assistance through grants to help pay for treatment for pets diagnosed with cancer, I knew I had to get involved. Through Emily, I met Sally, who is the founder and director of The Brodie Fund and a truly amazing and inspiring woman who is seriously so passionate about animals. I donated a session as soon as I could – and we’re working on a little something special come spring, so definitely keep a look out!

Emily and Jake have the best personalities, and they were shining the whole time throughout this entire session. They are so playful together, and I loved their improvisation and how much fun they have together. I also love how much they love their dogs, because dogs are family – and it’s so clear that they feel the same.

Location: Allaire State Park, New Jersey