From the first time I spoke with Kristina & Jack we knew we would be photographing an Island Beach State Park engagement session. The beach is their happy place and there is always something so romantic to me about the untouched beauty at Island Beach State Park. On top of that, their love story reminds me of a teen romantic comedy. The kind that take place during one of the most pivotal moments of a young adults life, senior year of high school. If you’re from Jersey, that usually involves lots of trips to the shore!

In 2012 Kristina & Jack were about to graduate high school. Despite the fact that they were about to start college careers, their friends convinced them that this set up still needed to happen. As you can see from their adorable photos below, their senior year was more than they expected. It was as early as November and they were officially dating. After graduation and all the college summers in between, they’d re-connect at Jack’s family beach house. I mean c’mon.. it was probably exactly like a rom-com!

Why this location? Their Island Beach State Park engagement session was actually my suggestion once they said they would love photos on the beach. It’s so close to Ortley and offers really pretty backdrops no matter where you turn. There are no obtrusive houses on the island that sneak it into photos, beautiful white sand, rolling dunes, great sunsets, tropical looking walkways, and even that gorgeous road along the marsh that goes for miles.

“We were excited to get professional photos taken at our happy place (the beach), but we were nervous too because we weren’t sure if it would feel awkward posing for photos. That nervousness quickly went away thanks to Alicia! She made it feel like we were just hanging out, even while giving us great instructions on how to pose for certain shots.” – Kristina & Jack

Scheduled for this February at Ryland Inn, these two are ready and excited to celebrate their love that lasted through the growing pains of college life, distance, and COVID. I cannot wait to celebrate with them! The reason I know they are the perfect client for Peach Photography, they have both said they are more than excited to eat all the food.

For tips on posing at an engagement session, click here.