Toronto Island Engagement Shoot // Naomi & Ben

I’ve been dreaming of a Toronto Island engagement shoot like this for a while. Naomi and Ben are from Ireland, with the most beautiful accents. They are also tall, over a foot taller than me, something I was not expecting. It’s funny how through email you create this picture of what your couple will be like and then you meet in person and it’s completely different. They kept stressing how awkward they are and how I’ll have my work cut out for me, but that was a lie in a good kind of way. Most of the time, couples who are awkward and don’t take anything too seriously are the ones who photograph the best. So here they are, lying in the sand and getting naked on some rocks to change into their swimsuits.

How did you meet?

His version:

On a rainy night in the west of Ireland I took cover in a small bar in Galway. Having ordered a drink and sat into the corner to take stock of the place, I suddenly found myself face to face with a tall, beautiful red headed girl who appeared to be smiling at me. Suddenly lost for words (a rarity) I found myself smiling back and as I was about to ask her if I could buy her a drink she beat me to it ask asked me!

On cloud nine, sitting with the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen (not to mention I was now with two pints of Guinness) I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming and tried to act nonchalant as I lived out some sort of fantasy!

Despite my bumbling small talk she seemed to find me funny and as the night went on the time seemed to stand still. Suddenly I looked around and realized we were the only two left chatting and laughing. 8 years on not much has changed except we’ve traveled the world, moved country twice, live together and are getting married! Still chatting and laughing away in our own little world.

Her version:

I was away visiting Galway city in the west of Ireland with some friends, we were moving on from the bar we were in when it started pouring rain, they ran one way and I went the other (every man for himself in that weather!) and I ended up running into the closest pub. Instead of standing in the doorway and waiting for the rain to ease off, which it never does in Ireland, I decided I’d pop in for one quick one. I walked through the doors, lifted my head from shaking off my coat, looked around and spotted a guy – tall, dark and handsome AND he was sitting alone trying to recover from the wet. Before I could comprehend what I was up to, or try to stop myself, I was in front of him with a big stupid grin on my face. He looked up and smiled (probably feeling sorry for me and my wet dog look). “Can I get you a drink?” came out of my mouth before I had even said hi, it was so strange I felt like I already knew him and no introduction was needed. If I had of taken my eyes off him for a second I may have actually seen the pint of Guinness he was already drinking but sure he looked pretty chuffed when his second one arrived!