Phil and Katie- Clifton VA Engagement Photographer

This job that I have? Its pretty incredible. I get invited into some of the most precious moments in peoples lives, whether they’re celebrating an addition to their family, sweet moments with their kids, or planning to marry their best friend. I love that I get to know my clients and feel like I get to show up to their session as a friend, but I don’t think anything really prepared me for how powerful this job is when I’m ALREADY friends with them.  I’m sitting here trying to find the right words that would adequately explain to you wonderful blog readers just how much this couple and this session means to me and I have no idea where to begin. How do you sum up a 6 year friendship in one single blog post? Not possible, but I’ll give it a try anyway…

Some of my favorite college memories involved Katie. We would sit and talk for hours over brownies (or cookies, cupcakes, or whatever other delicious treat we felt like cookin’ up!) about life, ministry, and boys. Oh man we talked a LOT :0) I got to walk with Katie through times in her life when boys were sweet, boys were dumb, boys were confusing, and boys were flat out idiots. But most recently I’ve gotten to walk with her through a time in her life when one boy in particular as been intentional, loving, genuine, and cared for her like no one has before. and this one, my lovely blog readers, is the one that she gets to spend the rest of her life with :0)

To say it was an honor to be the one to document this time in their lives is about the biggest understatement I could make! I have LOVED getting to see their excitement during this period of their lives i think its safe to say we are all already counting down to October 30th when Phil and Katie will officially be husband and wife! So crazy! Katie, no words can explain how thankful I am for you and your friendship and how well you love the people around you. You give until you have nothing left to give, and your heart for the kids you get to work with is so evident in every conversation we have. Thank you for being my go-to friend, my shopping buddy, an incredible source of encouragement, my fellow disney enthusiast, and for showing me what it looks like to seek Christ first. Phil, I always knew it would take a pretty incredible man of God to sweep Katie off of her feet, and you have exceeded every quality I would have wished for her husband to have. Thank you for loving my friend so well and for the example you set to those around you of a man after God’s heart. I am so thankful to call you both friends, and SO excited for this next chapter in your lives!! :0)

Whew, okay, now on to the REALLY good stuff! ;0) Internet, meet Phil, Katie, and the pups Memphis and Mercy!
I’m pretty sure Mercy and Memphis were REAL mad at me since I kept having them sit next to Katie and Phil instead of running around like they wanted to.. but i’m also pretty sure these next few images were totally worth it! :0) love the early morning light! yes, i’m pretty sure she’s a big fan of his ;0)
absolutely LOVE this one of the four of them :0) then we dropped M&M off at home and headed to downtown Clifton to focus on Phil and Katie for a while, cause lets be honest, Mercy and Memphis can totally steal the show ;0) I absolutely LOVE these next few! hey Phil, thanks for constantly putting this smile on my friends face :0) OH my gracious.  this next one right here? one of my most favorite images I’ve ever taken. EVER! another favorite for sure! love when a couple seems to forgets the camera is there :0)
the one above and these next two all happened within about 3 seconds of each other… a fun little series, if you will: LOVE this one too! Katie, you are SO gorgeous! okay friends, these next few shots were completely Phil’s idea and they are some of my absolute FAVORITES from the whole morning! I think I was even more excited about these than he was! love how they turned out :0) if it were me i would blow this one up big time and display it at the reception :0) one more quick outfit change and a few more pretty pictures to wrap up the morning: 
Leave Phil and Katie somethin’ nice in the comments box and tell them you were here! Have a great weekend, friends! :0)

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  1. Steve Smallwood says:

    Great pictures. Hope you both will be very happy.

  2. Beth says:

    These pictures are incredible! Jessie — you are truly talented! Katie and Phil — congratulations! Great pictures of you both!

  3. Betsy Goodman says:

    Absolutely beautiful and creative photography- I am so impressed and loved each shot and the emotion that was seen and created! Exqusite- what a beautiful bride she will be!

  4. gail schoolfield says:

    Love the engagement pictures!

  5. Cathy says:

    Beautiful job on these photographs.

  6. sarah crabtree says:

    You two look incredible. What a wonderful journey you are beginning. Amy and Micah just got married Friday. All the planning is worth it. And a fabulous photographer is a must! You have that with Jessica.

    Blessings to you both,
    Sarah Crabtree

  7. Julie Ries says:

    Congratulations Katie & Phil! The pics are terrific!

  8. Nate says:

    Beautiful pictures!!

  9. Jill Jones says:

    Congrats Phil & Katie!! What beautiful pictures. I love the one where Phil has his cowboy hat & shotgun : )

    Jill

  10. P. Murray says:

    At a friend’s home on Saturday, we were talking about these beautiful pictures, with the photographer.

  11. CMH says:

    Don’t quite know these people, but those pictures are truly beautiful. Well done & Congeadulation you guys. All the best.

  12. Marcie McCauley says:

    These pictures are amazing. Katie I would love yourself to photograph all of my families future events.

  13. Kim says:

    Those are quite beautiful!!

  14. Helen Curran says:

    Absolutely gorgeous Katie & Phil, you look like professional models!

  15. Kristy McKain says:

    precious!!! <33

  16. Laurel Brubaker says:

    Favorite Cowboy & Cowgirl <3

  17. Haley Diamond says:

    They will make beautiful children because they are beautiful people…..my favorites are the gun photos

  18. Britney says:

    Katie! These pics are amazing. You guys look great.

  19. Cathy says:

    These are such beautiful pictures of them. I don’t know how they are going to choose!

  20. Michael Saunders says:

    Phil & Katie – congratulations! the photos are stunning. Great photo session!
    — mike

  21. Marie J. says:

    Katie, I’m a long time friend of your mom’s and just want to say how happy I am for you and your whole family! These photos are gorgeous and your love for one another shines through. Kudos to Jessica for the wonderful photos. And . . . if you need a puppy sitter while on your honeymoon, let me know! They’re precious!

  22. Chris Bare says:

    These are wonderful pictures! I’m so excited for you guys.

  23. Sara Tomme says:

    These are awesome! You guys look great!

  24. Kelly Palmer says:

    Call it a premonition or just another mother’s intuition, but based on these pictures I was so right about you two along time ago. You are the most adorable couple and these pictures are exceptional. They capture the live you share so perfectly. I love you both and Katy like another daughter. God bless you as you plan your future together.

    Love,
    Mama Palmer

  25. Sue Garnier says:

    Wow! These photos are amazing and you two are such a wonderful, beautiful couple!

  26. winnie von kahle says:

    STUNNING!!

    thank you, Jesse, Katie & Phil for sharing…..

    can’t wait to see Peter as a bridesmaid…Handsome !!!!

  27. Emily smallwood says:

    These pictures are absolutely stunning. The photography is extremely professional and I love the ones with the dogs in them. Congrats Katie and Phil!

  28. Margaret M says:

    What lovely photos to save and show your grandchilgren!

  29. Trish says:

    Beautiful!

  30. Stephen Garnier says:

    Love the pictures! Jessie did an awesome job, but you guys made it easy for her. you are so photogenic! I am so happy for you both!!!

  31. Lauren Skinner says:

    GOSH!!! My best friend is beautiful and Jessie you did such a great job capturing her and Phil together :) YAY!!! love them!!

  32. Carlie says:

    I LOVE MERCY AND PHIL AND KATIE

  33. Linda says:

    What absolutely beautiful pictures!! They are so sweet, fun, and full of love. I can’t wait to see the wedding pictures!!!!

  34. Amy Milstead says:

    These are absolutely gorgeous. Congratulations guys!

  35. julie says:

    Incredibly Gorgeous photos!Love your work!
    It doesnt hurt that these two are incredible gorgeous too! :)

  36. Claudia Smallwood says:

    These are the most beautiful pictures I have seen! What a talented photographer Jessica is! Of course, she had wonderful subjects to work with. Treasure each and every one of these photographs! Best wishes to Katie and Phil!!

  37. Elsie Gabriel says:

    Wow! Wow! Wow! Gorgeous pictures! With drop dead gorgeous people to photograph I don’t think they could be bad! May God bless your life together.

  38. Lauren Duffy says:

    Glorious! What a joy to be able share in your lives through these photos! :-)

  39. Nikole (Kristy's friend from FL) says:

    Beautiful Photos! Congrats and best wishes to the beautiful couple!!

  40. Sheila Gessner says:

    These photos are beautiful…truly beautiful. So happy for the two of you!

  41. Lou Von Kahle says:

    Fantastic photographs Katie, Phil and Jessie. Thanks for sharing them !

  42. Victoria says:

    These are the most gorgeous photos I have seen!!! Of course it’s not hard to capture the beauty of already two of the most beautiful people but I love how these photos capture the adoration of these two for one another. So romantic!

  43. Maraika says:

    my gosh!! you guys are beautiful!!

  44. phil covert says:

    Jessica you are the best!

  45. Sue Masters says:

    Absolutely fantastic photos! Great job Jessica.

  46. Erin Tomme says:

    These pictures are beautiful!! Who knew you guys were such models? I’m so happy for the both of you!

  47. Martin Howell says:

    what great pictures! made me smile! so happy and excited for you two…

  48. Maggie Buckles says:

    Katie, this pictures are amazing! Congratulations!

  49. Mary Howell says:

    Love, love, love the beautiful photos – an easy job with such a beautiful couple! These are really remarkable! I’m so excited for you two! Our youngest son, Andrew owns his own production company in Jacksonville, Florida – Applebox Productions. I want him to see these photos…he’s amazing at lighting and photography! It’s obvious you picked the perfect photographer!

  50. Megan Rinderer says:

    Congratulations! I literally cried while looking at these pictures…good tears of course :) You look amazing together. Love You!

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