There is something incredibly special about photographing a couple in the earliest days of their engagement, when the excitement is still brand new and the wedding is a happy plan on the horizon. Chauncey had already popped the question to Krista, and the two of them spent a morning with us in Turks and Caicos to capture that season of their story. Krista was staying at a lovely big Caribbean style villa with her family, and it was here and a nearby beach, that would be the locations for our morning of engagement photos.
Starting at Villa Vieux Caribe
We began the session at Villa Vieux Caribe, where Krista and her family were staying on the south side of the island, overlooking the Caicos Banks. The water there is exactly the kind of Caribbean turquoise blue people picture when they think of Turks and Caicos, and we wanted to make the most of that view right from the start.
To do that, we headed up to the villa’s balcony first. Shooting from above let us angle the camera down toward the water, with the palm trees framing the shot and Chauncey and Krista centered in the middle of it all. It is a different kind of photo than what you get from ground level, one that really shows off where they were and what the setting felt like.
From the balcony we made our way down to the villa grounds, using the rustic pathways and a wooden dock to add some variety to the session. We mixed in some fun, playful moments with more romantic, quieter ones, letting Chauncey and Krista be themselves in their photos. That mix is really what an engagement session should be. It is not just one mood held for an hour. The images tell the story of the couple enjoying many moments in a short space of time, and of course, it helps that it’s all set in a beautiful place!
Heading to a Second Location
Just as we were getting ready to head to our next location, we noticed the gorgeous wooden doorway at the villa set into a coral stone wall, and we could not pass it up for a photo op. Krista’s flowing white dress and Chauncey’s white shirt stood out beautifully against the warm, rough texture of that dark wood and coral stone wall. This doorway gave us another completely different look for what we had captured so far that morning, more intimate and a little more textured. Sometimes the best photos are not in the itinerary at all. It is just something you notice on your way out the door, and this doorway earned its spot in their gallery.
On to Taylor Bay Beach
After wrapping up at the villa, we hopped into the car for a short drive over to Taylor Bay Beach. It was a new spot for Chauncey and Krista, and you could tell they were excited to see it for the first time together. Taylor Bay is one of those beaches that photographs beautifully no matter which direction you point the camera.
Once there, we let them enjoy each other’s company on the beach, Krista’s white dress catching the breeze as they moved. With gentle guidance for what we knew would make fun pictures, they played in the waves, danced together on the seashore, and let loose in a way that always makes for the best engagement photos. Those are the moments we love most as photographers, when a couple stops posing and just starts having fun together, because that is when the real personality of the relationship comes through in the images.
To close out the session, we put the drone up in the air and captured some aerial shots of Chauncey and Krista on the beach. From above, you get a totally different sense of scale, the two of them small against the sweep of turquoise water and white sand that makes Turks and Caicos what it is. These images give the couple some wider angle, environmental, sweeping images which add variety to the more up close and personal portraits.
A Morning to Remember
Looking back, this session had a little bit of everything. We had the quiet elegance of the villa setting with its wooden pathways, garden greenery, the relaxed fun on the villa dock, and the joy of a discovering new beach at Taylor Bay. That is really the story of an engagement, too. It is not one single moment, it is a string of them, some planned and some found along the way, all adding up to create some wonderful memories for this young couple embarking on their lives together.
We are so glad Chauncey and Krista chose to have their engagement photos with us, and we cannot wait to see where their wedding planning takes them next. Thank you both for letting us be part of this chapter of your story. Sessions like yours, full of genuine excitement and a couple who is clearly having a great time together, are exactly why we love doing this work in Turks and Caicos.
If you are recently engaged and dreaming of a session on the island, whether at your villa, on the beach, or both, we would love to help you capture it. Turks and Caicos has no shortage of beautiful backdrops, and we know how to find the ones that fit your story.
