We were fortunate enough to have two engagement sessions - totally unplanned! The first was completely unscheduled, but impromptu plans sometimes turn out the best, yes?
The first engagement session was inspired by my lovely FSIL who also happens to be an extremely talented photographer. We all happened to be meeting up to welcome home my FBIL from Iraq. My Future-In-Laws were gracious enough to host us all at a rented beach house on the Topsail Island beaches of North Carolina where we spent a week of having family fun.
My FSIL forewarned us about her proposed engagement session by asking us to bring matching outfits - a white shirt and khakis to take some shots on the beach. That we did! I wish I had a link to an online album at her website, but we’ve been archived - so all I have to share are these few favorites.
The second engagement session was our officially scheduled photo shoot with the ever-talented Sarah Maren Photography. Let me tell you - we absolutely loved Sarah AND her photos! She has an incredible eye for light and color - and her editing skills are superb. On top of that, she was able to get Mr. Pom - who is normally very camera shy - to loosen up with her hilarious jokes and antics.
Sarah had us wander around the streets of midtown Sacramento, up and down alley ways and in between homes to take pictures together. It was a rather fun, relaxing afternoon - despite a HILARIOUS incident with a bird which you can read at Sarah’s bloghere.
Click here to view the slideshow
We are so totally pleased with both sessions - and had wanted to hire Sarah to come join my FSIL as a photographer at the wedding. Alas, Sarah has already booked a wedding on our date and will not be able to attend. Therefore, the search begins for our official wedding photographer!
Did you fall in love with a wedding photographer to later find out they were unavailable on your date?
You two are pretty cute 
How lucky to get 2 engagement shoots!
Sarah is the greatest!!!! Maybe I’m a little biased, but I am so excited for our engagement session in a couple weeks. Sac town has some great photographers!!!!
I love the rainbow sculpture thing (I don’t know what it’s called, but I know where it is!)–it looks so cool in that photo!
Well you know I lost my dream photographer due to a date mixup, so I know how that feels. There are SO MANY amazing photographers out there though, it shouldn’t be hard to stumble on anyone new.
If you haven’t found someone yet have you searched using Wedfog? http://wedding-photographers-directory.com/
Also, if you want a HUGE HUGE HUGE list of every single photographer that exists in any given area (I actually stopped looking through it because it was really overwhelming), my Mom is a member of this forum that apparently all photographers are members of. It’s a better resource than WPJA (I think) because the prices are a little bit more reasonable. Let me know if you are interested!
Wow Topsail Beach. What a small Island. I am getting married there on Aug. 8. I love that the beach isn’t so commercialized.
Great photos!!! I love the casual and beachy ook of FSILs photos and the pops of color in Sarah’s photos. You definitely got the best of both worlds!
Ooooh, Sarah is the BEST! I’m thrilled to call her a photographer friend, and her work is always so amazing. I love her shots of your session! I love them both actually - what fun that you got to do two of them!
Wedfog is a great resource, but WPJA requires applications and acceptance to the group - so they have different requirements to be listed. Just something to keep in mind as you look through them both! (I’m a member of both, so definitely not saying one is better than the other.)
Miss Pom, I adore you and Mr. Pom too. Seriously, you guys were so much fun! Even though I can’t be at your wedding I’m so glad we got the chance to hang out and make some awesome images. You rock! 
Sarah Maren is one of my favorite people! Her joy and life and color is infectious. I’ve shot a couple of weddings with her when I was out in CA, and was even going to ask her to be our wedding photographer but had her as a wedding guest instead!
There are two great wedding directories I’d recommend as you search for a photographer. http://weddingparty.com has a really high quality selection of photographers, as does http://www.photographik.org
sarah, you’re the bestest. and that rainbow thing is the sherwin paint store or something like that right? i have my roots in sac
Sarah is pretty fantastic (and a great person!) and its too bad she is booked! I was super fortuante to get my dream photographer for my wedding however I know lots of people who haven’t been so lucky 
It does look like your FSIL is pretty darn awesome though and you’ll be thrilled at the end of the wedding with the beautiful images she produces!
Miss Pom I love all of your photos! And 2 engagement sessions! What a lucky lady!
Babe - I don’t know why you insist on spreading around the photo where I have a monkey face and poofy hair.
monkey face and poofy hair! the best.
[...] Pom works that dress! Her mommy is a photographer, so she was raised to pose in front of the [...]
[...] I first discovered that our engagement photographer Sarah Maren would be unavailable to shoot our wedding, I was so [...]
Mrs. Pomegranate, Sacramento
Age and Occupation: 27, Technical Specialist
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 27, Software Engineer
Engagement Date: August 23, 2007
Wedding Date: October, 2008
Blogging Since: June 5, 2008
Venue: R.H. Phillips Winery
About Me: Hi, I'm Miss Pomegranate and I'm a shopaholic. I have a weak spot for the chic cheap - especially anything I can re-create on the DIY. Shoes are my vice, music is my passion in life and technology is the medium by which I live and work. When I'm not scoping out a sale, I'm spending my quality time training for a marathon, playing Wii with my fiance and snuggling with my Silver Labrador and Teacup Panther - and oh yeah, planning my wedding!
I really love your FSIL’s photos! They feel so warm and personal. You are lucky to have such talent in the family