- Jesselynn Quinn

A Weekend Engagement Shoot in Oxford: Part One

21st February 2012 | 9 comments

You know those mythical women we see in the movies? The ones who excel in their careers, are effortlessly beautiful, and in addition to all that, are also extremely kind and lovable?

Well, here's one of them in real life. When I first met JJ, I was struck by her porcelain skin, her perfect features, her easy smile. Next to her, I felt like a total troll. But then I started chatting with her and found out that beneath the movie-star looks lies one of the most down-to-earth, super intelligent (she's a graduate of Oxford Uni), humble people ever. And to top it all off, she is engaged to the warmest, kindest guy in London, Leo. Between Leo's enthusiasm for photography and the couple's easy-going nature, I was in photography heaven.

To view the full gallery click here.

Leo and JJ came across each other in their professional lives. Both of them work in finance, and a few years ago, Leo came to her as a client. He was immediately pulled to her, of course, but it took another 6 months before he finally asked her out. Thank gawd he finally did, because it's obvious how right for each other they are!

We took these pictures at freeeezing weather (about 5 deg C), and Leo was the perfect gentleman the whole time, carrying JJ's coat, always ready to wrap her up warm once we got done with the location. For her part, JJ braved the cold without complaint, going into various poses without skipping a beat even though she must've been close to being turned into a human popsicle. Throughout the weekend, we traipsed all over Oxford, starting first at the Randolph Hotel before going across the street to the Ashmolean museum, then continuing on to Blackwell's, the Radcliffe Camera, the Covered Market, Exeter College, New College...finally ending our two-day session at St. Hilda's College, JJ's alma mater. Talk about great wedding venues! The Randolph Hotel was especially so beautiful...here's to hoping I get to photograph a wedding there sometime in the near future! It was a long, exhausting weekend, but being around Leo and JJ was such a treat that I didn't feel like I was working. JJ and Leo, I am so honored to have been able to photograph your prewedding shoot, and I hope you enjoy these pictures as much I enjoyed taking them! Part Two to follow in the coming days...

Categories:

black and white photography,

daytime,

engagements,

england engagement,

formal,

oxford engagement,

oxford,

white,

9 comments

Comments for "JJ and Leo: An Oxford Engagement Shoot "

OK, so I might be in love with you. Will you marry me?! The black and whites are fantastic!! I think my favourite is the "on the shoulder kiss" shot, though, the love between them was palpable in that shot.

Posted by Charlotte Dugas | February 21, 2012, 12:02 pm

What a beautiful couple. I can hardly believe that the girl is not a model!! This session is really breathtaking!

Posted by Krista Liu | February 21, 2012, 5:26 pm

Wow. I love everything about this shoot. Everything. The couple, the scenery, the light...awesome job Jesselynn!

Posted by Emily N | February 21, 2012, 10:06 pm

Jessie -- amazing as usual xx

Posted by Bev | February 22, 2012, 1:43 am

What a great set of images to start off 2012!

Posted by Ashley Yohe | February 22, 2012, 8:28 am

hey Jessie, we are so so so happy to see this and more than enjoy it!!! It was great pleasure and honour to have experienced all this with you over wknd. From my humble photography point of view, you are a great photographer with loads of ideas and ways to realise them. It is easy to get grand and nice scenery wedding pictures, but it is the most difficult to get the feelings of true happiness and love within. And you did that! Thank you so much...

Posted by LEO | February 22, 2012, 10:23 am

Wow indeed! You should submit these pics to a wedding magazine!

Posted by Andie | February 22, 2012, 3:39 pm

Oh wow, thank you so much for the kind comments, everyone! Leo and JJ made my job way too easy...it's probably not possible to get a bad picture of them! :D

Posted by Jesselynn | February 23, 2012, 8:49 am

Oh Jesselynn!!!!!!!! You're killing me, these are gorge. There's something so beautiful about each photograph, I can feel the emotions in the room almost ;). Just captivating. And Oxford campus is gorgeous, I remembered a few place from pictures when my friends studied abroad in Oxford, I wish I would have joined them, now I guess you'll have to give me a tour ;).

Posted by Yuliya M. | February 23, 2012, 9:08 pm