Gyeongbukgung Palace, Seoul Korea: I could try and sum up what Elizabeth and Zach’s engagement shoot was all about but I feel Elizabeth’s words would do the job much more eloquently. Here they are. Enjoy.
“Zach and I met in 2006. We were both working at a clothing store at the time (H&M) in the Chicago suburbs. Zach was still in high school and I was taking a break from college and working there full time. We became incredibly close friends (but only friends) for a while – though it became pretty obvious that we were meant to be together, and the next year we both moved to Madison, WI. Zach started college and I transferred to another H&M to become their visual merchandiser. Eventually we were both enrolled at UW and we ended up graduating together last year. Madison has become “our” place and we plan to wed there next summer.”
When I met Zach he was still in high school. He was tall and skinny, wore tight jeans, and had long hair that stuck up in funny places, but I was still so drawn to him. I’m only a few years older than Zach, but I had spent my youth rushing into adulthood. Zach helped me take a few steps back and learn to enjoy being young (he’s still trying to help me do this).
“I was adopted and had not returned to Korea until September when we moved here to teach. We are looking to get some photos that encompass the country – whether it’s traditional hanok buildings or a palace…”
“I puff my cheeks up with air and he presses the sides of my cheeks until all the air is gone and all that’s left are my dimples.”
(Flowers by Clair)
“We’d like to capture the place where we were engaged (and were I was born) in our photos…”
“Zach has a “push-chin” (a rounded chin) that I joke with him about, and he likes to “make dimples” on my face.”
“We also spend about 5 nights a week in coffee shops. Zach studies Korean and I read – or we study for the GRE together. That’s one thing about us – we do EVERYTHING together. We like to share the same friends and experiences and outside of work (and Zach’s time in the gym), we are almost always together.”
“Zach says he loves the surprise notes I leave for him… usually on his iPad so when he opens it up he has a nice surprise. They spring up in his notebooks, his gym bag, and when we were working together – on his car in the parking lot. I didn’t know until recently that he has saved most of them.”
Working with Greg was like a dream come true. I know it sounds corny – but it’s true. Soon after Zach and I got engaged, I started envisioning engagement photos set in Korea with traditional Korean scenery and all the elements of the country and culture that we have come to love. My visions were quickly crushed when I realized that the art of “Engagement Photos” was a completely different concept here. I wanted something that captured the relationship that Zach and I have built as well as the place that has come to mean so much to us… not an overpriced day long dress-up session!
I was so lucky to find Greg online and after looking over his work I was convinced he was absolutely our best option. You can see his passion for photography in his work, and you can definitely feel it during the shoot. He loves what he does and it makes the experience all the better. Within a few days of my first email to Greg, we had set up a time and place for our session. He was incredibly quick and efficient in all aspects – from finding a time and location to getting us our photos in a timely manner and following up with us after receiving them.
Zach and I were both really impressed with all the hard work Greg put into our photos. He scoped out the location and arrived the day of our shoot with multitudes of ideas and locations in the palace. There was never a question of “What do we do next?” Greg was well prepared and we were able to get so many incredible photos from just a 3 hour session. To top it off, his wife made a beautiful bouquet for me that has inspired several ideas for our own wedding flowers. Zach and I are so happy with our photos and we would recommend Greg to anyone looking for a professional, devoted, and affable photographer.
-Elizabeth & Zach
Seoul South Korea