Engagement Photos at Fort McHenry | Emma and Jack

Romantic summer engagement photos at Fort McHenry, photographed by Baltimore wedding photographer Cait Kramer.

Some engagement sessions come with a story that makes you want to sit down and tell it slow with a cup of tea in hand, and Emma and Jack’s is one of those. (Peep me with a mug of Jasmine Green in hand as I jot down this post!) I actually met Emma a bit before their engagement session was even on her radar, back when she came to me for graduation photos! We spent the afternoon she and Jack would end up getting engaged exploring the waterfront and Federal Hill Park to celebrate her degree, both of us with zero idea what was waiting for her back at home.

While we were out taking pictures, Jack was home deep cleaning the house, prepping dinner, and getting ready to drop to one knee.

Emma wrapped her grad session, walked in the door at home, and found her now-almost-husband waiting to ask her to marry him. She said yes, obviously, and just a few weeks later, we were back together for their engagement photos, this time with some new bling on Emma’s finger (hand in hand with her fiancé, rather than leaving Jack at home!).

Every session comes with some unpredictability built in, and theirs was no different. We knew it’d be hot, and Mother Nature spent the whole lead-up playing will-she-won’t-she with the rain. We decided to go for it anyway, and we lucked into one of the most stunning evenings I could’ve asked for. Sure, it was hot, but neither of them seemed to mind one bit while they got to celebrate their brand new title as fiancés.

We started their Fort McHenry engagement session with unreal waterfront views.

Fort McHenry gave us exactly what we needed: open water views, plenty of room to wander, and the kind of light that makes twirls and snuggles look even sweeter! We wandered and found benches in the shade and some pretty summer light with the most amazing views of the harbor. In short… I couldn’t be more obsessed with the way we kicked things off… until…

We wrapped up at Delia Foley’s, one of their favorite spots for a date night in town.

From the Fort, we headed just down the street to Delia Foley’s, a bar Emma and Jack know well from their regular trivia and date nights. We ducked inside to soak in the AC and let them each enjoy a Guinness before heading back out for a little more golden hour and some classic Federal Hill vibes to close out the evening. As they cheersed and sipped and twirled and showed off Emma’s stunning and super unique engagement ring, I was SO torn. I still can’t decide which spot is my favorite from our time together, as both feel so them and resulted in such a relaxed feel that tells such a sweet part of their story!

All of it, top to bottom, screams South Baltimore (And Emma and Jack!) in the best way, and if you know me, you know SOBO has a permanent spot in my heart! (As do these two!)

Now, we’re counting down to their October wedding.

We just sat down to finalize their wedding timeline, and I could not be more excited to watch these two step into bride and groom mode before they officially become spouses. Emma and Jack are some of the kindest, most thoughtful people, and they’ve planned every last detail of their day with so much care. It felt fitting to finally share their engagement photos before their wedding gets here. I can’t wait for you to scroll!

PS If you loved this Fort McHenry engagement session and you’re dreaming up your own DMV engagement session, I’d love to be part of it. Tap here to learn more about working together.

Romantic summer engagement photos at Fort McHenry, photographed by Baltimore wedding photographer Cait Kramer.