Mount Maunganui Beach Session | Charlie & Josh | Engaged

Pink blog cover photo which reads, "Photography. Charlie & Josh | Engaged, Mount Maunganui erinmichele.co.nz" with a picture of newly engaged, Josh and Charlie -- Erin Michele Thomson, Tauranga Photographer

Mount Maunganui Beach Engagement Session

When Charlie and Josh picked Mount Maunganui beach for their engagement session, I knew it was going to be perfect!

I absolutely love shooting there at sunset but I also know that Mauao is Charlie's 'happy place' and she absolutely loves walking up Mauao.

We booked their session in and, before we knew it, the entire country was in lockdown and no one was going anywhere! As we moved out of lockdown, we were also moving into colder, wetter weather. So I kept my eye on the weather and messaged Charlie and Josh as soon as it looked like we were going to have a nice clear sunset.

Shooting in the shadows of Mauao means we experience sunset much earlier than the rest of Tauranga, so we met up at 3:30pm.. for a sunset session.. and it was perfect! I still get nervous before every session, but let me tell you, meeting Charlie and Josh (finally) was so special! By the end of the session, I felt like I had known them for years!

Charlie and Josh actually have such a sweet engagement story that I just had to honour it.. by bringing along a fork. Deciding to celebrate their seventh year anniversary at home, they were cooking dinner when Josh asked Charlie to pass him a fork.

Opening the drawer, Charlie was surprised with a ring box!.. an empty ring box. Rolling her eyes, she turned around to 'have words' with Josh.. and there he was, down on one knee, ring in his hand. So, of course, as I'm running out the door with my camera gear, I quickly grab a fork.. because 'it might just work!'. And it did! (Scroll down for the fork shot).

Working with a really fun and genuinely kind couple, I loved every minute of this session which, of course, meant that it ended way faster than expected. Charlie & Josh,

Thank you so much for letting me be a part of such a special season of your life together! Thank you for trusting that I won't make you look crazy and that laughing at shoulders and elbows can be gorgeous 🤣

It was so awesome to finally meet you both!

Eight years down, forever to go! Roll on the 7th of November!!

Here are just a few of my favourite images from Charlie and Josh's Mount Maunganui Engagement Session.