halloween engagement session nik morina photography

A COVID Inspired Engagement Session?

Nik Morina Photography brings us this very alternative engagement session taken at hidden spots along the Manayunk Canal Towpath.

Cheryl and JJ wanted their engagement to not only capture the brightness of their love, but also the darkness of COVID that seems to surround us. Read more about their inspiration below:

halloween engagement session nik morina photography

How did you and your fiance meet?

We met at Widener University. It was my first semester and JJ’s last. He later told me he noticed me on the first day of class and told his friend he was going to hook up with me by the end of the semester. 8 years later, we’re getting married!

halloween engagement session nik morina photography
halloween engagement session nik morina photography

What do you love most about your partner?

Cheryl: I love JJ’s positivity. He balances me out. He’s a great partner and also one of my best friends. I love how much fun we have together all the time. He’s got an amazing drive and love for life that I admire. I truly can’t imagine life without him and am so excited to call him my husband!   

JJ:I love that Cheryl is always by my side through the good and bad, and supporting me in whatever it is I am up to. She is a super cool down to earth girl, who keeps me on my toes and challenges me to better myself. I love all the good times we have together, and she somehow manages to put up with all of my shenanigans! Can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with her. 

halloween engagement session nik morina photography
halloween engagement session nik morina photography

How did he propose?

JJ told me he was planning a surprise for me on his birthday. He brought me to go skydiving! I never thought in a million years he’d go through with it considering he’s afraid of heights and swore up and down that he would never go skydiving. It actually rained and we couldn’t go that day but luckily we found another place we could go to the next day. JJ brought the ring and gave it to the staff to bring to him when he hit the ground. As soon as I landed, JJ approached me with the ring, kneeled down and asked me to marry him. 

halloween engagement session nik morina photography
halloween engagement session nik morina photography

What was your inspiration for the engagement photos?

We first moved in together in May 2015. That summer, we went exploring in our new neighborhood and walked along the Manayunk canal path. We wound up finding a fun spot off of the path with a waterfall and ruins of an old building. We both thought it was the perfect spot for our pandemic engagement photos. I wanted our photos to have a morbid vibe for the pandemic so I bought the plague masks.  

halloween engagement session nik morina photography

Have you started wedding planning? If so, how has your experience been so far?

We first started planning our wedding prior to the pandemic but decided to embrace the chaos and kept our wedding date for Halloween 2020. It’s been a crazy experience considering all things but we’ve been lucky and have amazing vendors and family and friends to support us. 

How was your experience working with your engagement photographer?

Nik Morina has been amazing from the start. We both had so much fun during our engagement session and are blown away by his talent. His work speaks for itself. Nik is extremely easy going and we felt very comfortable working with him. We are so excited to have him and his team at our wedding!

Photographer: Nik Morina Photography

Locations: Manayunk Canal Towpath