Max and Eitan – A Love Story in a Converted School Bus Down by the River

Antonias Gaze – Max and Eitan

So, let’s talk about engagement photo sessions. When did they become a thing? Or have people always roped their significant others into finding complimentary outfits, wrapping themselves in homemade quilts, and gleefully embracing at sunset and I somehow missed it?

When Rick and I got engaged we were, let’s call it “frugal.” We needed something for a Save the Date, so we roped in our talented friend, Bec, at Miss Bakes into taking some incredible photos for us down in Byron Bay. It was ideal because Bec wouldn’t have dreamed of making us pay her for her incredible skills (though we did shell what we could at her), there was beer, there were surfboards, there were dolphins, and Bec and I outnumbered Rick and forcibly made him hold a string of origami hearts. Had this last part never happened, I would not be entirely convinced of his love and we might not be where we are today. It was demoralizing and demeaning to Rick. I rolled up his pant legs and forced him to be photographed with calves exposed while gallivanting in the surf. I am a horrible woman who enjoyed myself thoroughly at his expense. So in many ways it was a typical engagement photo shoot. But yet, I am not convinced it was the normal deal. I left with too much of a buzz. And I think they should all go like this. So, I offered to help a sister (mine) out for the day and aided in the torture and abuse of her fiancé for the sake of some adorable photos. So, without further ado, I present to you: Max and Eitan – A Love Story in a Converted School Bus by the River.

As a prelude, I have been without camera for a few months recently. I cracked the LCD display on my DSLR and it petered along for awhile before going belly-up on me. I was planning to replace or repair it, but hadn’t sufficient motivation. Then two things changed: 1) I got pregnant, and 2) my sister needed engagement photos for a Save the Date — a match made in consumerist heaven. I bought myself a new (refurbished) upgrade Nikon D5200 and was back in happy photo land. Now I can happily document mild photographic spousal abuse and what will soon be my cherubic fetus/infant/toddler/terrible two-year-old. It will be glorious.

So, back to Max and Eitan. I love this couple, mostly because I have to by some sort of familial rules, but also because they manage to keep me interested with their antics. They went to high school together. Back then, Eitan had a big mop of curly blond hair, which my sister was drawn to in the way that sophomore girls are drawn to exciting senior boys with wild, untamed locks. She pined over him from afar back then, and it wasn’t until much later that they were able to connect and learn that Eitan had a serious weakness for freckles, and that they both really, really, really like dogs. So they went rafting together. It was a fateful trip. Max dislocated her shoulder and Eitan lost his keys and his dog got attacked. Then Max missed her flight home. So they hung out some more. And so it began…

They have rafted the Grand Canyon, lived in a converted school bus, and been ski bums. Now they embark on an entirely more adult journey… marriage!

Let’s see whether they can pull of looking adult and in love for 45 minutes in their back yard: