Engagement Session in Zekreet, Qatar Desert: Tess & Eric

4/6/2017

It's hot. The sun is beating down on me as I raise my camera, snap a shot, and quickly wipe the sweat off of my forehead. Scorching sand is threatening to burn my toes, even through my shoes, and all I can think of is how much I wish an oasis with cool water would appear. I can only imagine how my barefooted models feel in this 40° C heat. We're all very thankful when we can hop in the cars during breaks to blast the AC and relax.
Even though the heat of the Qatar desert leaves me parched, there's not a single complaint from the two lovebirds I'm photographing. Tess and Eric are enjoying their engagement shoot, holding tight to one another despite the merciless midday sun.

Tess and Eric met in their native Netherlands, so you may be wondering how they ended up so far from green lush lands. It all started at a bar. A college night partying turned into a chance meeting, which in turn blossomed into a beautiful romance. Eric received a job offering in the Middle East in Doha, Qatar some time later, and Tess did what anyone in love would do: she followed him.

The Middle East is quite different from Europe, and given the much stricter domestic rules, Tess and Eric had to be married. A civil ceremony prevented any problems that might arise from the local authorities, and until a formal ceremony could be organized, the two hired me to do an engagement photo shoot. True, this by far is not the way to get married coming from the book of fairy tales that everyone speaks of and strive for , but Tess and Eric don't mind. They have each other – they see their story as a sign of their solid everlasting bond,the first test of many to come that they intend to go through happily hand in hand and that's all that matters.

We chose the desert landscape because of it's barren beauty and endless horizons. The dry dunes and jagged rocks create a beautiful backdrop for an amazing couple. It makes my passion shine bright seeing such a strong relation between two people madly in love,willing to go to the ends of the world for one another and know they have each other's support for the rest of their lives. Its a proof that love can be planted in a dry rugged land with no lush grass in it and still blossom and strive for eternity. Yet another wonder of love...