Carli Clesmere 
When temperatures drop to their coldest in Essex County, most people retreat indoors, but every so often, the frigid weather delivers a little magic. Case in point: Montclair’s Edgemont Park Pond, located at 274 Valley Road, recently froze over solid enough to welcome a scene straight out of a romantic comedy, complete with ice skates + picture-perfect (literally) winter vibes. Read on to learn more about how a local photographer took advantage of the cold temps and turned the frozen pond into a picture-perfect winter photo op.
Local photographer Angelica Pasquali, who also goes by @dawnpointstudios, is a wedding + elopement photographer, so romance naturally runs in her blood. She shared that when she saw on The Montclair Girl’s Instagram post that Edgemont Park was open for skating, she instantly went into full Hallmark-movie mode and commented, “Oh my goodness, I would love to photograph a couple skating together, any takers?” Not long after, someone responded with interest.
Tyler reached out to Angelica, and the two connected to plan a surprise session for his wife, Brittney. The shoot took place on Monday, 2/9/2026, with the frozen pond setting the scene. Brittney and Tyler shared with Angelica that they picked up ice skating as a hobby before their wedding, making the moment feel especially full circle.
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Truly, all the stars (and ice) aligned. Even in the middle of a cold snap, it was a sweet reminder that a little creativity, a friendly neighbor, and a love story can turn a winter day into something magical.
Photo Credit: @dawnpointstudios
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