Macie + Blaine - Pere Marquette State Park Engagement Session
I’m obsessed with these beautiful people! Their Pere Marquette engagement session was all I wanted out of my Saturday evening. After a rainy weekend, the sun came out to play for Macie and Blaine’s photos.
I’m obsessed with these beautiful people! Their Pere Marquette engagement session was all I wanted out of my Saturday evening. After a rainy weekend, the sun came out to play for Macie and Blaine’s photos. Needless to say, I’m very excited to get them in front of my lens on their wedding day!
They also have a dog named Pesci. How cute is that???
Pesci 2024. Scroll on down for some of my favorites from Macie and Blaine’s engagement session at Pere Marquette State Park!
Brianne + Loren - Southern Illinois Engagement Session
Brianne and Loren are such sweet folks with, obviously, the cutest pups! I’m a sucker for a good hunting dog… We spent some time on their family’s farm land, and hopped around to another couple of cool spots around Gillespie for some late-evening photos. It was a blast!
I’m overjoyed to share some of my favorite images from Brianne and Loren’s engagement session!
I’m really excited for their wedding coming up soon in August at The Hangar, so this engagement session was perfectly timed for them to get some photos before their big day and for us as photographer+couple to get to know each other!
Brianne and Loren are such sweet folks with, obviously, the cutest pups! I’m a sucker for a good hunting dog… We spent some time on their family’s farm land, and hopped around to another couple of cool spots around Gillespie for some late-evening photos. It was a blast!
Akia + Darren - St. Louis, Missouri Engagement Session
This was, by far the coldest engagement session that I’ve ever done, but of some of the warmest souls that I’ve ever photographed! While their wedding is at another venue entirely, I have to give a shoutout to the kind folks at Boo Cat Club for giving us an indoor venue in which to take some beautiful photos and keep out of the frigid temps for a little while!
This was, by far the coldest engagement session that I’ve ever done, but of some of the warmest souls that I’ve ever photographed!
Darren and Akia’s recent engagement session was 6 months before their wedding in August, which I’m super excited for, of course! While their wedding is at another venue entirely, I have to give a shoutout to the kind folks at Boo Cat Club for giving us an indoor venue in which to take some beautiful photos and keep out of the frigid temps for a little while!
Since their little girl was tagging along with us for the first part of the session, we wanted to make sure she was part of the indoor photos so she wouldn’t freeze her little toes off. After we were done there, we went to Art Hill in Forest Park to snag a few outdoor images! Here's where things got…. numb.
It was a -4° wind chill that evening. For most cold sessions, I like to provide my couples with a set of hand warmers to help the extremities stay at least a little toasty but, seriously, NOTHING was going to keep us comfortable when it’s -4 and windy.
At the end of the day, Darren and Akia absolutely crushed it and we came away with some photos that really capture their joyful souls in some really beautiful settings. Check it out below!
Akia’s Makeup was done by the amazing Damund Omar.
Hair was done by the astounding Sherry Daggs.
Hey! You!
Yeah, you. Do ya need photos? Well, I have a few cameras and would love to help you out.
Amanda + Alex - St. Louis, Missouri Engagement Session
This St. Louis engagement session was an insane amount of fun! Amanda and Alex are fantastic people. Check out this blog if you want to see some cool photos of a great couple and get some tips on how to plan a zoo engagement session!
St. Louis Forest Park and Delmar Loop Engagement Photography
This St. Louis engagement session was an insane amount of fun! Amanda and Alex are fantastic people. If you’ve been keeping your eye on the St. Louis culinary scene, you may have seen this feature that Sauce Magazine did on Alex’s work and career. So sick!
We took engagement photos in the St. Louis Zoo, the Steinberg Skating Rink, and finished the evening off with a lap around the Loop. If you’re wanting to do engagement photos at the St. Louis Zoo, there are a few things you need to keep in mind.
First, because of COVID guidelines, the zoo is operating at a limited capacity so you need to make reservations in advance of your visit. I went ahead and did this in a few minutes for all 3 of us!
Second, keep away from busy paths and high-traffic areas. To take the photo, the photographer will likely want you two to take off your masks. Stay off the beaten path and respect your distance from others, and you’ll still make some great images.
Finally, make sure you call to clear the commercial shoot with management. Make your reservation, stay socially distanced, and call ahead to make sure you’re good to go!
If you’re looking to get some engagement photos done at the St. Louis Zoo, I hope this helped you a little bit. Other than that, keep scrolling and bask in the awesomeness of Amanda and Alex! BONUS if you can guess what their nicknames for each other are…
Stephanie + Zach - Highland, Illinois Engagement Session
Stephanie and Zach’s late-fall engagement session in Highland, Illinois at Silver Lake Park was gorgeous! We did this session during a week where I had about 6 other shoots and, let me tell you what, every single one had this amazing, warm light.
Stephanie and Zach’s late-fall engagement session in Highland, Illinois at Silver Lake Park was gorgeous! We did this session during a week where I had about 6 other shoots and, let me tell you what, every single one had this amazing, warm light. Throw in an awesome couple and a handsome German Shorthaired Pointer, and you’ve got a recipe for beautiful photos!
We spent about an hour and a half taking a lap around the park, hiding behind bushes and trees, and dodging errant frisbees sailing through the air. Some of our talking points were as follows:
Dogs, obviously.
Law school…… obviously?
Puppies, which is dogs.
RuneScape. Yep.
Hope you dig these photos. I’m really lucky to get to know folks like this through my work. I’m a big fan of Stephanie and Zach, and I think you’ll be too!
Does the thought of having boring wedding photos make you sad like in one of those lame infomercials? I can make you not sad (about the photos, specifically)!
Moses and Emily - Greenville, Illinois Engagement Photography
I’m so excited to share a bit of Moses and Emily’s engagement session with you! I think we were met with probably the best light I’ve ever seen in my whole dang life. That, paired with these two awesome humans made for a session for the books! I shot, like, DOUBLE the amount that I normally shoot for a session like this. They were that good.
Engagement Session Photography in Southern Illinois
I’m so excited to share a bit of Moses and Emily’s engagement session with you! I think we were met with probably the best light I’ve ever seen in my whole dang life. That, paired with these two awesome humans made for a session for the books! I shot, like, DOUBLE the amount that I normally shoot for a session like this. They were that good.
Emily and Moses are such a sweet couple with a great sense of adventure and joy. They were down for anything! Stare into the sun for a second? You got it. Lay down in the leaves and trust that I won’t drop my camera on their faces? Done. Moses is also a kick-butt blacksmith. I know, cool, right? Check out his work here.
Take a sec and look through all this warm, vibrant goodness. Emily and Moses, you are rockstars!
Recently engaged? Need a dude with a camera? I’m a dude and have, like, FIVE cameras
Josie + Cole - Alton, Illinois Engagement Session
I’m elated that I get to photograph such an amazing couple like Josie and Cole! They’re a blast to photograph, and take my weird and wonky instructions like TOTAL champs. We spent the evening taking their engagement photos in Alton, IL: both in downtown Alton and at Gordon Moore Park.
I’m elated that I get to photograph such an amazing couple like Josie and Cole! They’re a blast to photograph, and take my weird and wonky instructions like TOTAL champs. We spent the evening taking their engagement photos in Alton, IL: both in downtown Alton and at Gordon Moore Park. I took way more photos than I usually do at engagement sessions, but I had to! These two looked so good!
I’m loving the amount of blogging I’m doing lately. Though I often struggle to hit Google’s SEO word count recommendations (and may not even hit it here), I find so much value in showing shorter visual stories for each couple as opposed to the one or two photos they may get featured in my portfolio section. I feel like this is such a more accurate depiction of the couple and how they interact with each other.
For photographers: I used my Nikon 45mm f/2.8 tilt-shift lens pretty frequently in this shoot. It still was only on maybe 10% of the overall session, but that’s significant for a specialty lens like this one. It’s super sharp when you nail the plane of focus, and the color renditioning is top-notch. It’s definitely one of the pricer lenses in my bag, so I kinda need it to be as sharp as it is. The rest of the session was done with my 58mm 1.4G and my 24mm 1.4G lenses. These are what I shoot 98% of all my photos on. They get me in the action, they’re sharp, they’re reliable, and they render perfectly. Take a look, if you dare.
Getting engaged? Already engaged? Not engaged yet but thinking about it? I’m your photo guy!
Heather + Coleman - Springfield, Illinois Engagement Session
Heather and Coleman’s Springfield, Illinois Engagement Session. EPIC.
What a fantastic couple, and an EPIC set of photos we made together. Heather and Coleman are an absolute hoot to hang out with (they love music, and puppies, and DnD!!! ❤️).
Their joyful natures shine through these photos, I believe, and I cannot wait to shoot their big day!
Check out some of my favorites from their session below!
If you or someone you love needs cool pics… Hit me up!
The 5 Most Important Tips for Engagement Sessions
Being in front of the camera doesn’t have to feel foreign! Here are a photographer’s 5 best pieces of advice for those planning an engagement session.
Getting engaged is a really cool thing. You and your person are in love AND are ready to take that next step! Awesome!
But... you're kind of nervous about the session. You've never had real photos taken together, and your boyfriend/girlfriend has told you, "Just... let's not do any of those awkward pictures."
So, what do you do? How do you prepare? Never fear! Here are the 5 most important things to remember for your upcoming engagement session.
1. Wear simple, comfortable clothes
It may feel weird at first, and may even be weird to accept, but your engagement session is about you and your relationship with this other person. It's about the joy, the tension, and the nuance of your specific love for each other.
The more simple and comfortable your outfits are, the more comfortable you will both be, and the more REAL your photos will turn out.
2. The first 15 minutes are a wash
There isn't a sprinter in the world that can roll out of bed and set an Olympic record. By the same token, it's very likely that you're not going to come away with jaw-dropping moments straight out the gate.
Hopefully, by this point, you've spoken to your photographer, gotten to know each other, and hung out for at least a little bit. But there was one thing missing from all that interaction. A camera. Throwing that bit of metal and plastic into the mix adds a whole new element to the engagement session that a lot of people aren't used to.
Just relax, chat for a bit, and focus on the person next to you. All good!
3. Do what you and your person are comfortable with
This one is pretty simple. Your photographer should be the professional, and should know a ton about photographing couples. You know the most about your relationship with this other person. It's a partnership! Maybe you are uncomfortable kissing in front of the camera, or maybe your left ankle is sprained and that pose is killing you! Just let the photographer know so that they can adapt.
4. Communicate!
Not just with the photographers. With each other! Talk to each other during the session, recount great memories, or make fart jokes. Whatever your style is, let all parties involved with the engagement session know!
5. Trust Your Photographer
The person you entrust to take the photos at your wedding and engagement session is more than your uncle Gary who has a nice camera and a couple of lenses. This is an artist, whose work drew you to them in some way. You resonated with the way that they saw the world.
Trust that feeling, and that initial pull to that person. You are making an investment in them, and they are chomping at the bit to make you happy and comfortable every step of the way. So get comfy and get weird! You may just make some really cool art.
Interested in creating some cool stuff?
Katie + Kyle - Ballwin, Missouri Engagement Session
Katie+Kyle+Puppy = a great time. It's just simple math, guys.
So excited to share this session! Katie and Kyle are a fantastic couple and so much fun to hike with/photograph/hang out with. Yes, it was a bit chilly, and yes I am really bad at remembering how long the trails are, but I had a blast with them (and Jax, their puppy with boundless energy).
Kailey + Joe - St. Charles, Missouri Engagement Session
See more of Kailey and Joe's lovely Old St. Charles engagement session!
Kailey and Joe affirmed in me the validity of morning engagement sessions. It was so fun to get some coffee, and walk around as the town of St. Charles was waking up! We had so much fun exploring all the little corners of this late-fall wonderland!
Ellie + Austin - St. Louis, Missouri Engagement Session
Check out Ellie and Austin's St. Louis engagement session!
Literally could not have asked for cooler people to take pictures of. An absolute dream of an evening with Ellie and Austin!
