Couldn’t get enough of these two’s proposal at Vermillion Falls? Don’t worry, we stepped back out into the snowy tundra of Minnesota to capture some more engagement photos. Want to know a secret? Engagement photo sessions (even when it’s your own sister taking them) are still stressful – there’s the what-to-wear, how-to-pose, am-I-doing-this-right for everyone – I’m serious! When Mark and I get our own photos taken, and I’m not the one behind the camera, I too struggle with what I’m doing, if I’m posing right, and will I like the photos? Yeah. Pretty much everyone struggles with their image. It’s part of being human and living in this world. ;)

Once upon a time there were two high school students who fell in love at a drive-thru movie. You know the cool place the students would drive their cars and then just hang out for hours chatting about life and watching movies? Yes, that’s the spot. The high school sweethearts broke up after high school, moving separate ways to go to college. After a few years being separate, they realized that taking a break wasn’t a good idea any longer, so they rekindled the old flame and started dating again. Within months, they were engaged. He had bought the ring, and when she brought up the conversation of marriage, he turned it on her by asking her if he could marry her – sealing the deal. Then began the hustle and bustle of wedding planning and eventually deciding the challenge of where to take their engagement photos. If only the drive-thru in Cottage Grove was still open. But wait! Since being closed, the sign was given to another spot nearby -- Little Log House Pioneer Village in Hastings, Minnesota (one of the cutest and most unique spots for portraits being taken). At last they had found a spot that was sentimental to them!

I still remember the first moment Travis called to tell me about her. I was outside pushing my kids on the swings in the late August sun, and he randomly called - something he hadn’t done in a little while. He began to excitedly share all about Crown College’s welcome weekend, and finally he got to talking about her (the girl Josiah had hinted at in our family group text with a photo earlier that week). Emma was her name, and Travis was pretty smitten. We talked for the next few weeks about how things were going, what she was like, and what he could/should do with liking her. Flash forward to the day of our family photos – yes, on top of everything else in capturing a proposal we thought we’d try to throw Emma off by taking our family photos (pretty sure she was too smart still but we tried!) It’s not every shoot that you get to capture a proposal, and it’s even less likely for it to be your brother the one proposing. In fact, for me, that chance is two in a lifetime, as I had previously taken photos for my sister’s surprise engagement (no pressure to make it three, J ;D)! Anyways, when Travis shared he was getting ready to propose and that he wanted us there to capture it the answer was, “OF COURSE.” Josiah joining in on the fun again to capture the day? Yes, please! Who wouldn’t want three photographers in order to make sure we would get at least one solid angle! The tricky part was when he shared he wanted to take them in our area at Vermillion Falls. We LOVE Vermillion Falls, but if you’ve been there, you know there really aren’t that many angles you can take from with all the trees, bushes, and, well, falls. But we were up for the challenge, which meant that I went weeks in advance to take photos and videos while I walked the area to get an idea of what we would do.

On average, a bridal consultation takes 45 minutes. Sometimes we get through it in 30 minutes, often we take an hour, but never have we sat down with a couple and talked for almost two hours like we did with Rachel and Dan when we all got together. We would have sat and chatted even longer, I’m sure, if it wasn’t for the fact that I needed to get back to feed our little baby girl! We are so excited to be Dan and Rachel’s wedding photographers this week, but we wanted to get a chance to share some of their fun engagement photos that we got to take while exploring the backside of Lebanon Hills Regional Park in Eagan, MN last week.

One of the things we challenge our couples to do when it comes to their engagement portraits is to stay true to themselves as a couple; so, for Gabby & Donny that meant taking their engagement photos at Gabby's family home and spending some time hanging in their favorite spot: the at-home theater. Delicious snacks, buttery popcorn, comfortable chairs, and "The Office" on the big screen -- need I say more? Their family said it's where you find these two together most, and we loved the unique setup!