Early mornings along the Mississippi River are always beautiful and fun, especially when you're capturing the love between two people like Samantha and Eric. As a photographer, moments like these remind me why I love my job—the chance to freeze these fleeting, intimate moments in time. They will only ever enjoy this engagement period once! Samantha and Eric chose Hastings Lock & Dam 2 for their engagement session, a picturesque spot where we could take in the beauty of the river. I was thrilled to see that there was still a beach with all the rain we have had lately! Despite the windy weather that made eyes water a bit, this couple handled it with grace and humor. Samantha's laughter and Eric's smile never wavered despite the occasional gusts.

Josh and Erin. It was such a fun time capturing their engagement photos at Highlands Park in Cottage Grove, but it was fun more than the fact that we were taking engagement photos, but because these two are great friends of ours. They met on our couch in our living room. Every time I say that, I can’t help but let out a little laugh and smile. You see, Josh lives like 400 feet from our house. But the story doesn’t start on our couch, I’d argue it goes farther back.

Successfully surprised Erin with asking the question? Yes! Josh rocked his proposal on the dock at Cottage Grove's Ravine Park! Maybe it’s just me, but him not feeling 100% really worked in his favor, because while Erin saw a proposal coming, she didn’t see it on this night – hence, the comfy clothes she wore she says. After all, it was just another one of their favorite walks, right?

​It all started in a college class. These two just so happened to both take it and after meeting Sierra, Andrew decided he wanted to get to know her more. When he realized she was doing tennis, that meant he decided, “Sure, why not try tennis?” They soon spent their bus rides talking as well as walking to and from practice just hanging out and getting to know each other more. The rest? History – well, not quite yet! These two were soon inseparable, especially when it came to playing sports around Crown College’s beautiful campus, enjoying different leadership positions while at school, and simultaneously growing in their relationship together and closer with God. It should be no surprise then that since so much of their relationship has happened while at Crown College, they have chosen to have their wedding day in October at…Crown College.

I love it when I show up to photograph a couple’s engagement photos and within a few minutes, it feels like we’ve been long-term friends. In fact, when I met up with Erin and Trent here at Minnesota’s Afton State Park for their engagement portraits, I mentally did a double-take where I had to remind myself that we’ve only “met” over Zoom previously and chatted over email. These two have had some crazy curveballs with their original wedding photographer backing out on their day and other things, but the long and short of it is that instead of allowing it to cause bitterness, they have chosen to let those moments go and focus on the joy of their two becoming one. These two are so natural with each other, the smiles kept coming, the giggles were oh-so-sweet, and we can’t wait to capture their wedding day next May!