There’s something really special about an engagement session. It’s kind of like a newborn session, but without all the tiredness and well… fear. It’s similar to a newborn session in that there is just so much ahead, so much potential. A new thing being started. A family growing together. A whole lotta LOVE. It’s different because both people got a full nights rest before the session, no one is wondering what the HECK just happened to them, and no one is going to the bathroom on my props. 🙂
Anyway. I had the opportunity to do engagement photography for this sweet couple. Josh and Nicole are heading to Hawaii for their wedding in just a few short weeks, so we had a small window to get the session in. They were wonderful, and I am so glad we were able to get this session in.
First, they brought their golden retriever, Ruby. As a golden owner, I obviously loved that.
Second, Josh has schemed up this big plan for the proposal around his trip to Hawaii he won. Totally tricked Nicole. I love a good surprise, and this sounds like one of the best around.
Third, they admitted that the session was a lot more fun than they anticipated, and that’s one of my favorite things to hear! It cracks me up, but it happens all the time. Families or couples or new parents are SUPER apprehensive about a session, and in fact they think it’s going to be fairly un-enjoyable. And then we have the session and they’re pleasantly surprised that they had a good time, it was pain free, and over quickly!
And fourth (yes, there’s a fourth thing I loved about this session), the scenery was absolutely ugly. But you can’t tell from their images! Nicole and Josh decided that they wanted a more urban look, and one of my go-to spots for that is East 6th Street in downtown Austin. It’s normally fairly grungy, but within a couple blocks are some of the funkiest buildings, doors, walkways, etc. Well, “fairly grungy” didn’t cover it. We were there on a Sunday morning in the middle of the SXSW festival, so imagine the revelry (or debauchery) that had been happening for days in those streets. There was hardly a soul in site (it was early on Sunday morning) except the street sweeper throwing dirt and dust everywhere, and the inmates that were also cleaning the streets. And the streets were just nasty. To top it off, we had a steel gray sky.
BUT! You would never know it from their images. The images are filled with light and lots of color, and Nicole and Josh’s happiness brightens everything all the more.
