Lana and Marcus are one of those couples everyone is in love with. They’re living proof that we’re not all crazy, thinking that real and lasting love actually exists; and in the same moment they are so down to earth. These two are a blast to be around, and their happiness is contagious. Try to look at these photos without grinning–not possible, people.

We meandered around the Riverwoods, complete with fall leaves, tickling, and plenty of laughs at the ridiculous things I asked these two to do–I know clients and I are meant to be when they’re up for anything.

Lana and Marcus, thank you so much for letting me in on your incredible love. It’s a joy to witness!

Freshly engaged and in need of some beautiful capturing of you and your love? Let’s chat about it.

We were sitting around the table talking about him, while she smiled goofy at her phone. Peter’s texts brought out school-girl quality giggles in Summer from Day 1, and we all knew it was nothing less than a dream come true.

Summer and Peter are a power couple; together they’re just completely unstoppable. I’ve known Summer since birth, and have always looked up to her–she’s one of the smartest, kindest, most beautiful human beings I’ve ever known. And Peter? He’s every bit her match; so full of goodness, generosity, and genuine care for others.

I love these two, and I’m honored to be part of telling their love story–which wouldn’t be complete without Summer’s darling kids, Kennedy and Cameron.

Can’t. Wait. For this fantastic wedding.

Meet Summer and Peter, my lifelong idol and her incredible man.

Rachel is one of those people who steals your heart the second you meet her–she could be best friends for life with…oh, anyone. She’s so warm and bubbly and delightfully sassy and gosh, she’s just so cute–not in a pinch-your-cheeks way, but in a graceful way that makes everything she does adorable and magnetic. I knew she had to have a man to match, and Jacob is the perfect fit. The two of them have such a wonderful rhythm–that’s what you get when you’ve been together as long as they have–add their zest for life and support of each other and you’ve got an amazing relationship and forever-long love.

They started out as friends way back in high school, and when Jacob joined the military Rachel always kept in touch. While Jacob was stationed in California Rachel flew out every weekend, and after seemingly unbearable months in Afghanistan Jacob is home for good! When couples have experienced life together, especially having been apart from each other, I love seeing them more strongly and deeply tied together. It’s so beautiful to witness.

Rachel and Jacob: wonderfully sweet and so darn likable. (Also incredibly good looking.)

Rachel and Jacob brought their two dogs, Lily and Baxter, along for the shoot. It was so much fun, even if the pups didn’t feel like cooperating. We let them do their thang. 

How adorable is Baxter? Rachel adopted him when he was abandoned and has taken him under her wing. I told you she was ridiculously sweet.

I love when couples bring things that are meaningful to them to our sessions–when Jacob was in Afghanistan, Rachel would look at this globe and think of him. Plus, who can resist monogrammed Anthro mugs?

AND? Turns out Jacob is a mad-awesome salsa dancer, and Rachel’s got a few moves herself. =)

Oh, Rachel and Jacob, it was such a thrill to be with you and see the depth of your love. Cannot wait for your wedding!

“It took a long time because I’m crazy,” Katie laughed while telling me The Story. I knew exactly what she meant: that marriage is a big deal, like, the hugest, and she didn’t want to mess it up. They first got together because Cale pulled a move he never pulls: asking for a stranger’s number. Of course he couldn’t help himself with Katie, though–you’ll understand in like .58 seconds. It was on again, off again, with a heaping dose of long-distance and a helping of uncertainty between school and jobs and the stuff that is life.

But while we stood there in the middle of the overcast morning, I looked at both of them laughing and tag-team-telling the story (with, surprisingly, no interjections of “No, that’s not how it was!!) I just knew they fit. Perfectly. From the way they snuggle effortlessly into each other’s arms to the way their personalities compliment each other, Katie and Cale are IT.

Enjoy the light-hearted loveliness of these beautiful people.

Katie and Cale, thank you for letting me in on such a wonderful relationship.

Need some fun-loving wonder-filled photos of your own? Let’s talk.

I don’t even know what to say about Jessica and Andrew. I mean, what can you see when you meet a couple that makes you squeal with delight and trip with glee (literally)? I caught myself smiling stupidly at my computer while I edited these because Jessica and Andrew are just so. deep. in love. And they have great style. (I saw that Jessica’s ring was rose gold and I definitely jumped up and down like it was Christmas friggin’ morning. We had a mutual freakout=awesome.)

Jessica and Andrew have been dating long-distance and used their engagement session as an excuse to see each other and document their crazy happy love. People like these two make me consider having 17 hour long engagement sessions because it’s just so good and I do way too many happy dances and they do everything I say with so much beauty and it’s magic and when I get excited I abbreviate stuff and so I’m screaming “PERF!” at them over and over and

then my allergies flare up, and I sneeze 100 times and calm down.

But just a little.

Without further weirdness from me, meet Jessica and Andrew.

Fave.

Other fave. You see why I had to squeal?

Jessica and Andrew, thank you for letting me in on such a wonderful love.

The day was rainy. Cloudy and threatening, and muggy on top of all that. Sometimes it’s poopy that I have to depend on the weather and cajole it and plead with it to cooperate with me, even in days in May.

But Rachael and I separately worried that rain away, and it was the perfect temperature. Take that, weather-dependent woes.

Rachael and Jared are so much fun, and Rachael is a photographer herself–always an honor to be chosen to document such an important thing as love by a fellow creative. They’re getting married this July and have such a laid back, easy kind of love. It’s so refreshing–I love easy kinds of love.

Meet Jared and Rachael: good looking, happy, kind people in love.

Congratulations, Rachael + Jared!

And hey you. Wanna be in on the facebook goodness? Facebook peeps are the first to know about special sales, previews, and freebies. So yes, you want to be in. Git it.

Jessica and Miles are the type of couple that make my cheeks hurt from smiling and laughing by the end of our session together. They are so smitten with each other, you can’t help but smile. They’re the type of couple that restores my faith in the power of real, deep love, and gives me hope that people can still have lasting, incredible relationships despite all the junk in the world.

We went to a super secret location brimming with awesomeness–it was absolutely beautiful. Even if I did have to screw up my courage to go on after seeing a mouse scurry out of the bathroom =)

Oh, my. I live for gorgeous light, men who treat their ladies like queens, and couples who love so deep the ocean would be jealous. (Okay, no. I admit it. I didn’t think that one up. Pinterest).

Miles absolutely made these photos with his hilarious-and-slightly-inappropriate comments =)

Jessica and Miles, you are a special pair. Thank you for letting me in on your giddy, excited love–so, so excited for your wedding!

 

Maddie and Jason are one of the most delightful couples to ever walk the earth.

I always feel like I’m making big sentences like that when I talk about my clients, but it’s always a million percent true.

Maddie and Jason are so full of life and playful fun; every other minute I had to drop my camera and just giggle.

Enjoy the joy, the style, the beauty, the model behavior, and the love of this incredible pair.

Maddie and Jason, thank you so much for letting me witness your fun, fresh love. Cannot.WAIT. for your San Diego wedding!

…………..

Oh, what’s that? You’re playful and delightful and you are in need of gorgeous photographs for your engagement and wedding joy? You’re in luck. Brooke Schultz is a Utah wedding photographer who is passionate about capturing the unique elements that make you and the ones you love beautiful. More lucky? She has a very select few dates still open this summer, and she really, really loves summer weddings. Wanna? Let’s talk about it.

First I just need to say: this was one of my favorite engagement sessions ever. of all time. So romantic, playful, and beautiful–and that’s all about Breanna and William.

Breanna and I have been dear friends for a while (but who isn’t dear friends with Breanna? This girl is magnetic.) I am so thrilled she’s met her match in William. Breanna is beautiful, the kind of beautiful that draws people to her in droves–her easy laugh, infectious smile, and quick wit just make the hearts of all humans sing.

And William. Even though I just met the guy, I found myself sighing contentedly like in some cheesy chick flick because he is so perfect for Breanna. (Cheesy chick flicks are another blog post entirely. ugggh.)

The farm we shot at belonged to Breanna’s grandparents–I love when couples choose a location that is meaningful to them. It was so wonderful to see how fun, playful, and deep their relationship is. I am so (beyond!)  thrilled to be part of their wedding in Houston in June!

Meet Breanna and William: Harry Potter-loving, camera-working, drop-dead-gorgeous people in love.

So much love, right? They are amazing.

We sat on Lyndsi Shae’s bed and while she organized her closet, she told me about him. About their history, the letters she was writing him, the things she loved about him, but also the specks of confusion that made her wonder how things would turn out. We’d have conversations like this a lot, because our lives were big and up in the air and lots of times we just wondered how things would end up. We wondered over greasy grilled cheese when I had broken up with Jared. We wondered while we looked for apartments and couldn’t feel right about any of them, singing along to Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, free and trying to love our lives in the middle of all the unknowns.

I love this woman, in so many more words than I can say here. I’ve felt so much with her. She has a quiet way of letting you be safe, to open up and think and feel, to stand up and acknowledge how hugenormous  your revelations and talents and life mission are. Our hearts are wild and our souls are nourished by writing and singing gospel music at the top of our lungs.

So I knew that whatever man ended up lucky enough to live out life and eternity with this amazing woman would not be there by luck at all, but because he fit her perfectly. And Ken just does. Six years brimming with letters, a couple missions, walking barefoot together, a few other relationships, and their deep friendship led them to the point of knowing how wonderful they were and would be together. And the biggest together starts on June 16th.

Meet Lyndsi Shae and Ken, two of the most soulful, loving, open-hearted people to grace the world with their love.

Lyndsi Shae, have I ever told you properly how incredibly beautiful you are?

Lyndsi Shae and Ken, it was so magical to spend the afternoon with the two of you. I am so thrilled for your wedding! So much love.