Hanna + Kait: A Picnic Point Engagement Session

Hanna + Kait have been to picnic point exactly three times

The first time was their very first date back in the early days of the Pandemic. The second was when Hanna tricked Kait into going to Picnic Point using subterfuge so that Hanna could propose to Kait at the same spot they had their first date. And the third was when we went there this week to take engagement photos!

Though they warned me ahead of time that neither of them has ever had professional photos taken, I could tell immediately these two were pros already, because look at how freaking adorable they are in front of the camera! They are so sweet and loving with each other, and it was an absolute joy to spend time with them!

We can’t wait to celebrate with these two next year when they tie the knot!

—Sam

River + Aaron: A Spring Time UW Arboretum Engagement Session

River and their partner Aaron were hoping for spring flowers, and the UW Arboretum delivered up pure spring time gorgeousness!

We played around in some of my favorite areas of the Arboretum, including the evergreen area, and by all the blooming trees and bushes closer to the visitor center, River + Aaron tied for Rock, Paper, Scissors, and we practiced some badass middle-school dance moves. All in all, a perfect engagement session on a perfect day!

Congrats to River + Aaron on their engagement!

-Sam

Chloe + Moose Couples Photos At Westmorland Park

Chloe + Moose had a couples session with their dogs, Tia and Toast, to celebrate their elopement, and then we finished the evening at Westmorland Park

These two chose to elope, and are planning to have a small celebration in September with friends and family, but wanted to do a couples session to celebrate their marriage! You know you’re having a good session when at least one of you is singing Aerosmith’s “Don’t Want to Miss a Thing”. (Okay, it was me, but I wasn’t the one who brought it up this time!) I can’t wait for their September wedding celebration, but in the meantime, enjoy the photos of these two (and their doggos) and help me wish them a big congratulations!

-Sam

Malia + Eric: An Intimate Wedding Celebration at the UW Arboretum

Malia + Eric had to postpone their wedding several times due to COVID, and eventually decided to have a small, intimate ceremony in 2021, and then a couples portrait session in their wedding attire this year

The UW Arboretum is one of my all time favorite places for photos, and with the gorgeous greenery, brilliant skies, and beautiful flowers, it did not disappoint, but even the arboretum was no match for how sharp Malia + Eric looked in their wedding attire! We had a great time walking around the arboretum taking photos and enjoying such a lovely spring day.

Congrats to Malia + Eric, and enjoy the photos of this lovely couple!

-Sam

Jena + Nick: A Golden Hour Engagement Session

Jena + Nick wanted to celebrate their upcoming wedding with an engagement session at the beautiful UW Arboretum

And my goodness was it a gorgeous day!

A big, hearty congratulations to Jena + Nick!

-Sam

Kate + Ben: A Couple's Session with Kitties and Fall Colors

Kate + Ben Hadn’t Had Portraits Taken Since Their Wedding Day

And that’s not unusual for married couples, but thankfully, they did something about it, and booked a session when the fall colors were out! We started off with some quick photos of them with their kitties, and then we moved to the Arboretum for some of that late fall light!

Enjoy these photos of Kate, Ben, guest starring their kitties Simon, Bruce, and James!

-Sam

p.s. Fun Fact: Kate and I met through a mutual friend, Amanda Fincutter of Ora Photography, and all three of us have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome.

Alisha + Nathaniel: An East Side Engagement Session

Wedding planning in the time of COVID can be stressful, but at least the engagement session can still be fun!

While we’re crossing our fingers and hoping for the best for Alisha + Nathaniel’s 2021 wedding date, we got to let off a little steam (or pick some up? I don’t know, it was really hot) at their engagement session over the weekend!

We hit up some favorite places on the East side of Madison for photos, like the newly renovated Garver Feed Mill, the ‘Love’ mural on the now closed Plan B, and the Zaremba mural on the side of Pig in a Fur Coat. I got to meet their adorable doggo, Laverne (I’m sincerely hoping that her name is a Laverne & Shirley reference), and we even saw a little bunny friend!

Enjoy the photos from this awesome engagement session!

-Sam

Erin + Matt: An Engagement Session with Major Fall Vibes

An Engagement Session that’s Full of Fall Fun and Just a Little Witchy? Yes, please!

Erin + Matt’s engagement session was a blast! For one, it was a perfect and beautifully crisp fall day, and for two, what adult doesn’t love throwing leaves at other adults? (None adults, that’s who).

We can’t wait for Erin + Matt’s Halloween wedding next year, but in the meantime, enjoy the photos of their rad engagement session!

— Sam

Alex + Derek: A Surprise Downtown Engagement

Derek planned not only a beautiful surprise engagement, but stealthy photos as well!

As we waited for Alex + Derek to walk up to the designated spot at the Capitol Building, Ben was acting as my decoy photo subject, and Rob was a ways away with the telephoto lens. Once I made eye contact with Derek, I couldn’t really say anything to Ben without giving it away, so I continued to take photos of him, and then eventually motioned him to move over a bit, as Derek + Alex stopped on the steps of the Capitol, and Derek began his proposal (funnily enough, Ben didn't realize that the folks we were going to be photographing were there already, so he kept trying to get back in front of the camera!)

While I was too far away to hear any details, Derek’s words were clearly having an impact on Alex, and when he got down on one knee, her reaction was priceless. It was so wonderful to bear witness to this super special moment in the rich history that is their relationship, and to be able to capture that in a way they’ll be able to relive forever.

Check out the fun and super sweet photos below (and see if you can spot the moment Alex realizes they were being photographed)!

—Sam

Jen + Jason: A Couple's Session at the Arboretum

This super fun couple hadn’t had photos since their wedding 9 years ago…

Which is something I hear a lot, and I love when couples decide they’re finally tired of not having any photos of each other and that it’s time for a session! Jen + Jason were so fun to work with. We laughed, joked about poop (because I’m a very mature adult-type person), and played rock, paper, scissors, which is just about as much fun as I could hope for in a session (and my cheeks hurt from laughing after we were done).

Hurray for getting couple’s photos! :-D

—Sam