It was one of those summer nights. One that defines the way you look back on the year and even your life. You do some of the things you love and spend time with someone you love. That is the way I would describe Ashley and Scott’s engagement session – and hope to describe every engagement session I capture. I joined them in Fredonia at Ashley’s parents house to start our shoot in the u-pick blueberry patch that stretched through the backyard. The berries were ripe and huge and it wasn’t until a few hours before we started that Ashley suggested it as a location for us to start and I of course responded with a resounding yes! Berry picking is one of my favorite summer activities and I had yet to document it in an engagement session.

As we spent time together, I convinced them they would be fine in front of the camera and I think we can all agree they did an amazing job. Photography is so much more about trust than anything else, and building that relationship with each couple I work with allows me to photograph them in a way that is more real and natural than they are used to. That of course takes time, and the investment of time starts with the engagement session and carries over to the wedding day.

Later on, we headed to the lake for some tandem bicycle engagement photos thanks to a neighbor’s beautifully kept tandem bike. They rode around as the sun slowly started to set and the warm light cast a lovely glow through the trees. I was sent home with a pint of berries and promptly ate as many as I could handle. It was such a lovely day and one of my favorite sessions this summer, so I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!