It was a crisp, windy Saturday when I met James & Logan for their engagement portraits at the Pedernales Falls state park in Johnson City. I was thankful for the sun, since it had been overcast and rainy all week in Houston.

As we traversed the rocky terrain to get the perfect shots, I learned so much about the couple. They enjoy traveling, hiking and a multitude of other exciting, adventitious things. The couple has been to almost all of the top places on my bucket list (jealous).

We chatted about school, life, SCUBA diving and rock climbing. I had so much fun taking their engagement photos, that I forgot I was working.

It has been such a HOT few days. On Saturday, Andy and I photographed a wedding and on Sunday evening, I met Gabe & Katy out at old Richmond to take their engagement portraits.

Gabe, Katy and I plodded around the area taking engagement photos around the court house and by the train tracks as the sun set behind us. We found some amazing locations to take photos at. I love just wondering around an area and seeing what might work. Every time I go to old Richmond, I find a new and exciting location to take photos at.

About Gabe & Katy:

Gabe & Katy have known each other since they were 10-years old, swimming with their summer swim-team league. However, they didn’t really start to talk and flirt until they were older.

How did Gabe propose?

It was the end of mid-terms for college and Gabe told me that he wanted to take me to Galveston to decompress. We went to Stewart Beach, where we spent the day swimming and playing at the beach. At the end of the day, we went back to our hotel room to change, so Gabe could take me to dinner. When we left the restaurant, Gabe suggested we take a walk on the beach and as we were walking he was saying all these sweet things about how he wanted our life to be and how much he loved me and cared about me and when I turned around to give him a hug and a kiss, he was down on one knee asking me to marry him.

On their seventh year anniversary, Danny & Mimi went out to eat at the Spindletop downtown. Afterwards, he told Mimi he had to stop by work and grab something. This was just a ruse to drive to the William’s Tower. Once they arrived, Danny told her about the waterwall and that he just wanted to show it to Mimi since they were in the area. As soon as they got in front of the water wall, Danny dropped to a knee and proposed.

Fittingly, I met with Danny and Mimi for their engagement portraits at the Gerald D. Hines Waterwall. In my 30-years of living in this city, I’ve never been to before. The location was pretty awesome with not only a great urban structure, but also a nice crops of trees. We managed to get there at the perfect time. There were just a few people taking photos, but by the time we finished with this location, the waterwall was clogged with bodies and cameras.

From there, we got into our cars and headed back to Richmond to take a few more engagement portraits as the golden hour deepened. Mimi & Danny had an outfit change then we were off to take more photos around old Richmond (and the railroad tracks).

What is so sweet is that the two dressed in their upcoming wedding colors. What a great idea! These photos will really tie into the whole theme of their wedding.

How did they meet?

“I had seen her once while she came to where I worked. She made me freeze everything I was doing and commanded all of my attention. I knew nothing about her and prayed I would run into her again. About a month later, she came into where I worked and she was interviewing for a job and as soon as she was done and left, I went over to my boss and told her to hire her. The rest is history.” – Danny

I absolutely love Danny’s explanation on their first encounter. It gives me literal chills.

It was the first Friday in June and though it was 6:30 in the afternoon, it was HOT! My weather app chirped about a heat advisory all weekend after. Tristan and I met Stephanie and Jessica at the White Oaks venue in Simonton, Tx.

Tristan rode around the property in my little red wagon filled with stuff for the portrait session as well as sunscreen and an umbrella (for Tristan… he’s so pale). He “helped” me by watching YouTube on my phone and occasionally asking the couple some questions, or answering them. One day (I hope) he will actually help me.

We talked about all sorts of things while we meandered around the property (taking our time to get the right angle and shot). I learned that Stephanie and Jessica met while playing/coaching rugby at A&M. Stephanie played soccer, which segued into Rugby in college. They have several nieces and nephews and their family insisted on a wedding reception after they learned the couple eloped in December.

The Proposal Story:

After dating for a year, Stephanie and Jessica moved to London where they lived together. It always felt like their first home. Their favorite date-night activity was to spend the night out at the theater and at dinner. One magical evening, Jessica proposed in London, on the Hungerford Bridge, after an amazing date night.

The couple loves working their land in the country, hiking and riding horses, so taking their engagement portraits at White Oaks on the Bayou was perfect for them.

Check out the photos from the engagement portrait session below.

Growing up in a small town, Cody & Ashley always knew each other, however they didn’t date until they moved away to college and returned home and ended up at a mutual friends party.

The proposal:

On Christmas morning 2018, Cody gave Ashley a note, which ended up being the first of a few notes that sent her on a scavenger hunt around the house. The last note had Ashley looking in the Christmas tree for a certain colored ornament. When she couldn’t find it, she turned around and Cody was down on his knee with the ring, which he had all along!

The best part of the entire engagement story (which is pretty epic!) is that Cody proposed to Ashley in the same house and same date that her step-dad proposed to her mother 24-years ago.

The engagement portraits:

Saturday morning I awoke to a dark sky and some raindrops. I was a bit nervous that the scheduled engagement portrait session would have to be rescheduled. As the day went on the sun slowly came out and dried up the rain. Andy, Tristan and I met Cody & Ashley at a private residence in Needville, owned by a friend of Ashley’s mother. Mojo, the horse greeted us at the gate (and later came down to see what we were up to). The sun was shining, the cows were grazing nearby a copses of oak trees. We started taking pictures under the oak trees and quickly had to fend off the hoard of caterpillars. It almost felt as if they were falling from the trees there were so many.

I was so excited how close the cows let us get and how Mojo, the horse, came right up to us insisting we pet him.

Check out some of the photos from the engagement portrait session below.