Mary Alice + Alex: A Romantic Spring Engagement Session at Tenney Park

Can there be a perfect engagement session?

I don’t know, but this was about as perfect as they can go! Mary Alice + Alex chose to begin their engagement session at Tenney Park by reading heartfelt vows to each other beneath the shade of a gorgeous tree, and if that wasn’t awesome enough, their dog, Winnie, was also dressed as a princess for the session 😍 (Special shout out to Brea for being an awesome dog wrangler and a quick-draw on the peanut butter!)

As we traipsed around the park, we saw all manner of wildlife (which feels auspicious), including a bunny, ducks, a baby Robin (with it’s family making a ruckus around us about this wee one’s first flight), AND A FREAKING BEAVER, which we originally thought was a muskrat until we got a better look. Truly this session could not have been more magical if one of us had been Snow White lol.

Enjoy the photos of this super sweet couple, and their shamelessly adorable dog, Winnie, as well as some of the wildlife we spotted along the way! And help me wish them a BIG congrats on their engagement!

—Sam

Ariah + Alyssa: A Surprise Proposal in the Peonies!

Ariah planned a romantic surprise proposal in for alyssa at a peony farm!

Alyssa’s favorite flowers are peonies, so Ariah knew a picnic proposal in the flowers (at the gorgeous Ovans Peony Farm in Beaver Dam, WI) was going to be the perfect spot to pop the question (and she was right!).

Alyssa had suspected a proposal might be happening, but she was convinced it was going to be the following weekend, and so the surprise proposal really was a surprise! Ariah had a custom-made blanket that said “Alyssa Will You Marry Me?” on it that she rolled out for the picnic (see the pics, it’s adorable!) along with the cutest picnic basket you’ve ever seen, complete with snacks (thanks for the cookies, they were delicious!), sparkling wine and wine glasses!

Alyssa said yes (if it wasn’t obvious by how madly in love these two are), and they celebrated with a toast and some frolicking in the flowers, then headed off to dinner with their families (another surprise Ariah planned for Alyssa) to celebrate more!

Help me wish these two a BIG congratulations, and enjoy the photos!

—Sam

Ashley + Ayla: A Surprise Anniversary Proposal!

Ashley planned a beautiful surprise anniversary proposal for ayla at the Allen Centennial gardens!

The proposal happened on their 5 year anniversary (June 6th), and even more adorably, Ayla had also planned a surprise proposal for Ashley (with another awesome local photographer Nat Erlin - https://www.naterlinphotography.com/) for the very next day in the same gardens! So there was a lot of joy to go around that weekend!

First, Ashley had two friends (pictured below) that were sneakily in disguise to keep the “proposal bench” clear of anyone for an hour before the proposal happened, and they did so good AND their disguises were *chef’s kiss*. Once we got the word that it was going down, the two co-conspirators hid inconspicuously behind some bushes (that’s dedication), and I pretended to be a flower photographer for a bit until the magic started!

These two were so obviously and deeply in love it made me smile ear to ear despite the 99.9% humidity and the glaring sun trying to bring my vibes down (nice try, humid Wisconsin early summer, love wins)! We excitedly chatted about birds while walking around the gardens and the UW campus for couples portraits after the proposal. It was a beautiful day with an even more lovely couple, and I am so honored and excited to have been able to celebrate with them! Help me wish Ayla + Ashley a BIG congratulations and enjoy the photos of this super sweet couple!

—Sam

Lena + Andrew: An Art Museum Engagement Session

The Chazen Art Museum was the perfect backdrop for Lena + Andrew’s engagement portraits

The soft, warm colors, the skylights and dark corners, the love artists put into their art mirroring the love these two have for each other… the whole session was absolutely beautiful and unique! Also peep the adorable “strike a pose” moment with my favorite sculpture at Chazen; the giant lounging hare! Enjoy the photos of this sweet engagement session, and congrats to Lena + Andrew!

—Sam

Korben + Storm: A Surprise Double Proposal!

Not just one proposal, but two proposals, at this beautiful surprise engagement session!

When Korben reached out to plan his surprise proposal to Storm, and explained that he had made a choose your own adventure scavenger hunt, ending with a proposal at the Wisconsin State Capitol Building (even hand-making 4 different rings for Storm to choose from in true choose-your-own-adventure style), I was so excited to celebrate with these two, but after Korben’s proposal (Storm said yes!) Storm had a surprise of his own for Korben, which was proposing inside the Capitol Building! Friends and family all helped this proposal go smoothly and a few were even there to cheer the couple on! This was such a joyful and beautiful (if insanely cold) day and I am so happy for these two! Help me wish Korben + Storm a BIG congratulations!

—Sam

Alex + David: A Late Fall Engagement Session

David + Alex (and their adorable puppies) had a beautiful late fall engagement session!

It was cold as heck, so we split our time between Picnic Point with the dogs and the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art (sadly no puppies allowed there) and were able to beat the cold quite well and get some beautiful photos to celebrate their engagement! Help me wish a big congratulations to these two, and we can’t wait for their wedding next year!

—Sam

Mariela + James: An Idyllic Fall Engagement Session at the UW Arboretum

Mariela + James are planning for a california wedding, but wanted a wisconsin engagement session

And I feel like around Madison at least, there are few places that embody the beauty of Wisconsin than the UW Arboretum in Fall! Despite the Fall colors not being out in full force yet (such strange weather we’ve had this Fall so far!), the golden hour light lit everything up with a beautiful glow, including these two love birds. We could not have asked for a more perfect setting or weather!

Help me wish Mariela + James a BIG congratulations on their engagement, and enjoy the beautiful photos!

—Sam

Sam + Jam: A Surprise Proposal and Party at Devil's Lake

Sam planned a beautiful proposal for Jam and had Jam’s closest friends there to celebrate!

Jam (they/them) and Sam (they/them) wanted to propose to each other in ways that spoke to each of them. Jam proposed to Sam at Picnic Point (not pictured) and Sam planned to propose to Jam at Devil’s Lake, with some of Jam’s closest friends waiting at a park shelter nearby to celebrate with them! The proposal was short and sweet (even if Jam got adorably distracted by a very cute dog) and the reunion with friends was so lovely to see! These two are now officially engaged (yay!) and I am so happy to have gotten to celebrate with them!

Enjoy the photos of this super sweet proposal, and help me wish these two a big congratulations!

—Sam

Rebecca + Alisha's Surprise Proposal at Olbrich Gardens

Rebecca surprised Alisha with a proposal at the couple’s favorite spot in olbrich gardens

Alisha may have suspected something was up, but that didn’t make the moment any less beautiful or emotional. Rebecca set up her camera against a rock to take a picture of the two of them kissing under the giant oak tree, as they have many times before, but just as they were done kissing, Alisha got down on one knee to ask Alisha to marry her (spoiler alert: Alisha said yes)!

We then proceeded to meander about Olbrich gardens, and I got to photograph these two amazing humans being deeply in love (have you ever seen such big smiles?!). It was a beautiful and tender day, and a BIG congratulations to Alisha + Rebecca on their engagement! Thanks for letting me capture this special moment!

—Sam

Kyle + Zoie: Engagement Portraits at Tenney Park

Tenney Park had the perfect late fall vibes for zoie + kyle’s engagement portraits!

The couple lives within walking distance of Tenney Park braved the cold and windy weather for these sweet portraits! I love how the leaves being mostly gone lent a sort of spooky vibe to some of the photos, and how gorgeous the little lake is as a backdrop! Help me wish these two a big congratulations on their engagement!

—Sam

Daliah + Jakob: A Delightful Early Fall Engagement Session at Pope Farm Conservancy

We may not have fall colors yet, but we definitely had cozy vibes for this fall engagement session

Daliah (she/they) and Jakob (he/his) were such a joy to work with! I mean, just look at those smiles! We made the best of the unseasonably warm October weather and lack of fall colors, but still managed to get that beautiful golden hour light and cozy vibes that I love in engagement photos! We can’t wait to celebrate with them for their wedding next year!

—Sam

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