Nicole & Wesley’s engagement session was full of pretty late-afternoon Springtime sunlight, blue skies, tight embraces, & new discoveries about Beaver Creek State park that we’d never known before despite photographing many engagement sessions there & even some wedding portraits over the past few years. The first few photos during an engagement session are usually slightly awkward; most couples have never posed for professional photos together before & the way that we shoot allows our couples to move around, talk, laugh, kiss, hug, dance, or do whatever comes naturally to them in the moment. This is not the way that most people are accustomed to having their photos taken. They’re used to the “Go stand there & cheese at the camera” thing. Of course, we do take some photos of our couples looking at the camera and smiling or giving their best model looks 🙂 but the bulk of our engagement sessions and bride & groom sessions happen without the couple looking at the camera. We find that this allows natural moments to happen & allows our couples to look back at their wedding & engagement images and remember the emotions they felt, the way their beloved looked into their eyes, the laughter they shared, and the fun that they had together. So it’s worth the few moments of “Oh my gosh. . . are we doing this right? Do we look totally weird? I’ve been looking at his face too closely for a few minutes & now he looks like a cyclops.” Those moments quickly pass, you start having a really great time, you feel like you’re on a romantic date, and the photos are unlike any you’ve ever seen of yourselves together. Some people have told us after seeing their engagement & wedding images that they’ve thought, “Wow. So that’s how we look when we’re alone together having the happiest moments of our life!” Without further ado, this is how Nicole & Wes look when they’re together & enjoying happy moments:
Their smiles are so awesome! :)Â 
Nicole, you’re going to be a gorgeous bride! I can’t wait!
This photo reminds me of the phrase, “All that I’m after is a life full of laughter as long as I’m laughing with you.”
We never knew this spot existed & it’s really pretty! I’m glad we spotted it!
Might we just take a moment to thank heaven for blooming trees, green grass, and LIFE?! Ohio was looking very brown, gray, and gloomy there for a few months! 🙂 We did get a few beautiful snowy engagement sessions & Winter weddings in during those months, but mostly we were just waiting for Spring’s beauty to rain down upon us. And now it definitely has!
Wes really doesn’t feel like himself without his sunglasses so we humored him for a few. 🙂
The purple posies add even more sweetness to these lying down shots. Adore!
Nicole & Wes, we enjoyed hanging out with you two & can’t wait for your wedding in September! It’ll be such a lovely day!
If you’re a blog reader & you’re thinking you’d love to talk with us about an engagement session & wedding photography, call or email us. 330.651.4849 or info@menningphotographic.com
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