I love when engagement sessions get to be a representation of your love, and what better way to do that than at your wedding venue? Melissa & James were literally standing in the exact place where next August, they will say “I do.” They were telling me about their vision for the ceremony, and then, as if perfectly timed, the sun broke through the trees and lit up the entire top of the hill. I don’t think we could’ve asked for a better moment.

It was the perfect representation of the way they make each other light up. As if they’ve known each other forever. At one point, James told me, straight-faced, “I don’t giggle.” I grinned and said, “I think Melissa makes you giggle, actually.” He immediately started blushing, looked over at her, and—without hesitation—admitted that she absolutely does. That is the most beautiful testament to their love. Photographing these two is extra special to me. I’ve gotten to watch them grow, from James’s senior session to Melissa’s brother Luke and Sophia’s wedding all the way to now. I feel so honored to be a part of it all and I can’t wait to be a witness to their promises to each other next year.

Melissa & James,

Thank you for inviting me into this chapter. The next time we’re back at Camp Bethany together, it’ll be your wedding day—surrounded by the people who love you most, beginning the biggest adventure of your lives. Until then, I hope these photos always bring you back to this day. This light. These laughs. And the kind of love that already feels like home.