Patty + Jayson | Exploring the Northwoods Engagement Session | Copper Falls State Park, WI

One of my favorite things to do is to hike and explore for portrait sessions! When Patty and Jayson asked if I would be willing to have a little adventure I immediately said, "of course!!" Our initial plan was to actually hike out to the ice caves at the Apostle Islands, but unfortunately the weather just did not cooperate and give us an opportunity to do that, but luckily there are still so many gorgeous places to wander and explore! We met at Copper Falls State Park, where I had actually never been, and hiked a couple trails to some really beautiful locations :)

And to make things even better, these two fabulous people brought their adorable pup, Aurora, who really loved the hikes as well. Who doesn't love a dog that looks like a sweet little fox?! Patty and Jayson had actually hiked this park in the summer so it was really neat for them to get to see what it looks like in the winter as well! I could go on and on, but give me a super sweet and adorable couple AND an adventure portrait session and I will pretty much be the happiest photographer, ever!

Erica + Chris | A Fun and Snowy Engagement Session | Delafield, Wisconsin

We waited, and waited, and waited... for snow!! You would think that in Wisconsin that that we always have beautiful snowy winters that looks like a snow globe, right? But that was not the case this winter when we didn't have big snowfalls until February! Luckily though Erica and Chris were patient and it totally paid off! We met in Delafield and had such a great time wandering around Lapham Peak. This was actually my first time at that park and it's definitely somewhere I look forward to going back to! And we got to cross off one other cool first, it was Erica's first time walking on a frozen pond!

Featured Location | Cave Point County Park | Door County, Wisconsin

I had an idea to start to feature cool places and venues that I would like to photograph people at, so I thought now is the time to start! The first place I wanted to talk about is a few hours away from Madison, but totally worth the drive! Door County is famous for it's fish boils and fresh cherries, but lets not forget about the gorgeous landscapes in that part of the state. I had the opportunity to take a weekend off and go up there this last May and found some gorgeous locations for portrait sessions!

My favorite place was hiking at Cave Point County Park. This beautiful park is full of a unique rocky shoreline that provides ample opportunities for hiking and even a little climbing! I am always up for an adventure with my couples and love having to hike or climb places to get those epic views! So, if you're getting married in Door County, or just want to take a little road trip for an extra special location, you should definitely put this on your list!

Aisling + Mark | Bright, Summer, Lake Engagement Session | Muskego, Wisconsin

Oh where to even start with this engagement session?! A few weeks ago I met Aisling and Mark at their beautiful home in Muskego and just had the best session with them!! Even though it was super hot and humid, these two kept huge smiles on their faces and enjoyed some time with each other :) Then the cherry on top, their amazing dog, Nash, joined us for the session and just made this perfect couple complete!

These two will be tying the knot in the same spot next year and I already cannot wait to hang out with them again and photograph their big day!!

Tips For A Successful Engagement Session

A lot of my clients ask me before their engagement sessions what advice I have for them, so I thought it was about time that I made a blog post about it! 

1. Relax! I know that it's stressful to be in front of a camera, shoot, I get nervous too! Everyone always thinks that they are super awkward in front of the camera and they don't know what to do, however, you have to realize the more relaxed you are the better. I don't think the perfect hand placement is the most important thing in an image, I think your expression and how you're interacting with your partner is most important.

2. Wardrobe is important! You want to look and feel your best for your portrait session and a big part of that is what you're wearing. If you want to feel special, confident, and sexy then you have to wear something other than your normal. Granted, you should wear something comfortable and that you can move in, but how often do you get your portraits taken? Why wouldn't you plan something special to wear for this special occasion?!

3. Coordinate your wardrobe, don't match it! Unfortunately jeans and white t-shirts was a thing in the 90's, but it's no longer the 90's! Couples shouldn't be too matchy-matchy, but your outfits should coordinate. Prints are totally fun, accessories make it unique, and complimentary colors just make it all come together.

4. Don't forget the grooming! I know you are super busy, honestly I understand the chore shaving your legs can be some days, but don't forget the little things! Iron out those wrinkles in clothes, guys don't forget to shave the back of your neck, and drink an extra couple glasses of water so your skin is glowing and fresh.

5. Make the right make-up choice! Have you done your make-up test for the wedding? Your engagement session can be a great time to do that. I know I am not great at my own make-up for fancy events, so it's totally worth it to spend a little money and have it done professionally! Guys, don't forget your foreheads get shiny and lips dry too!

6. Don't be shy! My favorite images to take are the ones when you'll be all cuddled up with each other. I tell my couples to get all cuddly and cozy, a lot! Say absurd things to make each other laugh, run hand-in-hand through a field, have an intimate moment (keep it PG, please ;) ) between the two of you, but just don't be afraid to show your fun, crazy, adventurous, romantic, and intimate sides.

7. Lets get adventurous! If you want something unique that usually means getting off the beaten path and needing a little more of an effort! You can totally wear some more comfy clothes as we hike in and change in to a cute and flowy dress at the final location! Haha, I totally realize that's not for everyone, we can also find a swanky airbnb space to rent for some unique locations.

While a lot of these tips may seem general, or obvious, it's good to just remember the basics. Just know though that the most important and best advice that I can give is to just have fun! Engagement sessions are a special time to spend quality time with your partner, enjoy it!