Engagement
It is always very special to me when I get to meet a young man as a freshman in college and watch him grow into the man he dreamed of becoming. Michael Cartagena dreamed from the very first year I met him of working for a church, marrying a beautiful woman and starting a family. His dreams are coming true! Jamie is literally everything he has hoped and prayed for and getting to be a part of their union from behind the lens of my camera is so incredibly special! (He also does work for a church and someday they will get to build a family together!)
Their relationship started one night after a small group at In and Out Burger. (I love In & Out – it is a place where wonderful things do generally happen). Non-stop texting conversations turned into a coffee date which turned into a long term romance which turned into multiple trips to Disneyland. (See attire in photographs below for photographic evidence of their love for this place.) Their relationship grew and blossomed into something quite renown and then turned into a proposal which is now turning into marriage. (Insert celebratory Disney music here!!)
Michael and Jamie, I love your sweet heart for each other, the way you complement each other so perfectly, the way you laugh together and the way you love everyone around you so beautifully. Don’t forget to enjoy every single day of this special once-in-a-lifetime season. You are one amazing couple. May these photos always remind you of your deep love and joy for each other!!
Road trips are so fun! I usually think they are best experienced with beef jerky and peanut butter M&M’s but when I go to a destination location with my clients, my favorite thing is actually something different – it is the conversation along the way. I love hearing their love story and how they came to be as a couple. This couple was a very special couple to catch up with because I met both of them as freshmen at college! And I knew them both before they even knew each other!! I remember when Adrian made a special sign to ask Nettie “Will you be my girlfriend?” I got to watch as they went from acquaintances to friends to lovers. Little did they know that they would become an answer to each other’s prayer. Adrian remembers taking a long prayerful and contemplative walk at night. He felt like God put a special thoughts on his heart to reassure him that his future wife would have eyes that shone like the stars and would be more beautiful than the entire night night sky.
This beautiful couple has been in a relationship for five years. They describe themselves as having grown up together. They have laughed together, cried together and learned all of each other’s unique and special differences.
Nettie and Adrian, it was a true blast to hang out. I am so excited for your future together and so honored to have seen its inception. I know that you’ve had a wonderful adventure so far. The very best adventures lie ahead. May these memories always be a special reminder of this special season — the time when you were betrothed to the one who will be your forever someone. Lots of love to you both!!
This is one special couple. This beautiful duo radiates love and joy literally with every moment you are around them. Courtney and Tate met as college students at Grand Canyon University. They had mutual friends who knew they would be perfect together but somehow every conversation they tried to start felt forced…. That is until they both kept randomly bumping into each other late at night in the prayer chapel! They ended up talking for hours, some nights not even getting any sleep. They became friends and then (when Tate asked in the middle of the rain) she became his girlfriend. Their relationship progressed even further until one magical day when I had the incredible privilege of capturing one very special moment in Flagstaff Arizona. He pulled out a ring of a ruby red color. He said meaningful things. He asked a special question. Now the rest is soon to be history. This beautiful couple gets married tomorrow!!
Courtney and Tate, I love being around both of you. You radiate joy and love in every moment. I couldn’t be happier for you both and I’m so excited for your big day!! See you soon!
“Will you love me forever? And will you go on crazy adventures with me?” These are the two questions that Andrew used to set up his proposal to Tori. They were in Prescott among the twinkle lights that had been set up for the holidays. She said yes without hesitation.
They truly were a couple with divine destiny. She had noticed him at a local coffee shop called Elevate Coffee Co. Possessing a Sherlock-Holmes-like sense of observation, she noticed some important details. He had a good pair of jeans, boots that were dirty from use, and a means of self-protection – he was definitely her type of man!! She attempted multiple times over a period of months to go up to him and start a conversation but it never worked out. By some divine twist of fate, she became acquainted with a certain musician who also played at that local coffee shop. She did not know that this local musician was a best friend to Andrew.
When the opportunity arose during a subsequent random encounter this local musician took the opportunity to introduce Tori to Andrew. This match-making musician later confessed that he had thought that Tori would be Andrew’s perfect life-long lover from the instant he first met her. Tori and Andrew’s first weekend dating turned out to be a 54-hour road trip during a very difficult time. They talked and listened and supported each other. The rest is history. Their love for each other blossomed and soon they will get to celebrate a permanent union before God and man. Their love story inspires me leaves me with no doubt that this beautiful couple was destined for each other.
Tori and Andrew, I had so much fun on our luxury road trip in our four-wheel limousine!! You are both down to earth, fun, real, caring, loving and 100% absolutely perfect for each other. I hope you enjoy every moment of this special season and may these photographs always remind you how much you love each other. I can’t wait until your big day!! Lots of love to you both!
Austinn gave his girlfriend a very special gift this last Christmas – it was a coupon book. This little coupon book contained over two years worth of 40 coupons to be redeemed on various adventures, romantic notions, and fun. Talk about a gift!! It was totally them, totally creative, totally fun, and totally sweet. The last coupon was for a lifetime of happiness and marital bliss but it could not be redeemed until March 1 at the earliest. Julia was very excited and opted to use her coupon on the very first day possible!! They had a romantic dinner together, he shared his thoughts and feelings, and the rest is history.
As I got to watch this couple during our photography session and coffee I realize that they are truly the perfect blend of fun and genuine intentionality. They are so thoughtful and free to be themselves – it is truly refreshing.
Julia, I cannot say how much I appreciate your help on our different wedding shoots. Now it is so much fun to get to photograph yours!! This romantic desert session was such a blast and I hope you treasure these memories forever!! I can’t wait for your special day when all your friends and family will be there. Congratulations!!
Josh knew from his second date that he wanted to marry this girl. He playfully told her that he had a question he wanted to ask her but that he forgot what it was. Periodically over the span of the relationship, he would refer to this forgotten question. Whitney hates not knowing so this drove her crazy. Finally, on one special night, he was able to ask his question. And she said yes!
To set this night up, he laid clues that led her to special places. Part of the scavenger hunt involved lunch with him to catch up on her recent Europe trip. He was nervous all day until that moment at lunch. Talking to her calmed all his nerves — she put him completely at ease. He had one final clue under her rug to let her know to be ready In an hour and a half. Then a limousine arrived and whisked her to his special candlelit backyard where he proposed. It was truly beautiful moment.
Whitney and Josh are a beautiful couple! The are perfectly made for each other down to the little things. He loves challenge in a competition which is why he loves playing the game Memory with her. Whitney loves to win and is better than him at this particular game. It’s the little things! I loved hearing both sides of their love story because they clearly prayed for the miracle that is the other person.
Whitney and Josh, the time you have invested in growing a healthy relationship has produced a love that is deep and rich. You have taken time to really know and understand the other person, what is important to them individually, and what it will take to make your marriage strong, resilient, and full of life on a solid foundation of faith. May your entire lifetime be filled with the joy of further discovering your love for one another. I greatly enjoyed our Sedona road trip adventure. These pictures so beautifully capture your passion for life, heart for adventure, and deep love for each other. I can’t wait to photograph you both at the altar very soon!!
Megan and Jeremy were quite the adventurers. Megan has secured Cinderella shoes and mistletoe, we piled in their borrowed SUV, and we road tripped into the woods for our engagement session adventure. It was bitter cold but these two brave souls didn’t hesitate for even a moment. They made every photo look snuggly, close, and intimate. We laughed and talked all the way up north as we looked for the perfect place to capture some engagement photographs. Jeremy kept us entertained and made sure we were ready for any bears that we might encounter along the way.
Megan and Jeremy are such a special couple. They started as high-school sweethearts. Jeremy is very intentional. Five or six years ago he started thinking about proposing and wanted to make sure he had a ring that was unique and special. (Even returning a first ring to upgrade it to something even more intentional and special.) He secured an oyster from work and had them steam it in the meat department. Being very creative, he used shoe goo to create a hinge and household cleaning products to create a cloud for the ring sit on. As both an engineer and an artist, he created the perfect display case to propose on their 11th anniversary.
She wanted to be proposed to on the under the stars and she loves beaches so he made sure that he could propose on the beach right at sunset. He pretended to dig in the sand and then pulled the shell out of his pocket in order to present his life and ask for her hand in marriage.
Jeremy and Megan, it was such a joy to go on this adventure with the both of you. It was fun to pretend that we were ready to karate chop bears in the woods and then drink Who-Ha hot chocolate on the way back home. You have something special and I can’t wait to help capture your beautiful wedding day next year!! Enjoy every moment of this special season. I can’t wait to see what happens next!
We found an enchanted Forest! Rebecca and Kevin made this a delightful shoot: I just have too many good things to say about them!!
Rebecca and Kevin are kind! I always try to make each engagement session one of the best experiences of their life, but on this particular occasion they offered to help me out! I was running into car issues, so Kevin and Rebecca picked me up in his big, secure truck and lifted us to our location. Without them I would have been stranded!
Kevin and Rebecca are also brave adventurers! It started to get so cold as the sun went down that all our lips are began to turn blue. We would huddle in jackets to prepare for a shot, break off the warmth to get some beautiful pictures, and repeat the entire process all over again. Rebecca and Kevin didn’t hesitate for even a moment. They were up for anything!! Needless to say, when we finally got some warm hot cocoa and apple cider, and everybody could feel their toes again, it was a wonderful moment.
But mostly what I love about this this couple, is their sweet love and trust for each other. It is clear that they are together as one unit and that they are very excited for their future together!
Kevin and Rebecca, I hope you enjoy this very unique season of being engaged. You will never have a season quite like it again. I also hope that you love these photographs as much as I do…which is a lot! Until the next adventure, enjoy each day as it leads up to the big one!
Sometimes when I ask couples what their favorite thing about the other person is, they need a moment to think about it. Not so for this couple! Without hesitation I heard them describe their persevering love about the same qualities that they see reflected in each other – kindness, patience, and gentleness. And I love John’s perfect description for Macy and her powerful, quiet confidence. Throughout our photo session I could easily see that this couple is all these things and more. It’s the little moments like when John offered to share his water with me to make sure that I was hydrated or how Macy was bounding with enthusiasm and hope even though she just had one of the craziest days ever!! This couple needed hardly any posing – they were so cute as they looked at each other with deep love and rested in each other‘s arms. These incredible qualities literally shone through each moment of the photo shoot.
Macy and John, I was so impressed with the strength of your character and the beauty of your love. You’re absolutely filled with kindness, gentleness, and joy. You are both an absolute pleasure to be around. I loved hearing about your dreams for the future, raising a family together, and how excited you are to be married. All the best on the bright future that lies ahead!
Dear Josue, you have been a phenomenal friend, my beloved roomie, and sometimes an extended family member. You are a man of strong character, anchored in faith, deliberate in everything you do, favored by God, and ready for success in all things. I will never forget when I first met you in our leadership huddle. As you shared you insights as a brand new youth pastor, I could tell from how thoughtfully you were taking on your new role that your heart was unlike any other. The engagement you threw in our backyard was delightful representation of your intentional heart; now I can’t wait to see what happens next!
Dear Alicia, I think I met you a few minutes before I actually met Josue (even though he doesn’t remember meeting me!) From the very first moment, I saw that you were someone who is both passionate and intentional. You were talking about your love for other people and reaching out, learning other cultures and making a difference. I knew the world will never be the same because of the impact that you would make.
Josue and Alicia, together you are unstoppable. Together you are intentional. Together you are beyond beautiful. Your future is bright and nothing can stop the two of you together! I’m so excited to have finally named my photography stool – the great Henry Bobby will forever be a part of my photography team. Here is to the many adventures that lie ahead for both of you. All the laughter you will invoke in each other. The beautiful family you will raise. And the joy you will continue to bring each other. It is clear to everyone around that you are more complementary than butter and jelly. Enjoy these final days of being engaged, the wedding, and of course your wonderful marriage. The best is yet to come!
Sincerely, Josiah.
