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Engagement Sessions

Meaningful Places, Genuine Connection
A selection of engagement sessions from Nashville, Charleston, Chicago, and beyond.

The welcome dinner at Acme Feed & Seed in Nashville had an easy, energetic feel, with the city just outside. As the evening unfolded, the focus shifted to a series of heartfelt toasts that gave real insight into the couple and the relationships around them. From there, the evening opened up into an after-party welcoming all guests, with custom-themed Goo Goo Clusters and espresso martinis, welcoming out of town guests to Nashville and kicking off the weekend.

Battery Charleston Sunrise engagement session

This sunrise engagement session along The Battery felt quiet, intimate, and almost suspended in time. Soft pockets of early morning light filtered through the historic streets while jasmine bloomed throughout the neighborhood, filling the air with the unmistakable feeling of spring in Charleston. With much of the neighborhood still asleep, it felt as though we had the entire place to ourselves—aside from a friendly greeting from one local neighborhood dog who said hello along the way.

Cheekwood Nashville Engagement Session

This engagement session at Cheekwood Estate & Gardens took place on an absolutely perfect evening, with soft light and quiet garden paths that felt almost private. By scheduling the session after the estate closed to the public, we were able to experience Cheekwood at its very best—peaceful, unhurried, and completely removed from the usual crowds. Having the gardens nearly to ourselves allowed space to slow down, explore, and create photographs that felt both effortless and deeply personal in the beautiful evening light.

Chicago Gold Coast Engagement Session

One of the things I never take for granted is when couples not only bring me in to photograph their wedding, but also invite me into their lives and cities for their engagement session as well. This Chicago engagement session began wandering through the city before we paused for an outfit change—and more importantly, for Jamie to grab her favorite snack, french fries—at Moneygun, one of their favorite spots. From there, we made our way to the Gold Coast for some of Chicago’s most iconic views, ending the evening with a session that felt so personal and allowed me a window into their world in Chicago.

Marcella Vivrette Smith Park Nashville Engagement Session

Knowing how much energy this couple was pouring into planning their wedding, I wanted their engagement session to feel like a pause from the stress—not another thing to manage. So I brought a blanket, a bottle of La Marca, and spent the evening simply getting to know them. It became one of the sweetest sessions I’ve ever photographed. We chose Marcella Vivrette Smith Park because of it's simplicity. Beautiful light, tucked away from crowds. At one point, while I was walking ahead looking for our next spot, I turned around to see Arielle looking at Aaron with tears in her eyes saying, “I just love you so much.” I quietly lifted my camera and took a few photographs through tears of my own. It was such a simple, beautiful moment, and one I know I’ll carry with me for a very long time.

This engagement session at Cheekwood Estate & Gardens was especially meaningful to the couple because they wanted to honor the groom’s Japanese heritage by incorporating portraits in the Japanese Garden. The timing could not have been more perfect—an absolutely beautiful evening with soft light settling over the gardens as the estate emptied out for the day. By choosing the extended permit option, we were able to photograph later into the evening when the light at Cheekwood becomes especially beautiful, creating a quiet and relaxed atmosphere for the session.

Cheekwood Engagment Session

This engagement session in downtown Nashville began at The Bridge Building and continued across the iconic John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge on a chilly, windy evening. Rather than fighting the conditions, I embraced them—using the movement and energy of the city to create some of my favorite blurred motion images from the session. By the end of the evening, the temperature had dropped enough that Mary Marshall pulled on her jacket, and unexpectedly, some of the most natural and beautiful photographs happened in those quieter moments once she did.

Downtown Nashville Pedestrian Bridge Engagement Session

This surprise proposal at Cheekwood Estate & Gardens took place beneath the beautiful wisteria arbor at the height of bloom, creating an unforgettable setting for such an emotional moment. After the proposal, we spent time wandering the gardens for a relaxed mini engagement session, allowing the couple to soak in the excitement of the evening while documenting those first moments newly engaged together.