Govi and Alex's Engagement Session at Blue Springs State Park

I had the pleasure of photographing Govi and Alex's Engagement Session at the gorgeous Blue Springs State Park. For centuries, the spring area was home for Native Americans. Blue Rock Springs is the largest spring on the St. Johns River, Blue Spring is a designated Manatee Refuge and the winter home (mid-November through March) to a growing population of West Indian Manatees. to say that we had a great time being there and getting to photograph would be an understatement. So much so- we even grabbed lunch at my favorite vegan spot after!

Govi and Alex met During pharmacy/dental school at a social event in Gainesville and were friends for 3 years before they became a couple. They truly are the perfect match. Govi proposed to Alex during a hike at the summit of a mountain in Croatia overlooking the Mediterranean ocean. Rose petals were flying everywhere due to the wind and a friend captured the moment for them. Being adventure lovers, we choose an outdoor setting that fit their personalities and also their passions for the outdoors. we went for a sunrise shoot and the lighting was just incredible. I loved how they both arrived super stylish and glamorous! It created a perfect reflection of them as a couple; two driven professionals who are fun and adventurous.

Hope you enjoy their sneak peek!

Iliaisy and Sergio's Disney's Boardwalk Engagement Session

As you may already know- I photograph quite a lot of engagement sessions at Disney’s Boardwalk- thanks to my Instagram Page and Pinterest Page.

They are my most re-pinned and viewed sessions online! I don’t blame them- its a great place for photoshoots because it offers a variety of beautiful backdrops. I had the pleasure of photographing Iliaisy and Sergio’s engagement session there a few weeks back. The beautiful couple drove all the way from Miami (twice- it Poured on our initial schedules date so we rescheduled) for our session together. There was a rare fog that came to town just minutes into our photoshoot and acted like a giant soft box before the sun showed its beams. What a beautiful day we got! This couple will be tying the know later this year and I’m so excited for them and for being a part of their journey. Check out the adorable shot with her Christian Louboutin shoes gifted to her by Sergio as an engagement gift <3

Sonal and Nirav’s Engagement session at Disney's Boardwalk

Sonal and Nirav’s Engagement session

The wedding season is here along with slowly increasing cooler weather. I have a ton of engagement sessions scheduled along with a handful of proposals over the holidays.

Wedding photography is becoming more and more circulated thanks to image driving social media. Wedding and engagement photography inspirations can be pulled up using Wedding Hashtags on Instagram or on Pinterest. Social media is such an integral part of everyone’s lives now and is how many of my couples discover my work!

That brings me to Sonal and Nirav, who reached out to me after discovering my work online.

Let me just tell you- it was Love at first site. We scheduled a meeting at a chic cafe in Winter Park to chat about her vision. We ended up speaking about our lives, laughing, sharing our love for travels and snapping pictures of our latte’s (she totally gets me!). Fast forward to our scheduled session and I felt like I was photographing old friends. We started the session at Kraft Azalea Garden early in the morning to catch the sunrise and then headed to Rollins College to photograph around the campus. The session continued the next day at one of my favorite locations- Disney’s Boardwalk and we caught a beautiful sunset!

They scheduled two engagement sessions back to back to get a wide variety of images and to fit in more outfit changes. It was TOTALLY worth it!

These images will be displayed at their Wedding this December in India!

So excited for them <3


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5 Tips for a Stress-Free Engagement Photo Shoot

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Whether you love to strike a pose or you’re camera shy, getting photographed professionally can be uncharted territory for most couples. But have no fear! We’ve compiled a list of five tips to ensure you have a stress-free engagement photo shoot and love the process too!

 

1. Relax

Although planning a wedding is such an exciting time in life, it can sometimes be a little (or a lot) stressful. Before your session, be sure to put your stress aside, relax, and have fun with your photo shoot. This is a great opportunity for you and your fiancé to take a step away from your wedding planning and focus on being in love and engaged. Your engagement is such a short period of your life. It’s important to take a step back every once in a while and enjoy it!

 

2. Get to know your photographer

It’s completely normal to feel anxious or camera shy before the shoot - but having a photographer that you feel comfortable with will help make the process a little easier. Your photographer will be sure to get to know you and your partner before the session, but it’s important that you get to know your photographer as well. Think beyond your engagement photos. Your photographer is most likely the person who will be by your side through your wedding day too, so it’s important that you click.

 

3. Dress to impress

Not only will you look back on your engagement photos for years to come, but you will probably also use them for save the date cards, brochures, and wedding booklets. Therefore, what you wear in your photos is extremely important. Keep it simple and wear something that you feel comfortable in. To avoid regret down the line, stay away from brand names and patterns. If you plan on doing an outfit change, bring one formal outfit and one casual outfit. Engagement shoots are only one session, so you want it to look cohesive.

 

4. Pick the perfect location

The location of your shoot is almost as important as what you wear. You and your fiancé should choose a location that is important to you. Choosing a location that is opposite of your wedding is great too so that your wedding and engagement photos are different when you look at the scenery or season. For example, if your wedding is in the spring a fall shoot would be perfect. Plus, the beautiful foliage will be the perfect backdrop for your photos! When choosing a location for your shoot, be sure to check if there’s a required fee and if a permit is needed before your shoot.

 

5. Don’t forget it’s all about you

Your engagement photos are so you can look back on this time in your lives when you and your partner are old and gray. Of course you may choose to post some of your photos from the sessions (because did it really happen if you didn’t post it on social media?!), but it’s not about social media or what your family and friends want to see. This is a great time to simply focus on you and your fiancé and what the two of you desire for the session. Enjoy it!

 

Whether you’re engaged and scheduling your photoshoot or still shopping for engagement rings and just want more information, I hope these tips were helpful! The most important thing to remember for your engagement shoot is to have fun and be yourself!

 

Guest post/ author: Amanda Hennigan 

Photography: www.denissejonssonphotography.com (Lotus Eyes Photography's Wedding Brand)

Engagement Location: Bok Tower Gardens