Jena + Michael: Engagement

Jena and Michael are high-school sweethearts (like us!). They're getting married this summer in South Bend, and we're delighted to reconnect with them and share that day with them. We had wonderful light on the day we scheduled--one of the first days that felt like spring this year. We thoroughly enjoyed photographing and getting to know the two of them, from their whispers to their kisses to their laughs, as they get closer and closer to the day they'll be wed.




This is a new favorite spot in South Bend. Beautiful.


And this is a new favorite picture--they both look so beautiful. I can tell you you'll be seeing this one on our new website (!). We feel like this one really represents our style as photographers.

They were so good and laughing with (and at) each other.

It seemed fitting to end their session in downtown South Bend near the Morris Peforming Arts Center and Palais Royale, where they'll be having their wedding reception. Although it might be difficult to see in the picture, the tattoo on Michael's wrist includes the date that he and Jena met.
As we looked through these, Jena mentioned how blessed she feels to have pictures of the two of them at this specific time in life because her mother never did, and regrets it. We too feel so blessed and honored to photograph and know all of our couples during this time in their lives, when love is full of hope and has a fierceness and defiance in the face of everything that love isn't. And, it might just be us, but we think love should always be fiercely hopeful like that.