The first thing Brandy and Paul said to me after I sat them down for a few test shots was, “We’re so awkward.” When couples say this to me, I smile and assure them that that’s not possible. And about 98% of the time, I’m correct. The “awkwardness” is really just adorableness. Y’all can keep sending me your awkward couples because I absolutely love photographing them.

Brandy, Paul, and their littles met me at the Dahlem Nature Center in Jackson, Michigan. I had never been before and we had been texting back and forth all day about the impending bad weather. I wasn’t wanting to cancel because rescheduling in spring with my schedule is madness, and we were able to make it work with some golden sunshine even peaking out.

The nature center was pretty much empty, leaving us to explore some of the trails and the playground equipment. As I usually do, I let the kids run their part of the session and just let them play and explore. It’s a lifestyle approach and honestly, I don’t know how photographers do formal photos with young children. They have ENERGY and just need to be moving. So that’s what we do!

For the rest of the session, I took Brandy and Paul off to create some engagement photos of just the two of them. They are absolutely the sweetest couple and so easy-going. I didn’t have to do much at all, which is the best kind of session. We laughed our way through it and by the end, I’m pretty sure there was no awkwardness left!

Their September wedding in Jackson is going to be a dream and I can’t wait!