Tempe Town Lake Engagement - Shante & Wallace

If you live in the Phoenix area, you might know that our winters can be a little unpredictable--this year, we can barely even call it wintertime! On this day, though, we were lucky enough to have a day worthy of green grass, a blanket, and a picnic basket filled with goodies, not to mention the reason we were at Tempe Beach Park: Shante and Wallace!

These two are wonderful together, their smiles equally bright and contagious. They’re the couple with the longest history together we’ve shot yet! They’ve been with each other for 10 years, and man, we can definitely see the chemistry that got them together is still around. Relationships are hard work, but Shante and Wallace have clearly got theirs figured out.

No engagement shoot would be complete without the story of the proposal, and this one was straight out of a Christmas special, in the best of ways: a year ago, at Christmas, Wallace had a huge gift for Shante under the tree. Nobody, not even Shante’s family, knew what it was; their family holiday was abuzz with everyone wondering what exactly was in the box, especially since it was so big! The mystery grew with each layer that came unwrapped, pulling paper off piece by piece, digging down into each new part of packaging until finally Shante pulled the last bit free: a ring box. For these two, it was the perfect gift: it wasn’t just a well-thought present, but a symbol of their joy together and of the goodness the future would bring. It was a Christmas gift of everlasting love and commitment.

Of course, while weddings are 99% about the lovely couple, a tiny part of them is about the joining of two families, of the union of family and the growth that comes from that. That’s why we were excited to hear Shante’s family be present in the proposal! It really helped make the moment special for Shante and Wallace. Their love for each other comes from them like sunbeams from the sky, their love evident from the looks and laughs Wallace and Shante shared, but they’re gracious enough that they share it with everyone around them, saying hello to people who passed by during the shoot. Shante even stopped to say hi to a fuzzy little puppy that photo bombed us! Wallace watched, grinning, and when she was done he took every moment he could to dote on her, pulling her in and brushing her hair from her face.

These two really have the confidence in each other that only time can bring. We’re blessed that we had the opportunity to meet them.

Shante and Wallace, thank you for letting us be a part of your lives! We wish you a blessed, prosperous future as husband and wife!

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Papago Park Engagement - Sarah & Jack

When most people think penguins, they think of Antarctica, or maybe Sea World. Arizona isn’t a cold place, and we don’t have a lot of water--the only ice you’ll find is in our freezers! That doesn’t mean anything to the Odysea Aquarium, though, and that’s where Jack planned his perfect proposal. He took Sarah to feed the adorable penguins, and amidst the birds, he stopped for just a moment… and there in his hand was the ring. It almost felt as if the penguins were his groomsmen at that moment, their tuxedo feathers helping give Jack the courage it took to ask the question. He had hired professional photographers to help make the moment extra special! And lasting! Sarah thought they were just regular people visiting the aquarium like they were.

Sarah thought it was amazing.

Now, we think Sarah is pretty amazing too. When we did her and Jack’s engagement shoot at Papago Park, we saw most people wearing sneakers and workout clothes… but instead, Sarah sported crystal-embellished black heels. Not only did she dare to be different, but she took to the trails better than we did! Between those heels, the desert landscape, and Jack’s turquoise button-up, this shoot was gorgeous.

Every engagement shoot is different, but some things are constant: you can only get so far on outfits and landscapes alone. That’s why we’re glad we got to shoot these two--they seemed truly relaxed with each other, talking about their engagement and having fun amongst the rocks and beside the Papago pond. Laughing all the way, Jack helped primp Sarah for each new pose, picking stray grass from her curls and leading her through the grass beside the ducks that live in the park. We really enjoyed seeing the dynamic these two have, from their laidback joking to the effortless comfort they have with one another. Jack and Sarah clearly share a love that not everyone can have, and we’re so glad they let us be a part of their engagement shoot. Thanks, you two--we can’t wait to see what life has in store for you as husband and wife!

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Fountain Hills Engagement - Jessica & Ysidro

For her engagement photos, Jessica picked a location unlike any we’ve shot yet: Fountain Hills. If you’re not aware of it, the center of the town has, as you might guess, a fountain. It’s one of the tallest in the world, and the power behind it compares to the strong, passionate love that Jessica shares with her fiancé Ysidro. They’re a spectacular couple, truly two souls united as one. Their unity was apparent from the moment we started to shoot, Ysidro’s gaze meeting her eyes the entire time. Honestly, we almost felt a little invasive! It seemed as if the world simply melted away when they posed for us, as if when he pulled her close he wanted to protect her, to be her equal in all ways and yet still strive to do whatever he could for her, to whisk her away into a world all their own.

Of course, as much as we imagine the universe falling away to leave the two of them alone, reality still goes on. That’s not a bad thing! Jessica and Ysidro brought their two little boys along, and man, they’re adorable! They even posed for a few photos with huge, endearing smiles… it helped that Jessica bribed ‘em with a few little sweet treats. Seeing them interact with Jessica and Ysidro was great, though--their affection for their kids shone through, and between that and the romance between the two of them, we know they’re going to be a great family.

Also great? Jessica’s outfit! We love dresses, but her sheer crimson jumpsuit was gorgeous, and the perfect choice for a Valentine’s Day shoot outdoors. Ysidro looked pretty dang good, too!

We’d be remiss if we didn’t talk a little about the proposal itself, though. It’s almost impossible to choose our favorite proposal from those we’ve heard so far, but Ysidro’s is so cute! His enthusiasm really shines through. Over a year ago, he realized what he wanted to do, that he wanted to be with Jessica, to be hers to have and to hold, and for her to be his; he knew that he wanted to get down on one knee, to profess his love, to finally ask that question. They’d talked about it before, but he knew it was time.

Enthusiasm, though. It gets in the way of things sometimes, but this? This was enthusiasm bringing pure joy to their lives. Ysidro bought the ring, but he didn’t want to wait to pay it off. He knew he had to do it, that he needed to ask for Jessica’s hand, that he needed to commit to her. So, right there in the middle of Scottsdale Mall, he asked her, ringless. Instead, he offered the receipt to her, using that paper as the symbol of his love and commitment, the enthusiasm plain on his face in the moments before Jessica responded.

Jessica has the ring now. Their wedding is set for November. If the wedding is anything like the proposal, we know it’s going to be the perfect blend of high-energy and steady assuredness, of perfect plans and a dash of spontaneity, of love and the promise of what the future will bring them. We (not so) secretly even hope Jessica kept the receipt, tucked away as a memento of that amazing day.


Jessica and Ysidro: thank you for letting us be a part of your lives. We can’t wait to see where life takes you on your journey together. Congratulations!

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