Max & Andrea || Bok Tower Gardens Engagement

Max is the reason I have an iPhone. About a year and a half ago, I was trying to get one, but for some reason it was complicated, so when I had to go to work instead of going to my "get your phone" appointment, my dad went and met Max at the AT&T store. I got my phone and Max ended up coming out to our college ministry a few times. Eventually, he brought his wonderful girlfriend Andrea over for dinner so we could meet her, and a couple months ago, he proposed through a very sneaky day of faked phone calls and help from some good friends. 

Last week, we returned to where he asked her to marry him, the lovely Bok Tower Gardens  and had some adventures, complete with being nervous about the large spiderwebs overhead and lots of Max swinging Andrea around. I love the way she laughs when she is with him and the way they are both passionate about their church, the Lord, and each other. 

Congratulations guys!

Mike and Mackenzie || Downtown Tampa Engagement

A couple weeks ago, my dear friend Mackenzie texted me and said "I thought of a new Instagram day!! FIANCE FRIDAY!" My first thought was, "Well, it's a good thing that your boyfriend has been planning to have me shoot your engagement in about two weeks when he comes home, so that you can use that." But all I said was "Well...you're NOT ENGAGED YET, GIRL, so TOO BAD." 

She patiently held her horses, and last Saturday morning, Mike took her to one of the best places in Tampa, the Oxford Exchange for "breakfast." Conveniently enough, although most days they open at 7:30, on Saturdays they don't open until 9. So, when Mike and Mackenzie got there at 8, it was still closed, so Mike suggested they take a stroll over to the campus of University of Tampa. I was hiding by the porch where we had planned for him to propose, but right as I saw them walking toward the spot, the entire UT swim team came and set up to take their team pictures right where we were planning to shoot. Mike cleverly readjusted and took her to walk over near the river. I stalked them around the gardens like a super sneaky person and texted Mike to see if he wanted to just propose next to the river. Then I had to text him again to tell him to turn Mackenzie around so she wouldn't see me walk up. In one fluid motion, he turned her and went down on one knee, pulling out a note book where he had written some lovely things to her about wanting to marry her. Then he pulled out the ring and asked her to marry him, and of course she said yes. 

Happy #FIANCEFRIDAY, you guys. 

Peter & Amanda || New Port Richey Engagement Adventure

Great photography partnerships are born when one person emails the other and wants to have the photo consultation at the photographer's favorite Tampa tea house...or at least that's how it went in this case. 

I met Peter and Amanda at the Kaleisia Tea Lounge to discuss pictures and discovered a shared love for adventure, music with deep lyrics, tattoos, and passionately living life. 

We set out on Sunday afternoon, adventuring through the backwoods where Peter grew up in New Port Richey. Amanda said we can be best friends because I get Narnia references. I'm very excited. She has a lamp post tattoo referencing The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. We all decided that these woods had a very overgrown Cair Paravel (See the beginning of Prince Caspian) feel to it. 

Unbeknownst to Amanda, Peter had procured a ring and hid it in his pocket. As we wandered to the edge of the river, he went in for a kiss and reached into his pocket and then proposed. Her surprised joy was one of my favorite moments of the entire trip.

These people are full of fun, adventurous, passionate awesomeness. And they baked me cookies, so that was a big plus.

Congratulations guys, I can't wait for your wedding!!