A true unposed engagement session is all about emotion. That feeling that washes over you when your fiance reaches for your hand. The butterflies that accompany kisses on the forehead.
It’s about the way someone reaches for their partner’s hand without thinking.
The laugh that sneaks out mid-conversation. The quick, quiet look that says more than any perfectly directed photograph ever could.
I became a wedding photographer because I am enamored with how that feeling feels. And I wanted to be able to capture it for my couples and hand it back to you in a visual way. Images that transport you back to exactly how to felt to fall in love & get married.
I think about my couples in 15 years. When everything about their life has changed, but their love is the steady thread running on. And how it will feel to look through these photos, and feel the butterflies and joy again.
That was exactly the energy of this unposed engagement session at Lafayette Park.
They understood that outfits contribute to the vibe of the photos, and they chose coordinating neutrals to tell their story.
She wore an elegant ivory dress with a flowing skirt and modern high neckline. It was a nod to her bridal era without being overtly “bride”.
He complemented her perfectly in a light blue linen shirt and off-white trousers. Together, they were cohesive, without feeling overly styled. Like themselves, just elevated a little.
As the sun dipped lower through the trees, Lafayette Park became the dreamiest backdrop. The sprawling lawns, winding pathways, and towering trees created a setting that felt both grand and intimate at the same time.
I get to photograph here fairly often as a St. Louis Wedding Photographer, and it never gets old. You can see some another unposed engagement session at Lafayette park here.
Letting the Evening Unfold
One of my favorite things about engagement sessions is that they rarely start with a camera.
They start with a conversation.
We walked through the park, talked about wedding plans, and took our time moving from one spot to another. There was no rush to get to the next location. No pressure to get a shot list. Just space to settle in and enjoy being together.
The result was exactly what I hoped for.
Photos that feel like real life.
You can see it in the way she throws her head back laughing. The way he looks at her when she isn’t paying attention. The way they naturally fall into step with each other as they wander through the gardens and open fields. This is why I’m always going to gravitate towards documentary style photography for my engagement sessions and weddings.
It tells your story in an honest & artful way.
One of the questions I get about unposed photos is: what if we’re awkward?
When couples tell me they’re nervous about photos, I always remind them that my job isn’t to turn them into models.
It’s to help them feel comfortable enough to be themselves. What you think of as “awkward” can truly mean the most stunning photographs. I truly wouldn’t worry about that. When you feel like yourself, your images turn out beautifully.
A few things I always tell my couples to remember:
- Focus on your partner, not the camera
- Embrace movement instead of standing still
- Allow room for conversation
- Trust the process
- Let “imperfect moments” happen; sometimes that’s where the magic happens
The images from this evening feel less like a photoshoot and more like a memory. Golden light filtered through the trees. Lens flare dancing across the frame. These two wandered hand in hand through wild greenery, paused beneath massive old trees, and soaked in every moment together.
Years from now, I hope these photographs bring them right back to this summer evening at Lafayette Park.
The warm light and the easy laughter. The feeling of being in-love, at the start of your marriage. Because that is what an unposed engagement session should always be about.
