I’m more of a night owl, but as your engagement photographer, I’ll roll out of bed before the crack of dawn for some beach sunrise photos. Especially anywhere in Northern Michigan. We met for this engagement session at Mission Point Lighthouse Park in Traverse City. I’ll admit, we were greeted by some pretty dreary skies and a chilly breeze, but honestly, a little overcast weather doesn’t have to put a damper on things. Sometimes, it actually brings out the most beautiful, soft colors that can make everything feel so authentic.
This couple was super excited to include their adorable dog in the photos. They were clear to communicate how candid moments of them just being themselves, playing on the beach together as a little family was super important to them. I love when couples want to weave their life and personality into their engagement sessions. It’s these personal touches that make the photos so much more meaningful and real. In between these playful prompts, the couple took snuggle breaks to warm up under a blanket.
My favorite photos came toward the end of this beach sunrise engagement session.
I suggested they play airplane with each other, and I was *really* hoping their pup would join in on the fun. And guess what? Not only did the dog run around like a little ball of energy behind them, but I actually managed to capture that perfect shot! It was pure joy in the frame — a reminder of how spontaneous moments can turn into something magical.
The best part about doing photos at sunrise, whether it’s at the beach or the city, is that we are likely to avoid the crowds. This engagement session was scheduled for the busiest time of year for this very tourist-y town, yet I didn’t have to photoshop a single person out.
Words from the couple and their story:
Joe and I met during our freshman year at Penn State. I was being set up with his roommate during our first month on campus. Joe let us hang out in their dorm room while he went for a run. While his roommate and I didn’t hit it off, Joe and I kept running into each other around campus and at football tailgates. I found myself more and more drawn to him but wasn’t sure how to ask him out. One day, I remembered how much he said he loved math. Conveniently, I was taking a math class at the time, so I made up a reason to ask for his help. What started as tutoring quickly turned into something more. Between the (fake) questions about derivatives and algebra, we ended up talking about everything: our childhoods, our families, our dreams for the future. Three weeks later, we went on our first date, and we’ve been together ever since. That was in 2017. Since then, we’ve adopted a dog, spent a few years living in different cities post-graduation, and eventually moved to Ann Arbor together for my grad program two years ago. We’ve built a life full of laughter, growth, and unconditional love, and I’m so excited to take the next step with him: marriage!
One of my favorite memories is taking our dog to the beach for the first time and watching him run off-leash, chasing waves and playing fetch. That moment has been the background on my computer ever since, and I’d love to recreate it but with all of us this time. We’d love the photos to capture our playful side. Maybe tossing a ball for our dog, laughing, running barefoot through the water. Those candid, joy-filled moments alongside some romantic couple shots would perfectly reflect who we are and the life we’ve built together.
