Gabby & Andrew’s Forest Engagement Session

Hello, everyone! I’ve got another engagement session coming at you!!! I’d say “new couple alert” BUT these two have been in the presence of my picture taking shenanigans before…especially Andrew who was in a 2022 wedding. I’ll share those photos below after this introduction! I hear Gabby was there too but after scouring that gallery, I didn’t see her SO…here’s the preview of their engagement session first! They wanted lush greens and I later found out at this session Andrew is the a lover of the forest and creek and the elements (me too) so I really think we all nailed this session! You tell me what YOU think! SO, please give these two all your Hannah Barlow Photography love and ENJOY!

This engagement session was truly and totally different than the last time Andrew and I were together…taking photos…and avoiding frost bite in the snow! HA!

I’m giggling at that collage above compared to the one below! What a stark contrast! Anyway, Gabby tells me Andrew tends to be the life of the party so I went ahead and grabbed a dance floor photo too. I can’t wait to see him as a groom and we’ll definitely be recreating some of these photos above but with him as the center of attention (whether he loves that or not)!

These two are so sweet and I’ve not had one interaction with them yet that says otherwise. I think their engagement session will prove it! Their wedding colors are also “green” so if they put any of these photos at their wedding…it’s all going to line up!

They tell me they met in college at W&J but didn’t start dating until their senior year! The proposal also happened at W&J and you’ll get to see a close up of her ring here in a bit!

Taking the “lush forest” inspo to heart, I started hiding behind things. They probably thought I was crazy but never said anything!!! The sun gently popped out for us too which gave us some of that “glow” I love so much!

And when the sun pops out…dancing in the open forest is a MUST!

Her ring is absolutely GORGEOUS! I told them it’s going to look GREAT standing up on an invitation using our dental wax trick! I like to overshare my thoughts and tricks at these session and we all know I never stop talking!

I’d scouted prior to meeting up and this was the busiest I’ve EVER seen this park! Lucky for me, I found some little “secret spots”…they’re new secret spots for me. I’ve never photographed here but I knew I could make it work! I love how close and cuddly they are! These are some of my favorites from the day!

I did get nervous they’d think I was nuts but I’m a lucky photographer and just like most couples…Gabby and Andrew never questioned my random and crazy photo ideas and locations!

IN FACT, this is when Andrew spoke up (after I asked if they wanted to go to the more popular locations where I knew a lot of people were hanging out but we could absolutely make work) and he SAID…”I actually love all this!” and that made my heart so happy. This is when I realized he’s an outdoorsy guy and I’m an outdoorsy (ok..maybe more “outsidey”) girl! Combine that with Gabby’s request for lush greens and I knew we were WINNING!

Most people would be like, “this is a brown creek”…not these two!!! They actually asked for more water in the background and I was ever so happy to oblige!

I didn’t prompt them for this. Andrew naturally did this and hugged Gabby…then moved out of it when I went to take a photo and I said, “NO! Stop! Do that again!” I love when couples naturally come into poses that end up being for them…and just them!

I’ve been posting SO much color lately! So, let me tell you…there are black and white photos too! Actually, every color photo in an engagement session gets a black and white photo too!

To end this session I had them walk right out to the cars…while I photographed them, of course! And what we got was honest to goodness candid smiles, laughs and moments!

And that’s a wrap! These two are getting married next year a little less than one year from now…it will be a May wedding! They are hoping to have a wedding that’s “the best of both worlds” with a traditional Catholic Ceremony and a big party after! I’m actually so pumped religious wedding ceremonies in churches are back! They kind of disappeared for a while during COVID and I get it…but there’s something so authentic about them and I love photographing them!

Check back next year to see Gabby and Andrew as the new Mr. & Mrs.!

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Disclaimer: Hannah Barlow Photography engagement blogs only represent a small portion of photos the couple actually receives in their private gallery.  The blogs are meant to highlight my own favorite photos and favorite moments of the session and do not represent an entire gallery.

With permission specifically from the couple, galleries can be shared if you wish to view it in its entirely and/or order prints.

info@hannahbarlowphoto.com for more info.