Earthy Waterfall Engagement Session | Hannah Barlow Photography | WV Wedding Photography

Happy Monday, everyone!

No one likes a Monday SO here are all your smiles for the day!  Just imagine you’re with us at this session relaxing in the warm weather and enjoying the elements!  There’s photography goodness and ooey, gooey, mushy romance going on!  AHH! It’s just so good! SO GOOD!

Where are all my earthy lovers?!  I already pre-warned Kari she was going to LOVE this one!  Are you ready for it?  It’s a goodie!  It even has a WATERFALL!  That’s right!  You read that correctly…A WATERFALL!  AHHHHHHHH!

So now – meet Katelyn and Josh!

I have SO MUCH to say about this session and before I even read their fun fact survey (which Katelyn conveniently filled out just a few hours ago).  Katelyn was the one who requested a waterfall for their engagement session and I was happy to oblige.  We originally were going to try and find the one at Settler’s Cabin Park in Pittsburgh but that seemed to be a very difficult task. So, we decided on an alternate location and I think they were very happy with the result!

Lets get started now, shall we?!  I actually first met these two at a pre-booking consultation this past winter.  I can’t believe it’s already time to be photographing my 2019 wedding couples like these two!! That’s MADNESS!  From the get go, Katelyn and Josh were super laid back and chill.  I could tell they were organized and had a clear vision for their wedding.  I know it is going to be fantastic!  These photos are just the beginning…I just know it!

I didn’t even give Josh my rating scale because I already knew he was a pretty “go with the flow” type of guy.  If I had to guess, he doesn’t love OR hate getting his photo taken…he just does what’s gotta be done!  Katelyn even said in the survey that he really hadn’t voiced an opinion on the matter.  She, on the other hand, said she was a little ancious about it and looking at these photos…you’d NEVER know it!  He, for sure, has the “snuggle” and “nuzzle” down pat!  Gosh.  I love this set so much!  Her dress too…it’s PERFECT for that little bit of color pop I always like to see my couples incorporate! YAY!

Only one take needed on the walk snuggle walk!  Success!  Nailed it!! Moving on!

There were seriously kids everywhere though.  It was stressing me out a bit because I’d just spent the whole day with my kiddos (don’t judge…it’s been a long summer) AND this place usually has no people around…AND this particular group who joined us was extremely loud and really didn’t care that we were there (picture me photoshopping many of them out of the background later that night in Photoshop).  As a result, I moved these two over to this little area since the children wanted to be on the deck.  I’m happy to share…always.  I mean…I don’t own the place, right?!  I joked with one mom who apologized and I said, “We’ll share the forest,” or whatever that catch phrase was we used to see on TV!  Nonetheless, it was meant to be because the spot of light I found for them was fantastic!

OMG! Here comes a moment where you’ll wonder again if this is real life.  Josh proposed in the most amazing and unique way!! He insisted on a game of Cards Against Humanity with her family.  Katelyn got to be the judge for the round where each player has to play three cards.  Wouldn’t you know it, Josh sneakily placed, face down, “Katelyn” “Will You” “Marry Me?”.  So yes…that’s right, people.  Katelyn flipped over Josh’s three cards that read…”Katelyn, Will You Marry Me?”  GET OUT OF TOWN!  She answered “YES!” before he even got to say the words! EEEEKKKKKKK!!!  I should write a book one day about all my couples!  I bet some of my loyal blog readers would help me make it a best seller! HA!

So anyway…I just had to get that out of the way because it was TOO GOOD not to share!

Seriously, I was loving this location SO MUCH!  I was also in the weeds.  I love that my clients seem to just think this is totally normal…the photographer hovering down in the weeds when most people avoid getting itchy.  Or maybe they are all just really good at acting like I don’t look like a crazy person!  Seriously though…don’t you just love it?!  Kari…are you loving these?!  I hope the park never cuts up that log that fell on the bridge!

It wasn’t five minutes and all the kids that ran us off the deck ran us out of that location too.  Deep cleansing breaths.  “Share the forest, Hannah!”  So, I took these two over to this little spot!  The whole time they just went with it with big smiles on their faces.  I was raving about the photos though…I just knew they were going to be fantastic when I was looking at my LCD!

Then, we moved over to the waterfall.  Here’s a little teaser.  Again, I was in the weeds but I LOVE this look!  Love it so much!

GAH!  Their wedding photos are going to be so great!  He does the best nuzzle and she has the best, natural smile!  They just fit…like puzzles pieces!! Is that too cheesy?!  Yes?!  It’s true!

OoO and if you didn’t think that was romantic….Josh said THIS about Katelyn… “She can become very infectious when she laughs, to the point that it is absurd.  She is a very inner person.  Tons of freckles.”  TONS OF FRECKLES! Where the heck is the swoon emoji when I need it?!  My website provider needs to get on it!

OoooOoooooo the waterfall!

I can’t even stand this amazingness and I was even standing on the ledge (chanting…”Don’t step back.  Don’t step back.”).  I’m afraid of heights too and I was oddly calm in my location on the little cliff!  Dreamy, earthy photos will do that to ya, I guess!  I was all about channeling my inner Kari this day!

So, then I handed Katelyn her shoes because I thoguht it might be cute.  If you look closely, Josh was all for getting in the water but not barefoot.  I was FREAKING out over his shoes…they were too good to ruin and he didn’t care one bit.  Lordy.  Can you just imagine what’s going to happen on their wedding day?!  Amazing things!! Magical things!  When you’ve got two people who look this great together AND don’t really care what you ask them to do…that makes for outstanding results come the wedding day!

I mean really…they’re just so cute together! That dress was PERFECT, Katelyn! PERFECT!  

Look how the outfits just pop!

Then, we headed out of the waterfall! Then, I sent them right back so I could get a nice, close, ring shot from slightly above!  I’m never really done…all my couples appreciate that statement!

Speaking of rings!  

Seriously, there is NOTHING better than a simple, clean diamond on a simple band!

SO CLASSY!

So, Katelyn and Josh has mentioned all the deer we saw when we were driving to the waterfall.  I told them they were super friendly!  Well, I offered to drive them back so they could experience even more “country”.  Because I have kiddos, I ALWAYS have snacks in my car…it was just a matter of finding them!   They couldn’t bleieve how the deer approached us as soon as we got out of hte car!

I told them they look like they were in a story book!! It was an amazing way to end the session!

That’s it!  These two are tying the knot next November so you’re going to have to wait a while to see them again.  Nonetheless, it’s going to be amazing! We’re heading to the Barn at Madison for it and I just can’t wait!  Where the heck did 2018 go?!?!?!

Have a GREAT night, everyone!