Autumn Golden Hour Engagement Photos

Hello HELLO! It’s me again and I have a NEW COUPLE ALERT! THAT’S RIGHT! My goodness…if I didn’t gush enough in the last engagement blog, I’m going to do again and more here! The weather and light and couples have been knocking it out of the ballpark with these sessions! I love the inspo…I love the trust they put in me and they are ENTIRELY too good and sweet to me, as well!!! Which…is just making my head big at this point and I’m NOT THAT TYPE OF PERSON SO STOP IT, YOU ALL! Ok! I’m done with this opener because I have pretty photos to show you! Dakota and Cory are on the blog right now with their oOooO so fall and autumn engagement session…with two themes and vibes! Let’s do this! ENJOY! Be sure to tell me your favorites in the comments!

These two tell me they have two very different personalities but both like photos! I’d agree with that…they were both very “go with the flow” for photos but Dakota tells me she is very “stick to a plan” WHICH makes me all the more grateful she trusted me to make her engagement photo and save the date visions come to life! We started with the more casual outfits…she likes fall which works because her wedding next year is a week-ish earlier in the month next year (already channeling the wedding Gods to help me out next year with the foliage…TBC). She even panicked me yesterday saying she couldn’t wait for October 26 and I was said, “Girl that is NOT the date I have for you…” She meant October 2026…the year…not the day…Whewww…Because I NEED TO BE THERE! All is well!

The LIGHT! I can’t get over how soft and pretty the light has been these last couple of weeks.

I used to never be a big fan of fall but I don’t know what my problem was because it’s SO pretty! It helps when you have a couple who photographs like this too, right?! RIGHT?! I swear I’m becoming my couple’s biggest (strangest) fans…it all comes from a good place…I promise! Sometimes I wonder if I’m overstepping my photographer boundaries but the year of 2026 is shaping up to be FAB! I feel like I already know my couples on a deeper more personal level and that makes for the BEST wedding days!

Then, we did some walking and snuggling on a gravel path!

We then moved on to another little spot with fall leaves. The fall leaves (compared to last year) are really taking their time BUT are right on schedule with what I’m used to for photos! I knew this little random spot would give me what I needed but I was really having to use my photographer powers to make sure it looked like Autumn!

Then, I knew they had more formal outfits and she had shared them with me. I racked my brain based on the photos she’d sent me how I could make fall and fancy come to life…and that meant one of my little gems I haven’t photographed for years…Bethany College. It’s straight out of a book and SO pretty up there! Dakota didn’t even miss a beat when I asked if they were willing to hop in the car and drive about 15 minutes to change locations. She didn’t even ASK or question…she was like “Yep! Let’s do it!” and THAT is how you end up with beautiful engagement photos that are unique on my gallery!

LOVING the simple but fancier black and white outfits! I also got to learn Cory MAY be wearing a more non-traditional suit/tux next year…but I’m not giving you ANY more details than that. Nope! But also…can we talk about the light again?! AND the bows on the shoes?! I need shoes with bows on them!

The black and white versions of these photos did not disappoint! I focused more on the details in these photos! They literally did anything I asked them to do!

Since they’re super easy to photograph and I was feeling extra comfy, I wanted to experiment with this gate.

We were racing the light. So, as I always do…I had a plan to start at the bottom of Bethany College’s campus and work my way up! That meant we got to the BEAUTIFUL brick building (is this the Main building? I didn’t go to college here so I honestly don’t know). They danced…I squealed…you know how I am! If you’re new here, Welcome! I know I have lots of new readers and viewers lately! I’ve got lots of words and things to say about my couples too!

TALK ABOUT CLASSY! I.CAN.NOT! It’s so good!

Then, we moved on to a little secret (it’s not really a secret) spot of mine! It feels secret getting there!

And we HAD to finish the session off in these hallways! I was envisioning Save the Dates…I can’t WAIT to see what they end up choosing! Dakota…girlllll…send me one! I can’t wait!

And because I’m NEVER really done…I took just one more on our way out! They said they both loved pictures in the couple fun fact surgery (or maybe Dakota just put that…HA!) but I took FULL advantage – sun flare and all! And at this point, that was just about ALL the light I could get out of the sky so we called it a completed session!

Can you just imagine what their wedding photos will look like?! AHHHHH!!! They are planning a “moody but elegant” wedding at Waterfront Hall next year! I already have VISIONS of what we can do with that place to pull all this together! Check back in a little less than a year and you’ll see them as bride and groom!

Thanks for looking, everyone! Happy Friday!

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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.