Heather Neal Photography

I like to call this session “How to tell if your Photographer is having a crazy summer”. Emily and Alex actually WON this engagment session which is so exciting! I communicated with both of them by e-mail to get everything set up and scheduled for the session. They decided on the Plaza which is always a fun choice. It was CRAZY hot though. We decided to start by the famous J.C. Nichols Fountain so we met there. I saw a beautiful couple all dressed up and looking ready for a photographer and so I walked up to them and said “Emily and Adam?”. As soon as this came out of my mouth I realized that I just renamed Alex and I have no idea why. We hiked around the Plaza in the heat but you would never know it by how beautifully this couple photographed. Then I recommended we change it up a little by heading to “Kemper Museum”…you know, the one with the giant Shuttlecocks? Luckily they knew what I meant since I was actually talking about Neslon Atkins Museum. UGH. I blame it on the heat and one crazy summer but at least my brain being mush had no effect on their photos. 🙂

I had so much fun shooting this engagement session for this sweet couple. It’s been a hot and sunny summer so we were seeking the shade for sure! I can’t wait until their November wedding. It’s sure to be a beautiful day full of love (and cooler temperatures). Oh, and can you even handle the bride-to-be’s handsome son? He may still be single now, but when he gets a little older he is sure to have the girls chasing him. 😉

the title of this post should really be “How to make a photographer happy”. This couple knew exactly how to do that. Engagement sessions are one of my favorite types of sessions so they were off to a good start simply by booking one. But then they chose to do a 3 hour session in some of the coolest and most beautiful places in Kansas City. They had multiple outfit changes and were ready and willing to do a little hiking to get to the good spots. I think the results were amazing.

I think engagement sessions might be my favorite. Of course, I usually think this after every session that I do because I love them all but there is something special about engagement sessions. I love getting to know a bride and groom that I am lucky to be working with on their BIG DAY and this couple was no exception. They are so easy to work with AND photogenic! I absolutely cannot wait for their wedding day.

I love Engagement Sessions! The more weddings I do, the more I learn and one thing I realized is how important engagement sessions are. I know brides and grooms may initially wonder why they are needed, and here is what I tell them: Husbands and wives have very few opportunities to have professional photos of just the two of them. Yes, you will have a ton of wedding photos, and they will be beautiful, but what about photos of just the two of you just being YOU? Plus it is a GREAT way for your photographer to really get to know you both before the wedding and vice versa so you are all comfortable together. Sometimes it is the only chance I get to meet the groom prior to the wedding! That is why I started including engagement sessions in all wedding packages.

I am so excited to see this lovely couple again in August for their BIG DAY. They were so much fun and were troopers about hiking all over Powell Gardens on a hot day. Luckily they found a way to cool off at the end of the session (that was also a great photo opp!).