Sarah & Britt | Backyard Tuscaloosa Engagement Session
Sarah and Britt sharing a hearty laugh during their engagement photography session.
It has seemed that over the past few years, photography Instagram accounts are awash with engagement and wedding pictures photographed on mountain tops with the sun dripping lower behind the peaks. Not that these aren’t gorgeous or inspiring (you can definitely pay me to take these shots), but, to some extent, they do make beautiful engagement pictures seem intangible.
As I’ve grown as a photographer, I’ve learned that while a stunning background can add magic to a session, there is also plenty of intimacy and beauty to be found in inconspicuous places. This is absolutely true of this engagement photography session with Sarah and Britt.
Sarah and Britt live on an expansive, wooded property in Tuscaloosa, Alabama with their small puppy army. When my mentor (who I was shooting with) and I arrived, Sarah was balancing getting ready and wrangling one of the pups. I’d sent them over a style guide beforehand, and both Sarah and Britt looked great, comfortable, and ready to photograph.
It was the perfect time of year to photograph, the time when the leaves give the ground texture, but the trees have enough green left to make a lively color palette. We capitalized on several nooks of the property for backdrops. There was the clearing punctuated by radiant afternoon light. There was the cozy, red bench where the two could snuggle up. It was perfect, and it was so them.
Sarah has a contagious laugh and a vibrant personality. Her smile can be seen lighting up many of the shots below. We caught Britt, though the quieter of the two, whispering punchlines into Sarah’s ear and spurring real, candid moments.
The highlight of the afternoon was the doggo photography session. Sarah is a veterinarian, and the animals are a huge part of their lives. They have dogs six dogs and six distinctive personalities. Each pup, or pair of pups, had their turn in the spotlight. Though my style guide doesn’t come with advice for dogs, Sarah and Britt couldn’t let their babies arrive unprepared. From bandanas and bowties and signs, the canine contingent was dressed in celebration of their owners’ big day.
Overall, we laughed so hard during this session, and it was such a joyous experience getting to work with these two! Thank you for letting me be a part of this special day, and I cannot wait for the wedding in October!
