Engagement Session at the Naperville Riverwalk in Naperville, Illinois

Friends, I am overjoyed to share Alana and Zach’s engagement session at the Naperville Riverwalk on the blog!

Last summer, I met Alana and Zach through another one of my favorite couples, Julia and Ali. It fills my heart with great joy and happiness to connect to more amazing couples through my couples. It’s one of the aspects of my job that I like to call the icing on the cake! These people are near and dear to my heart, that’s for sure.

As soon as I connected to Alana and Zach after Julia and Ali’s wedding, we hit it off instantly. We all agreed that we felt comfortable with each other and like we’d been friends for some time. Plus, we all LOVE dogs and are obsessed with our pups, so it was just the perfect fit. I’m thankful for this sweet couple coming into my life!

The Love Story

Alana and Zach’s story goes back 14 years. That’s right, FOURTEEN years! These two are high school sweethearts. From those days in high school passing notes to each other to nursing school to starting their careers to the winter proposal to wedding planning and everything in between… These two are a testament to the way young love can grow and mature into a deeper, greater love as the years go by. Heart eyes! And oh you know that high school sweethearts have a soft spot in my heart!

The Engagement Session

With all the planning, we chose to have their engagement session take place at the Naperville Riverwalk. It was my first time shooting at this location, and I instantly fell in love! The scenery, riverwalk, and beautiful sunlight on the evening of their session made me excited for this very session as well as all of the summer sunsets and couples to come. There’s just something about warm spring/summer sunlight that makes my soul happy.

I loved exploring the Naperville Riverwalk with these two throughout the session. And for two people that are into photography and usually finding themselves behind the camera like me, they agreed that it felt a little funny to be on the other side as subjects at first! They were such naturals in front of the camera for being professionally photographed for one of the first times, that’s for sure! It was a joy to document Alana and Zach in this stage of their fourteen year relationship just months before their wedding day.

By the end of the session, the three of us weren’t ready to be done talking (you know me!), laughing, and enjoying the beautiful evening together. I remember at the end of the session when Zach shared something along the lines of the three of us being on the same wavelength when it comes to photography and being comfortable with each other. Yep, I think he hit the nail on the head… I am honored to be their engagement and wedding photographer in this exciting season of life!

I hope you enjoy a few of my favorites from this gorgeous, fun session!