Taryn tells me that the night her and Mike got engaged, they were in the middle of a serious conversation. They wanted to sort out any wrinkles in their relationship, and make sure they both were on the same page. I got goosebumps when Taryn told me that during this conversation, they had set a timer to go off every 10 minutes – whenever they heard the beeping of the timer, they got up and gave each other a hug. I just thought this was such a great way to make sure their discussion stayed loving, and to remind each other that they were having this talk because they cared about one another and wanted their relationship to work out! I once read that if you are going to fight with your partner, you should do it holding hands because it subconsciously keeps you from lashing out too harshly – Taryn and Mike’s method reminded me of that. After they had talked about every issue they both had concerns with in their relationship, Mike handed Taryn a pen and told her to write down the date and time she would want to get married, and when she looked up from writing, Mike was down on one knee, a ring in hand!

At this point, Taryn said to me, “It wasn’t your average proposal, but it was a special moment for us.” And honestly, I love that it was so real and raw. It’s just such a great example to me that relationships take hard work – when the roses wilt, the chocolate gets eaten, the candles wane to nothing….what’s left is the foundation of trust, honest conversation, and concern for one another. I think their proposal demonstrated this perfectly.

Oh, and that ring Mike was holding in his hands? It’s a family heirloom that’s been passed down on his father’s side of the family for over SEVENTY. YEARS. I just think that is such a beautiful legacy and token of true devotion!

Taryn and Mike were loving, adventurous, and FUN to photograph. They both were down with anything I threw their way, and by the end of their session, Mike was just as excited as I was about coming up with fun poses to try and different angles to shoot from. I always love it when my couples get into their session like these two did! It shows me they are just as invested in their images as I am in taking them!

We shot at the Howard County Conservancy – many of you know I’ve shot there several times in the past. So this time, I really wanted to challenge myself to find a new location. I got there early and scouted the area out, only to find this cute little white front porch just waiting for us! It was the perfect addition to their session, and completely fired up my creativity!

I’m so happy Taryn and Mike found each other, and that they are willing to make the sacrifices necessary to make their engagement and marriage work! Thank you for letting me capture this exciting time in your lives!!