I have a big soft spot in my heart for couples who are up for to trying out new locations with me. Even if that means we have to hike a little ways, or even stop to watch some wildlife on the way. ;-)

I also love photographing couples who laugh together so easily. Take Steve + Lindsey, for example. I loosely set them up into this pose at the beginning of their session, and within seconds, this is what happened:

Very early on in the session, I found out this was a couple I could easily joke around with, so when I was picking out a sneak peek to post on my Instagram account, I chose that first giggly photo and captioned it “These two came all the way to the Black Hills to get their engagement photos taken tonight, and all they got was this photo in front of a white wall.” :-) But don’t worry, I took them out to the forest to get some great scenery images, too – just you wait!! :-)

**side note: Instagram the first place where I share photos from sessions now, so follow along (@studiolb) to be the first to see such beautifulness!

Before Steve + Lindsey traveled out to the Black Hills for their session, I had asked Lindsey if she had any requests of where to go. She requested forest and sunset. Hopefully this is what she had in mind. :-)

Steve + Lindsey – I can’t thank you enough for being so willing and excited to try out these new locations with me! Thanks for hiking with me, for teaching me about paw prints, for taking a couple ‘just one more’ photos, and for all the thumbs-ups. ;-) I am so looking forward to your wedding in July!!

These two are absolute troopers!! I’ll be the first to tell you I was concerned about the snow coming down sideways earlier in the day. Since Jeff and Lindsay were only in town for a few days, we just had to make this weather work!! Now, I’ll be the first to tell you I am so glad we braved the weather (the snow in the hills was absolutely magical) and had pockets full of hand warmers!!

Jeff + Lindsay – Thanks so much for taking time out of your busy week, braving the cold+snow, and for showing me your love. I can only imagine how much more radiant you will be in September!! :-)

I am thankful that Nick met Samantha, ‘wooed’ her, and asked her to move with him to South Dakota.

I am also thankful that Nick had a plan to propose on a rock (ahem, cliff) overlooking the part of the forest where he grew up – and even though Samantha knew he always had this plan, she was still surprised when he actually proposed!!

I am *most* thankful that Nick + Samantha found me and asked to take their engagement photos on his childhood playground. The rocks, the trees, the ghost town – I didn’t want to stop playing taking photos with these two!!

Back to the rock (ahem, cliff) comment from earlier… Samantha told me they got engaged on a rock in Nick’s parents’ back yard. I’m thinking of something like the granite boulders in the Black Hills that pop up out of nowhere and have sparkles and green fuzzy growth. I show up, ask about the famous rock, and they point *up over there* (in the right photo on the upper right side). Ummm, you mean that cliff way over there?! Awesome!!! Not quite what I had envisioned for photos… but we made it work!!

*This* is more like what I had in mind when I thought of ‘engagement photos on a rock’

Nick + Samantha – Thank you so SO much for inviting me out to where you got engaged. Thank you for being so beautifully in love and goofy at the same time – I absolutely love you guys for making snuggling and giggling look so dang good!! :-)

Fall finally showed it’s colors *just* in time for Pete + Angi’s wedding!!! It was a gorgeous day full of sunshine, smiles, and happy tears. But first things first… let me introduce you to my new friend, Jimmy Choo. :-)

I know it isn’t the easiest way to get into a wedding dress, but I think ‘up and over’ is my favorite to photograph. ;-)

This, my friends, is why I LOVE first looks – pure, happy, candid moments.

Angi also had a first look with her father and it was *so* sweet. I may have gotten the back of my camera a little bit teary…

While it’s my goal to get to know my couples during their engagement session (as well as take some pretty pictures), I love it when their ceremonies include personal stories that help everyone get to know them better as a couple – and cause a few giggles. :-)

Pete + Angi – Thank you so much for choosing me to be your wedding photographer! I truly enjoyed getting to know you and spending your wedding day with you. You are both such wonderfully fun people and I wish you all the happiness in the world! :-)

In the midst of our cold + wet fall we’re having here in the Black Hills, clouds parted and the sun shone down on James + Katie for their wedding day in Deadwood… and it made for the most b-e-a-utiful images. Pinterest, eat your heart out. ;-)

Look at these two – so excited to see each other and get married!!! :-)

Can you say *major hotties!?*

For the past few months, these two bikes have taken over James + Katie’s lives, and I think Nahla may have gotten a little bit jealous. :-)

But don’t worry, sweetie – mommy loves you!

I love me a sweet father-daughter moment!

James + Katie – I was so honored to be your wedding photographer! What a wonderfu/gorgeous/happy day it was!!