Sue and Rachael’s meaningful engagement session at Jay Cooke State Park
Sue and Rachael are such wonderful humans with soul-deep love and affection for each other. They got married this past summer at Bluefin Bay along Lake Superior, a place that holds many meaningful memories for them. A year ago, I photographed their engagement session at Jay Cooke State Park, another place they love near the North Shore. While I was able to share their wedding portraits right away, I’m so excited to share their engagement portraits now as they celebrate their first few months of marriage!
Planning their engagement session
Jay Cooke State Park is a storied place for Sue and Rachael. They had one of their first dates here. They also said “I love you” to each other for the first time while walking these trails. This place has witnessed many formative moments in their lives together, so it felt fitting to document their engagement here. Sue and Rachael love spending time outside, especially in the winter, so they chose to have their engagement session in late November. They both felt delighted when snowflakes started falling at the beginning of the photoshoot, creating a romantic backdrop for their portraits.
Sue & Rachael’s engagement portraits at Jay Cooke State Park
We began the session walking along a snowy path in the park. Hand in hand, huddled close together as they explore the wintry wonderland, Sue and Rachael exude joy and ease. I photographed Sue leading Rachael through a rocky forest path, and then they paused and embraced her, their head gently resting upon her shoulder. Rachael and Sue have the most peaceful expressions in these portraits as they lovingly gaze at one another. These portraits feel candid and full of life.
In another section of the park, the forest thinned and opened into this beautiful expanse with big boulders and a river flowing in the distance. I love the black and white portrait of Sue smiling as Rachael wraps her arms around her. This portrait feels so romantic and beautifully captures the deep intimacy these two share.
A sweet moment to share
To finish the session, we visited the iconic footbridge overlooking the river, another special and storied spot for Sue and Rachael. I invited them to look at one another and share something they loved about the other person today. With a wintry wind blowing, I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but I witnessed the candid laughter, tears, and tender embraces that ensued as they shared this intimate moment together.
One of my absolute favorite portraits of the day captures Sue and Rachael on the bridge: Sue wraps their arms around Rachael as Rachael giggles, happy and moved by what Sue has just said. There is so much raw emotion and loving affection in this portrait, beautifully encapsulating the feel of the entire photoshoot.
