Whimsical Meets Urban Engagement Session
Where should I have my engagement session in Bozeman?
Bozeman offers so many fun and unique options for engagement photo locations, and some of my favorites are the flower farms, and downtown.
When Lissy and I were brainstorming what she wanted for their session, we went back and forth about several ideas, but got stuck between something cutesy and whimsical, versus something more modern and editorial. We decided on both.
I met Lissy & Mason at a local flower farm on a Sunday morning just outside of town. For the first half hour or so, I followed along behind as Lissy pointed out flowers for Mason to cut and they built up their bouquet. This allowed me to get some candid, fly on the wall images. Once we had a nice bouquet built up, I gave the two of them directions to play with. These two have such an easy, laid-back chemistry between them, and I loved getting to see them interact and make each prompt their own.
After leaving the flower farm, we took a lunch break, then met back up at Plonk in Downtown Bozeman. We arrived soon after they opened and scored a spot on the upper patio in the back that we had all to ourselves. Once we wrapped up outside, we grabbed a few flash photos in the back lounge area and were on our way. Lissy looked like a Barbie come to life in her stunning white satin dress with a beaded hem detail and a gorgeous half-up half-down hairstyle.
On a whim before we parted ways for the evening, we decided to head up to the top of the parking garage. Only in the last year or so have I really gotten a feel for and started to enjoy shooting in direct sunlight, and this evening was perfect for it. I shot them in both direct light and backlighting, and I love they variety it gave to the final gallery. We danced and played and walked and run up on the top with the Bridgers as our backdrop on one side, and Bozeman’s skyline on the other.
Mason & Lissy have been close friends of ours for many years now. We met Mason first when he worked with my husband in a retail job, but we really got to know them when Mason starting bringing Lissy around, and it has been truly a joy to get to watch their relationship evolve and develop as they have grown together over the last several years. After moving away to Colorado a few years ago, they returned to Bozeman two summers ago and we picked right back up where we left off. Both born and raised in small Montana towns, you can count on Lissy & Mason to be there with a celebratory bevvie when times are good, or a shoulder to lean on when things get tough. I feel fortunate to get to know and love the two of them individually, and as a couple. I’m honored that they trusted me to memorialize this important time in their lives. We’re counting down the days until their wedding in September!
It’s not often that I get to spend so much time with a couple throughout the day, and visit multiple locations, but I hope it becomes a more regular occurrence! I feel that this gave so much depth, interest, and variety to their final gallery. One of my main goals for a session is for my clients to walk away thinking “wow that was really fun!” We all had such a good time together, and I hope these two can look back at these images for decades to come and remember this day and this era of their lives fondly.
Here’s to sunny August days, cocktails that taste just as good as they look, and love that lasts.
Cheers,
Mary
