Summer is coming to an end, and with that comes more engagement sessions! Although it was still pretty darn hot at Andrea and Matt’s session, I’m happy to think we’re moving toward the cooler time of the year (is that even a thing in Texas?). I’m so excited to meet and photograph more couples in love and form new friendships along the way!

But enough about that – let’s talk about this gorgeous Arbor Hills Nature Preserve engagement session!

I knew Andrea back in college at Baylor University – I think we took a business technology class together – and the funniest part is that I was actually planning my wedding at that time. I was a senior and she was a freshman, and we both had fun chatting, laughing, and NOT focusing on class work!

Andrea and I stayed Facebook friends and commented every now and then on one another’s photos even after I’d graduated, married, and moved away. In a totally non-creepy way I always thought how fun it would be to get to photograph her, because she’s just so darn photogenic! When Matt entered the picture (literally, he was showing up in all of her FB photos, haha!), I couldn’t get enough of how adorable these two looked together. Isn’t that what we wedding photographers can’t help but stop and admire?! So, when Matt popped the question and Andrea reached out to me about photographing their wedding, you can bet I was beyond excited!

Matt currently lives in Michigan and was visiting for the weekend, so fortunately we were able to squeeze in an engagement session at Arbor Hills Nature Preserve in Plano before the wedding in November. I loved having the opportunity to meet him – he was EXACTLY as fun as he seemed in all of their photos together! He and Andrea make the perfect couple, and they seriously made this engagement session one of my favorites. Their love for one another, the sunset, the laughter…what a dream to be their wedding photographer!

Matt and Andrea briefly chatted on Facebook long before they started dating. Although they were both attending Baylor at the same time, it wasn’t until after Matt had already graduated and moved to Michigan that they started talking more consistently. The two captured one another’s hearts long-distance and knew they had to finally meet in person. Matt made the trip to visit Andrea in Dallas where they were immediately smitten with one another! The pair committed to an intentional, meaningful long-distance relationship and from there were “official.” Andrea says, “Though it was hard at times, every day apart was so worth it for each day we spent together on planned trips to visit families and to spend time with each other.”

Hearing the story about how Matt proposed to Andrea had me grinning from ear-to-ear! “I went to Common Grounds to get coffee with some friends and as I am following them to the back, I stop abruptly at the sight of another one of my best friends (not scheduled to be on this trip as she lives in Austin) sitting at a table with green and gold balloons and a card. After a few moments of initial shock, I just start crying. I read the card – it’s from Matt – and it tells me that I’m about to go on the scavenger hunt of my life! After a jaunt through Baylor and some big hugs from other friends along the way, I am running down the bridge to McLane Stadium to finally jump into Matt’s arms! He proposed to me outside of McLane Stadium and after I said yes, he surprised me still with all our family rushing out to hug us. As you can imagine, I was an absolute puddle on the floor. Best day ever.”



I asked Andrea what she and Matt were most excited about in anticipation for their wedding day, and loved her response. “I am most excited to have the spirit of Christ at our wedding,” she said. “It is truly my desire that every person sitting there with us in that chapel can feel and witness the genuine love of Christ and see that He is good.”




Andrea also has some valuable advice to share with you brides who are prepping for engagement sessions: “Bring a hand towel with you to blot your sweaty face if you decide to take fall photos in August in Texas.” PREACH, GIRL. She continues, “But in all seriousness, I would advise that you do pick clothes that you are comfortable in and feel pretty wearing. That made such a difference for me when posing, knowing that I was wearing something that was flattering and I loved.”

“I can’t emphasize enough without using all caps and half a dozen exclamation marks how much fun we had with Emily. She has a genuine talent for posing and an eye for what will make your photo look like art. She also is so wonderfully personable, she makes you feel so comfortable in front of that camera. I laughed so much during our session and Matt and I had such a great time.”

Andrea and Matt, I LOVED each and every moment at your engagement session sharing life and belly laughs! I can’t wait for your wedding at Ashton Gardens!