When I Knew They Were My Kind of People
Last week I met Bailey and Zach for their engagement session at McGraw Memorial Park in Bailey, and before we had even started taking photos, I already knew these were my people.
You know when you meet someone for the first time but somehow it feels like you've known them for years? That was them.
Within minutes we were laughing, talking, and carrying on like cousins at a family reunion instead of photographer and clients meeting for an engagement session.
And then somehow, in the first few minutes of conversation, we discovered something absolutely hysterical.
Bailey is a chef for schools.
I am a culinary school dropout.
Bailey also has a degree in photography.
I am the photographer.
So basically our lives looked like some sort of Freaky Friday switch-up happened years ago and nobody told us.
We just looked at each other and immediately started laughing because somehow our lives had done this weird little flip-a-roo where we had accidentally landed in each other's lanes.
Instant bonding.
Instant friendship.
By that point I knew this was not going to be a quiet, serious engagement session.
Golden Light, Rushing Water, and Mountain Magic
As we wandered through the historic park, crossed the bridge, and listened to the rushing water below us, the entire evening felt like a scene out of a movie.
Golden evening light filtered through the trees and wrapped around everything in that dreamy warm glow photographers spend their entire lives chasing.
The mountains stood quietly in the background while the river moved below us, and everything just felt peaceful.
One of my favorite things about shooting at parks and outdoor locations is that life is still happening all around you.
People are walking.
Families are playing.
Kids are running around.
Everyone is just enjoying the day.
As photographers, we become little ninjas trying to work around the world instead of interrupting it.
So there were a few guys on the bridge playing some sort of bowling-type game while we were shooting. I was directing Bailey and Zach in ways that would keep everyone comfortable and make sure we weren't disturbing people trying to enjoy the park.
Meanwhile Zach had a completely different strategy.
Zach Can Make Friends With Literally Anyone
While I was over there doing photographer things and trying to work around the crowd, Zach casually wandered over to the guys on the bridge.
Within approximately thirty seconds he had apparently made new best friends.
Then, in the most polite but completely hysterical way possible, he pretty much told them:
"Listen guys... I hate to be that guy, but I really don't want you becoming permanent residents on my wall in the background of our engagement photos."
Or something along those lines.
I was laughing so hard.
Because somehow he said it in a way that was funny and kind and had everyone cracking up.
And the best part?
They moved.
No weirdness.
No awkwardness.
Just Zach somehow magically making friends with complete strangers and convincing them to relocate with the power of humor.
Honestly, I think he could become friends with a rock if given enough time.
Bailey Is Basically a Disney Princess
And Bailey?
Oh my goodness.
She genuinely looked like she stepped right out of a fairytale.
She has porcelain skin, these stunning bright blue eyes that somehow manage to be soft and expressive all at the same time, and the kind of hair women would absolutely love to have.
Super tight curls.
Perfect spirals.
Bouncy and full and beautiful.
The funniest part is that her curls reminded me so much of my daughter Sloane's hair.
The same gorgeous springy curls that seem to have a personality of their own.
Every single time I looked through the camera at her, I kept getting goosebumps because she photographs beautifully from every angle.
But even that wasn't my favorite thing about her.
My favorite thing was watching her look at Zach.
Because when she looked at him, you could see everything.
Love.
Comfort.
Trust.
Joy.
It wasn't posed.
It wasn't forced.
It just poured out naturally..
Opposites That Fit Together Perfectly
Then you have Zach.
Loud.
Funny.
Works with his hands.
Gets dirty.
Says exactly what's on his mind.
The kind of guy that jumps in and figures things out.
The kind of guy who makes people laugh without even trying.
And somehow those two fit together perfectly.
Bailey has this sweet, calm, gentle presence that makes people instantly feel comfortable.
And Zach brings this big, hilarious, energetic personality that fills up every room around him.
They're complete opposites in some ways.
But they're the kind of opposites that make complete sense.
Like puzzle pieces.
Like sunshine and rain.
Like they were designed specifically for each other.
Because when you watch them together, you don't just see two people in love.
You see two people who genuinely make each other better.
The Best Photos Happened Between the Poses
I cannot even tell you how many times I had to reset poses because we kept breaking into laughter.
I'd get them set up.
I'd tell them exactly where to stand.
Everything would be perfect.
And then Zach would say something ridiculous.
Bailey would lose it.
I'd lose it.
Everybody would lose it.
Then I'd have to say:
"Okay, okay, okay... one more time."
Over and over again.
But honestly?
Those became my favorite moments.
Not the perfectly posed photos.
Not the serious photos.
The real moments.
Because those in-between moments are where the magic actually lives.
I Already Can't Wait For Their Wedding Day
As I drove home after their engagement session, I kept thinking the same thing:
I cannot wait for their wedding.
I cannot wait to watch Bailey walk toward Zach.
I cannot wait to capture another chapter of their story.
Because if their engagement session was this much fun, I already know their wedding day is going to be incredible.
And selfishly?
I already can't wait to laugh with them again.
Looking for a Colorado Wedding Photographer?
Whether you're planning a Colorado mountain wedding, an intimate elopement, or an engagement session filled with genuine moments and real laughter, I want to help tell your story in a way that feels true to you.
Because the best photos aren't the perfectly posed ones.
They're the ones that feel like you. ❤️
