I know I’ve said it before, but I’m going to say it again…. I think it’s SO important to be able to laugh. Lately I’ve been noticing the dynamic between couples, both newly married, and couples who’ve been married for years. Everyone has their quirks and bits with their romantic partners, but there are some that have that “special something” that seems to bond them together  more than the average couple. As they walk, he says something to poke fun at her. She kind of rolls her eyes with a knowing smirk on her face because she knew what he was going to say before he said it… and comes back with an equally sassy comeback. They both enjoy a good laugh over it, silently holding each other close. Andrew and Lindsay are that couple. She’s sweet, and quietly witty… and he’s got the hearty laugh that makes her smile. He’s a doctor in Loma Linda who moved here from Australia… and he’s an Aussie to the core. She’s studying to be a Marriage and Family Therapist and has a passion for teaching people how to love better. Together they’re Andrew and Lindsay…. that couple everyone’s jealous of because they love each other like they’ve been together for years.

And on their engagement shoot a few weeks ago, we laughed, they told stories, we talked about their dreams and passions…. and we took some sweet pictures to document their love. Here are some of my favorites from the evening at Casper’s Wilderness Park….

Andrew and Lindsay, I hope you feel each others’ love in these photos…. and years from now, as you look back, remember how you were “back then” and how far you’ve come. Keep loving each other.

Megan grew up in San Clemente doing all the things a Socal girl loves…. cross country, swimming, and lifeguarding. Growing up in sunshine and surrounded by beaches… seriously, what could be better? (says yet another product of Southern California lifestyle) She continued on from her San Clemente lifestyle to pursue higher education at some big time San Diego colleges and emerged with a Doctorate in Audiology. She’s smart….. and pretty…. a killer combo, if you ask me.

Brian grew up just a stone’s throw away from San Clemente, in Upland. Surrounded by a very close knit group of friends and family, he enjoyed playing football like any normal kid. He continued on in his own adventure of higher learning at University of La Verne, graduated with a computer science degree, and now works for an airline entertainment engineering company. Just a normal guy who happened to be smart, good looking, and ambitious.

The comfortable normalcy of Brian’s life, however, didn’t last long. Shortly after his graduation, Brian was rushed to the hospital after experiencing random paralysis on his way to work. Doctor’s found an underdeveloped cluster of blood vessels in his brain that had caused the paralysis. After lots of physical therapy and determination, Brian recovered completely. And although he still had some facial droop and difficulty speaking from the accident, he was close to normal again.

Sometime afterwards, Brian and Megan, still in different places in their lives, both joined eHarmony in their search for that special someone to share life with. Their chats were intriguing, and both Megan and Brian felt themselves falling for each other. After two years, and another “bleed”, the time and love they built into each other came to fruition with a proposal… and an excited “YES!”

I love how their individual stories have intertwined and made their relationship story so strong. Brian loves Megan SO MUCH… and Megan just thinks Brian is “the bee’s knees.” And on their engagement shoot a few weeks ago, I couldn’t help but smile at how sweet they are with each other.

Jonathan and Marsha met on an online dating site and I’m REAL impressed at how perfect they are for each other. She’s sweet and incredibly encouraging, and he’s quietly intelligent with a strength of character that peeks out now and again in conversation. Both love the Lord with all their heart and their relationship is built strong on the rock of that love. Here’s just a snapshot of how amazing these two are…. After taking a few shots at the beginning of their engagement shoot, Jonathan quietly suggests we “pray for the pictures”, and at his suggestion, Marsha excitedly exclaims, “oohh! What a great idea! Yes! Let’s pray for our pictures!” So we circled up, and Jonathan offered a prayer of thanks for such a beautiful evening for photos, and he prayed for a time with me that would glorify God’s name. Marsha chimed in and prayed for me to be able to see them how God sees their love, and that I would be able to document their love in a way that touches hearts. We ended the prayer and continued shooting…. and I left that evening feeling refreshed, completely blessed, and full. It’s not often I meet people like Marsha and Jonathan, and it’s even less often that I get to spend an afternoon chatting, shooting, and getting to know “them.” I pray for more times like that afternoon shoot, and I’m so thankful I’ve had the opportunity to document their love. Here’s my favorites from the evening at Casper’s Wilderness Park and Laguna Beach….

Marsha and Jonathan,

You two are beyond cute together and I’m so excited to shoot your wedding in a few weeks!

Across the Young Life room, he saw her. She didn’t even notice. He tried to be funny… she still didn’t notice. He persisted…. and months later…. she went on a date with him and was pleasantly surprised to find out he wasn’t who she thought he was. Their friendship continued and blossomed into a romance…. and then he asked her to marry him. After all his hard work, he got the girl of his dreams to give a resounding “yes!” and she couldn’t be happier. Joe and Rachel have such a fun and carefree love, and I had such a blast spending time with them up in Sacramento shooting their engagement photos! Here’s my favorites from our afternoon of adventuring…