What do you get when you mix late afternoon sun, a couple with country flair, and some retired show cattle? This engagement session. And let me tell you, the images do not disappoint! The cowhide rug and plenty of western jewelry were the cherry on top.
Lindsey + Dylan’s Engagement Session in Brookings, South Dakota
The perfect pasture with meaning behind it.
Before this session, I hadn’t been to Brookings. It was a name on a sign that I’d passed many times on the highway, but my photography journey hadn’t taken me there yet. That being said, I was more than thrilled when Lindsey came to me with a couple of suggestions for location.
The first was South Dakota State University (which has some beautiful backdrops). The second was a pasture where she keeps her retired show cattle. We went with the latter and at the end of the session, Lindsey said she was glad we went with this location because the photos would be easier to style in their home.
The best time of day for an engagement session.
The beautiful time of day.
Lindsey and Dylan’s session took place a couple of hours before sunset because my second shooter and I still had to travel another three hours for a wedding the next morning. Why do I mention this? To show you that lighting magic doesn’t just happen during golden hour.
What time should you schedule your engagement session for?
As long as the sun isn’t directly overhead, your photos will turn out just fine! I promise. I suggest starting your session within 3 hours of sunrise or sunset. This makes sure the sun is low enough in the sky in either direction to prevent harsh shadows under the eyes. But of course, the closer you get to sunset, the better. (I use this site to determine when sunset is.)
Why it doesn’t matter if you don’t think you’re photogenic:
All of my sessions this year have started out the same: “We’re not very photogenic.” The same went for Lindsey and Dylan, but let me tell you: they’re photogenic.
Taking photos or selfies on your phone is way different than having a professional behind a camera. We know how to get the best angles no matter what your body shape is or whether you prefer your left side over your right side—which if you do have a preferred side, please let us know at the start of your session.
You may think you’re not photogenic (I’m not either when it comes to selfies), but when you show up to a Beneath The Spruce photo session, there’s a trained professional behind the camera who will make sure you look and feel great. We’ll make magic happen!
Communication is key.
As I mentioned up there ↑, if you have a preferred side, communicate that to your photographer. The same goes for if you’re self conscious about an area on your body. Let your photographer know beforehand (over email, text, or even right before your session starts).
Be gentle with yourself.
At the end of the day, be gentle with yourself. It’s instinctual to look at yourself in a photo and notice every “flaw,” but this shouldn’t be the case. We’re all beautiful creations designed by God.
The Show Cattle Stop By.
Oh, Betty.
Lindsey chose to have their engagement session in a pasture where she keeps her retired show heifers. She told us about a few of them that she used to show and a few others that she bottle fed as calves. Dylan was given the task of carrying a five-gallon bucket of corn across the field to bribe them into being in the background of the pictures. It worked well!
Betty, however, was only in it for the corn! As soon as that was gone, she was too. Lindsey tried to get her to pose for a picture with her, but the heifer had other things in mind. We were able to snag a quick picture of Betty as she wandered away.
South Dakota Engagement Photographer
I’m so grateful that I had the chance to meet and photograph Lindsey and Dylan as we get ready for their wedding later this year (which is going to be a party by the way!!).
If you have a South Dakota wedding coming up, I’d love to photograph your wedding and engagement (which is included with all my wedding photography collections *wink, wink). I would love to chat with you about your vision, so reach out here and let’s get this party started!
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