Fun Adventurous Engagement | Dana + Morgan

Some sessions start with a handshake. This one started with a hug. The beginning of a fun adventurous engagement session!

When we all pulled up at Bartlett Lake and climbed out of our cars, the groom walked right over, introduced himself, and wrapped me in a big hug. Honestly? That’s right up my alley. I’m a hugger. And it told me everything I needed to know about how the evening was going to go with these two.

Dana and Morgan brought the fun from the very first minute and never let up. Fun, adventurous, and a little spontaneous. That’s this Phoenix engagement session in three words.

We started on the desert trails above the lake, surrounded by tall ocotillo, silvery brush, and warm Arizona hillsides. Cream knit sweater, tall suede boots, a backwards cap, and a whole lot of laughing.

These two didn’t need much direction at all. One quick prompt and they were squeezing each other, cracking each other up, and completely forgetting I was there. That’s exactly what I want.

And that pear-shaped ring tucked between the desert stems and yellow wildflowers? I couldn’t stop staring.

Okay. Here’s the part everyone wants to hear about.

Halfway down the trail, a tarantula strolled right across our path. The bride had never seen one in her entire life. Not once! Most people would take a few big steps back. Not her. She insisted on a photo with it!!

So there she is, crouched down on the trail, hands out, grinning ear to ear at a very unbothered spider.

The next morning I got a text from her: “I still can’t believe we saw a tarantula.”

Me neither. That’s Arizona for you. You never know who’s going to show up to your session.

For the second look, they switched into a deep green velvet halter dress and a chambray button-up with jeans. And then they did the thing I love most… they walked right into Bartlett Lake. Jeans, dress, all of it.

There was dancing in the water, a carry through the shallows, and so much laughing. If you’ve ever worried you’ll feel stiff or awkward in front of the camera, this is your proof that it doesn’t have to go that way. The best images come from couples who are willing to play, and Dana and Morgan were all in.

Then the sky did its thing. Oranges, pinks, blues, and purples, all reflecting off the water at once. We stayed right there in the lake while the colors kept shifting, and I kept shooting.

That silhouette kiss with the whole sky mirrored below them? That’s the one.

The bride said the tarantula and the sunset were the highlights of her session. I’d have to agree.

If you’re planning an Arizona engagement session and want something that feels a little wild, Bartlett Lake is a great pick. You get desert and water in one spot, which means two completely different looks without driving across town. It’s a scenic drive northeast of Phoenix and Scottsdale, and at golden hour the mountains glow right behind the water.

Just plan for a little dirt, maybe a little lake water, and possibly a tarantula. 

Dana and Morgan, thank you for being up for anything.  A fun adventurous engagement session was an understatement. I’m so excited for what’s ahead for you two!

 

The Vendors:

• Phoenix Wedding Photographer: Leslie Ann Photo + Video