Outdoor Engagement Photos | Matlin & Joe

As an Arizona wedding photographer, capturing Matlin and Joe’s outdoor engagement photos at Coon Bluff was such a fun experience. Their story began back in third grade, where Joe had a childhood crush on Matlin. I can only imagine the sweetness of that moment when he made his mom drive to her house to deliver a Valentine’s Day card and gift—Matlin still treasures that card today, thanks to her mom.

Their bond as best friends evolved into a romantic relationship in their sophomore year of high school. Despite the challenges of distance during college and Joe’s military deployments, their love endured. They moved in together in 2021, took on a new adventure in Boston in 2022, and celebrated their engagement on Cinco de Mayo the following year. This year, they are marking 14 years together and are eagerly anticipating their Arizona wedding in the fall of 2025.

Matlin and Joe share a love for sports, cooking, and cozy nights reading fantasy books by the fireplace. Their choice to have their outdoor engagement photos and wedding in Arizona stems from their deep affection for the desert air and the serene feeling it brings them, discovered during their travels out west. Their connection to the desert landscape made Coon Bluff along the Salt River the perfect backdrop for their engagement session, capturing the essence of their journey together.