About a year ago, Michael contacted me on Facebook to see if he could purchase a photo session for a friend. He gifted this session to Shanna for Mother’s Day so she could have professional portraits made with her daughter, Abella. I photographed Shanna and Abella in Prattville a few months later and had the best time!

Shortly after Michael proposed this year, Shanna contacted me about photographing their wedding! I was so excited for their engagement and honored that they chose me to photograph their wedding.

We decided to do their engagement session at the Buena Vista Mansion in Prattville, which is where they will say, “I Do,” under the oak tree later this year. This historic antebellum home is filled with character and seems to fit perfectly with Shanna and Michael’s love story. We explored the grounds and found all kinds of wonderful spots for photos. It was a hot day already, but that Alabama humidity really took it up a notch. Even with the uncomfortable heat, Michael said at the end of the session that he enjoyed taking pictures. I believe it is necessary to mention every single time a male says he enjoyed taking pictures because so many men think it is absolute torture. With 11 years of experience posing people and dealing with men who hate taking pictures (i.e. my husband and my brothers), I do everything I can to make it as easy as possible! (Although I will add that my husband doesn’t hate it anymore! Finally got him on my side haha!).

Shanna and Michael, thank you for braving the crazy July heat to do your engagement session with me! I had so much fun getting to know both of you as a couple and I’m even more excited for your wedding in October!