I met Lilly + Garrett for their engagement session at a private residence just north of Baton Rouge in St. Francisville. Having the opportunity to work at stunning old homes like this, especially when the grounds are so beautiful, is such a treat!

This property had handfuls of stately oaks which made for the perfect backdrop for our photos. They have a hauntingly beautiful and vintage feel, and the oak trees add such dimension to their photos!

Engagement photos that feel like home

When Lilly first inquired with me about working together for her wedding, she said something along the lines that my photos felt like something you’d find in your grandmothers house. I took that to be the best compliment, and that’s truly what I strive for in my work – photos that feel like home. I want you to have images that you’ll cherish for decades, and images that your future family members will cling to.

Including your dog in your engagement photos

When we were planning for their engagement session just north of Baton Rouge, Lilly + Garrett asked if they could bring their dog Cooper to the session. As a dog mom myself, this was an instant yes! Cooper was the star of the show, and clearly loved being photographed.

What worked so well with having Cooper here at this engagement session was that there was safe space for him to run around without risk of getting hurt. My biggest recommendation for couples who want to include their dogs in their engagement photos is to know how your dog reacts to being in spaces that aren’t home, and have a plan for how you’ll keep them entertained!

I’d also recommend choosing a location that is safe and fun for your dog. While it’s not impossible, having a session with a dog in high traffic areas like the French Quarter may be more difficult than larger parks or at a private residence like this. If you are thinking of including your dog in your engagement session, lets chat to make sure we have a good plan!

Lastly, if you’re only wanting to have your dog in some photos, bringing a friend to help handle them is a great idea!

Vintage Wedding Photos in Baton Rouge

Lilly and Garrett are drawn to both classic but also vintage images, which I believe their engagement photos embodied perfectly. Their wedding will be at the Baton Rouge Country Club in the fall, and I cannot wait to create more images with them and for them on their wedding day!

When I work with couples who value both the classic and creative images that I provide, it really gives me the freedom and confidence to get creative during their session! I love being able to provide couples with not only the classic, timeless photos, but also photos that are more intriguing and creative. They also happen to be a lot of black and white images!

Springtime Engagement Photos in Baton Rouge

One major highlight of this session was that the azaleas where in full bloom! They are so bold and bright, and complimented the pink undertones in Lilly’s dress perfectly.

We had enough time during our session together for an outfit change too! That is another perk of shooting at a private residence – you have so much flexibility, and a bathroom! Lilly changed into a very cute green puffy sleeve dress for the remainder of our engagement photos.

Interested in seeing more intimate engagement sessions like this? Check out this springtime engagement session and Fontainebleau State Park!