They’re the kind of couple who don’t have to convince you they’re in love. The kind that whispers jokes in each other’s ears. The kind that speaks their own shared language, that walks side by side with their hands tucked in each other’s back pockets. The kind that makes me so glad I’m lucky enough to be in love, too.

Amber and Daniel met in high school, when they both ran cross country — but Amber was a year younger, and Daniel was otherwise occupied. But that didn’t stop a schoolgirl crush — and so, according to Daniel’s mother, Amber took it upon herself to practice her photography skills by shooting the boys’ soccer team practices. She wound up — surprise-surprise — with lots and lots of pictures of Daniel. Fast forward to college, when they were studying at opposite ends of the state and reconnected on Facebook. They realized Amber’s high school crush had turned into a shared interest, so then, in an effort to find out whether they would work as a couple, Daniel bought Amber a plane ticket to visit him in Tallahassee . . . but he soon followed her back to South Florida. They haven’t looked back ever since.

At this point, they’re living in near Tallahassee in teeny tiny Monticello, Florida — and they’re only three months away from their March wedding at Honey Lake Plantation Resort & Spa. If their incredible engagement session is any indication, their wedding is going to be fabulous. But you can decide that for yourself. I knew it was going to be a great shoot when the bride showed up to chauffeur us around Honey Lake Plantation — where she works, and where she’s getting married — in this. She said they refer to it as “The Bentley.” I have my fingers crossed that we get to put it to great use on their wedding day!
Amber took us just up the road to where Danny and I had spotted the most beautiful tree canopy, with Honey Lake sparkling behind clusters of cypress trees. We sent Amber and Daniel walking down the road as Danny and I got our camera settings ready — and to snap some shots of them when they weren’t having to pose for the cameras, something we always like to do to help a couple get warmed up as we ease into our photo shoot. What happened next? Only an entire afternoon and evening filled with dozens of my favorite pictures ever.
It took us about two minutes to decide we loved Amber and Daniel. Partly because of how much they clearly love each other. Partly because they’re just nice, fun people. Partly because they brought us to a place as amazing as Honey Lake Plantation.
One minute I’m thinking that laugh-out-loud shots, like the one above, are my favorites. The next moment, I’m looking at “we’re-just-so-happy!” couple portraits, like the one below, and I really can’t make up my mind. It’s a serious dilemma.
When we left the cypress boardwalk and came out into a field, we found the most beautiful backdrop, and the most beautiful light. The pictures we got in that field were pure magic. I don’t think I can adequately describe how thrilled I am with these next four pictures of this pair, all of which Danny took.
See what I mean? Amber and Daniel, you two created a big problem for yourselves with your engagement session: You looked so good that every picture is worth putting in a frame. I hope you’ve got a lot of empty wall space!
I could have stayed in that one field all afternoon and been happy as a bear that found a beehive, but we had other places to go before the sun set — and somewhere to be afterward, too. But more on that later.
 Amber wanted to head over to the other side of Honey Lake, where a sprawling oak stretched its limbs low enough to provide an easy climb and a comfortable seat. But on our way we found another meadow. I yelled, “Stop!” and Amber hit the Bentley’s breaks. We got out, waded into the weeds, and captured a few more pictures that made my day all over again.
And then, the tree. Ferns everywhere, and a wide, gently sloped branch for a seat. All it was missing were armrests and a throw blanket.
The fern growing on the oak tree provided the perfect backdrop for Amber’s engagement ring. Two of the stones came from Daniel’s grandmothers’ rings; the third stone he bought to complete the set. It came together gorgeously.
Once we finished up by the oak tree, we hopped into our cars and made the 15 minute drive to Daniel’s parents’ house (with a quick outfit change for Amber and Daniel along the way). Their next-door neighbor had volunteered a hay field for the second phase of our engagement session, much to my delight. If I liked the light back at Honey Lake Plantation, I was absolutely in love in the hay field.
I love hay. I love the smell of it, because it’s clean and fresh and makes me think of horses. I love the color of it, especially in sunset light. I love the feel of it, the stubbly ends, the smooth sides. And I love photographing hay bales as a prop or a background, with its rich texture — and the way this bale let me play peek-a-boo with Amber and Daniel during their engagement shoot. It was almost like playing paparazzi and spying on their quiet moment of solitude. Except, unlike a paparazzo, I didn’t interrupt.
Remember what I said earlier about the sunlight? Multiply it by about 100. This picture gives me goosebumps — it’s as if they’re literally glowing with love.
By now you’ve surely realized that Amber and Daniel are a fun couple. But one look at the picture below will convince you, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that Daniel is one lucky man.
One look at the next picture should tell you that no one needs to feel sorry for Amber, either.
Nope, nobody needs to feel sorry for either of them. They’re a pretty happy pair.
We simply had to take pictures with the John Deere tractor in the middle of the field — partly just because it was fun, partly because Amber has a picture of herself and her sister on a John Deere when they were tiny girls. I love it! Especially when Daniel started tickling Amber and she almost fell out of the wheel.
From the tractor, we headed over to the edge of the field, where the trees looked like they were absolutely ablaze — a not-too-common sight in Florida! It was two weeks until Christmas, but this North Florida field looked like New Hampshire in high autumn foliage.
Oooooh that girl! While Daniel ran off to the car to get something, Danny and I took a few more portraits of Amber. If she looks like this for her engagement portraits, can you even imagine how gorgeous she’s going to be as a bride?! And PS: She did her hair (and those eyelashes!) by herself. Heaven help me if I ever have to do either of those things for myself.
Daniel came back with the ingenious save-the-date sign they had made for their save-the-date photos. Since Daniel considers himself (and his father) a bit of a pyromaniac, it was only fitting that he burn the edges of the paper away to make a unique design. They wanted to clip the paper to one of the tree branches, since clothespins will play a role in their wedding decor. And it took about fifty tries, but I think we got just the right save-the-date picture!
As darkness fell, we headed across the street to Daniel’s parents’ back yard (behind their hundred-year-old “haunted” house), where his father had gotten a campfire going for the last part of the engagement shoot. When Amber and I had talked about having a fire, I’d envisioned a petite little cluster of burning sticks. But this was a real fire — perfect for roasting s’mores. Perfect for getting a few last pictures that showcased something Amber and Daniel both love: Sitting around a camp fire and just enjoying a beautiful evening, and beautiful company.
Looking back on Amber and Daniel’s engagement session — and looking at the pictures that came out of it — I can’t wait for their wedding! I’m sure they can’t wait for their wedding just a teensy bit more than I can’t wait for their wedding, but really, March 24th can’t get here fast enough as far as I’m concerned! They were so easy to work with, so up for anything — and such a great example of love, the kind of love that makes your heart feel all warm and fuzzy. And they’re the kind of people Danny and I would love spending time with, even when we aren’t photographing them (and we did; they took us to dinner afterward, where we all enjoyed good conversation and I enjoyed some really good fajitas).

Amber and Daniel, thank you for having us spend such a lovely afternoon with you, and thank you for trusting us to capture the memories you want to always hold onto, from your everyday relationship, and from your upcoming wedding. Danny and I couldn’t be happier for you both!

~ Laura