Last year at CONNECT, we met Eileen and Phillip, but we didn’t get to spend enough time with them. I ran into them again at the Pursuit 31 conference last October, when they modeled for a styled shoot, and we spent the rest of that evening chatting. This year heading into CONNECT, Danny and I decided to see if they’d like to swap photo shoots with us one evening while we were at the retreat.

Let me just say that the results were totally worth (accidentally) missing dinner that night! The glowy pre-sunset light, the lush spring trees, the quaint architecture at WinShape — everything came together for a beautiful shoot with Eileen and Phillip.

It all happened as we took turns with our cameras: We would shoot them for ten minutes, then put our cameras down and they picked theirs up and would shoot us for ten minutes. I’m not sure which part I liked better: Listening to Phillip and Eileen directing us when we were in front of their cameras (which is a great way for us, as photographers, to learn more about how to do our craft) or gaping at the LCD screen on my camera as I saw the magic we were capturing when it was our turn to shoot.

These two are incredible together!

There are way too many pictures I love from this shoot for me to shout “Favorite!” every time one appears in this blog post . . . so just imagine reading “Favorite!” before each photograph. Especially this one.This courtyard is the kind of place photographers dream of. Seriously.While Danny grabbed Phillip for a few rather GQ-inspired shots, I worked with Eileen. I love her giggle, and I wish I could steal her dimples.Let’s end with a couple more favorites. I love-love-love when you can see how easy a couple are with each other, how much they love each other, in photographs.Eileen and Phillip, thank you for the amazing shoot last week! And we do plan to hold you to your promise to come visit us in Florida!

~ Laura