July 20, 2019
Katelyn and I met years ago when she joined our sorority Alpha Omicron Pi. We attended the University of South Florida in Tampa, and I actually photographed her senior photos before becoming a Florida wedding and elopement photographer! After graduating, we followed each other’s lives on social media (as millennials do). Earlier this year I saw her post about her engagement to Mike on FaceBook. I was so excited for them, and had to fight back the urge to comment “PICK ME! PICK ME!” to be her photographer. Imagine my excitement when I opened an email from her asking me about photographing her Sarasota engagement session in Myakka River State Park! And even more recently – her WEDDING!
Katelyn and Mike live on the west coast of Florida, and out of all the Sarasota engagement photo location options, they chose Myakka River State Park! As a Florida elopement photographer who loves traveling to cool locations, I embrace outdoor engagement sessions as the perfect opportunity to have a mini-adventure! First, we climbed over 100 stairs up to the top of the Myakka Canopy Walkway, which lifted us above the park’s canopy to reveal an expansive view of green treetops as far as the eye could see. Then, Katelyn and Mike walked, skipped, and danced in the rain between the roadside and the grasslands and dry prairie. We even pulled out a picnic mat they kept in their trunk so I could photograph them snuggled up in the wet grass.
Katelyn and Mike were especially excited about going to the Birdwalk at Myakka. From the Spanish moss dangling from the trees, to the incredible linear perspective of the boardwalk, and of course the view of the floodplain, the birdwalk was a truly memorable experience. We even saw an alligator far out in the water, so definitely bring binoculars or coins for the observation viewer if you visit here! At sunset we climbed back up to my favorite site, the Canopy Walkway. Golden light filtered through the trees surrounding Katelyn and Mike as they looked out into the setting sun from the suspended bridge. It was a beautiful ending to our mini- adventure!
Let’s photograph your engagement at your favorite park or location unique to your story as a couple!
Celebrate your engagement and wedding with a photoshoot that is totally you!