Augie and Ryan's Fall Engagement Session | Mill Creek Park | Youngstown, Ohio

This year has been a whirlwind to say the least. While Augie and Ryan’s “engagement session” was the first time I did “engagement” pictures after a couple got married, I wouldn’t say I’m shocked in any way (thanks 2020). These two were originally planning an October 2020 wedding but decided to push it back to 2021. With that, we pushed their engagement photos back and actually shot them the week of their original wedding date. Prior to our session, Augie and Ryan decided that they were going to get married in an intimate ceremony in Ryan’s parent’s backyard surrounded by the people who are closest to them. Any couple who takes this route - I applaud you one million percent! Marriage is about the love after all; the party is an added bonus. And there will always be a time in the future for the big celebration, but for now, in a time where minimalism has taken the reigns in many people’s lives during this pandemic, an intimate ceremony with a handful of people is *CHEFS KISS* perfect….

Renee and Jason's Fall Wedding at St. Christine Roman Catholic Church and the Avalon Inn in Warren, Ohio

My last wedding of this year was certainly a memorable one. No, not because it poured down rain ALL DAY LONG. It’s because of Renee and Jason. It’s because of the incredible people that surrounded them on their wedding day. The outpouring of love for this couple was bursting at the seams on this rainy day, and rightfully so. These two bring so much joy and fun wherever they go. Honestly, there’s probably no one I would rather dance through puddles with than these two!…

Meaghan and Jon's Fall Engagement Session at Lake Newport Wetlands in Mill Creek Park in Youngstown, Ohio

It’s true that I shortened my name to Mae partially in hopes that people would spell it correctly. No one could ever spell my name right for as long as I can remember. When I met Meaghan, I thought to myself, FINALLY! Someone who knows how I feel! Needless to say, I liked her right away because of that, but then got to know her and Jon at their engagement session and seriously felt like I was hanging out with old friends. They’re dog lovers like me and brought along their sweet basset hound puppy, Nellie. I was in complete heaven! They also took me to a location in Mill Creek Park near Lake Newport in Youngstown, Ohio that I’ve never before, and I’m completely over the moon in love with this area….

Shelby and Tyler's Winter Engagement Session at the Cinderella Bridge and Lanterman's Mill in Mill Creek Park in Youngstown, Ohio

You guys, 2018 was great on so many levels. Although I ended the year completely exhausted, my heart was so full with gratitude! I shot my record high number of weddings, got to become friends with seriously the coolest, most fun couples and even had the opportunity to live out a dream - travel to a beautiful place to photograph a wedding, which I was so lucky to go to Bar Harbor, Maine in September.

I rang in the new year wondering where 2019 would take me and how I would even begin to top last year. And then I photographed Shelby and Tyler’s engagement session…