Not every session goes according to plan. And Molly and Drew’s picnic engagement photos at Sky Meadows State Park are the perfect example of how something unexpected can still turn out beautifully. When we first talked about locations, they had a clear vision – golden hour light, open meadows, and a romantic, peaceful atmosphere. Sky Meadows seemed like a great fit. I did my homework, gathered inspiration, asked around for tips, and even arrived early to scout things out. What I didn’t expect? Fences and electric wires across the fields, a herd of very curious cows, and an overcast sky threatening rain all evening.

Despite all that, this session turned out to be one of the most dreamy and romantic shoots I’ve ever photographed! And a huge part of that was thanks to Molly and Drew’s positive energy and trust.

Picnic Engagement Photos and a Perfectly Styled Couple

Molly and Drew came prepared with the sweetest setup for their picnic engagement photos. They brought a beautiful bouquet of pink and white flowers. Even more, they laid out a cozy little picnic scene in one of the open spaces. It added such a romantic and elevated touch to the session. Molly wore the loveliest white dress that felt both modest and feminine. The way it moved gave so much softness and grace to each image.

While the fields weren’t exactly the golden meadows we envisioned (thanks, cows!), we found creative ways to work around the electric wires and unexpected background elements. I reassured them that I could edit distractions out of the final gallery. With a little compositional magic and some editing help, we made it work seamlessly. And as luck would have it, the cows mooooo-ved off eventually, leaving us in peace to focus on what mattered – capturing Molly and Drew’s love.

A Rainbow Ending for Sky Meadows State Park Engagement

Just as we were wrapping up the session, a few raindrops started to fall. But instead of dampening the mood, it added a little adventure and intimacy to the moment. As we walked back to our cars, we spotted a partial rainbow stretching overhead. Of course, we had to pause for a few last portraits with it glowing in the background! It was the perfect, serendipitous ending to a session that reminded me that magic can happen even when plans change.

Molly and Drew’s picnic engagement photos turned out to be such a beautiful reminder of why I love what I do. As a photographer, it’s so rewarding to transform unexpected circumstances into something truly special!

Molly and Drew will be getting married in December in a Catholic wedding ceremony in Bethesda. Then, a reception at the bucket list-worthy Line Hotel in DC which I am so stoked about! It will also be my first time getting to work with the DC-area wedding planning/coordination team with White Lily Weddings, a fellow Catholic wedding vendor. Knowing that we’re going into a wedding day with a solid wedding coordinator on hand, a gorgeous venue, and a beautiful couple is the best and I can’t wait for their big day to be here! (Update: you can view their absolutely amazing wedding day on the blog here!)