You might remember today’s featured couple (or maybe not since the photo we featured was more of their loving embrace than their beautiful faces) from a recent Saturday Snapshot. The wonderful and talented Stacey Ramsey contacted me about a week or so after the Snapshot, submitting the full engagement session for feature!! I was so excited because I loved this shoot so much that I jumped at the opportunity!! I love the lighting, the romantic feel, the woodsy environment, the beautiful and happy couple… you’ll see, you’ll love them too!

Josh and Michelle grew up in beautiful Dana Point, CA. They attended the same junior high and high school but never met. Josh then went on to USC to study Economics and Michelle to Pepperdine to study Advertising. It wasn’t until one night at a local piano bar called “The Derby” that Michelle (who was actually on a date with another guy) laid eyes on Josh from across the room.

Convinced that she knew him, Michelle made her way over to say hi when her date stepped outside. After they exchanged greetings, Michelle asked him how they might know each other. As soon as he said the words Dana Hills and that he had an identical twin brother, she knew. Before the night was over, Josh had asked for her number.

He called her the very next day to invite her out, but Michelle already had plans. Later that week, the two got together and headed to Knott’s Scary Farm for their first date. Michelle remembers Josh being super cuddly and always wanting to hold her hand. It was a great night (aside from Josh randomly getting egged in the parking lot) and the best first date either of them had been on.

Three months into dating, Josh and Michelle knew they were in love. He told her so on their way home from a USC football game. And in May 2010, Michelle realized she had found the one in Josh. He’d had surgery on his foot and due to a complication had to stay in the hospital for a week. Michelle was by his side every day. The thought of not having him in her life made her sick and she realized then that she wanted to be with him forever. Josh felt the same way, and soon after he was released from the hospital their relationship took a turn for the better.

It was Michelle’s 30th birthday and Josh had planned an amazing masquerade birthday party for her. He’d originally thought of proposing at the party but decided to wait to do it on their mini vacation to Hearst Castle. But he happened to pick up the ring the same weekend Michelle was headed into Vegas with girlfriends. Nervous about spending the entire weekend holding onto the ring and being able to keep it a secret from her, Josh changed his plans.

The second she walked in the door, Michelle knew something was amiss. Josh had a strange, nervous look in his eye that she’d never seen before. Sitting down at the table, Michelle asked what was going on. Josh began to go on and on about their relationship and where he saw it going. Michelle began to wonder if he was leading up to a break up when he turned the tables on her by getting down on one knee and asking her to be his wife. Without hesitation, Michelle said yes!!!

{Behind the Lens with Stacey Ramsey} First, I should say, I shoot with my wonderfully talented husband, Tyler, who is also the co-owner of the fabulous brand Idylle Clothing. This is actually how we started out, doing everything we could “in-house” like shooting our fashion lookbooks ourselves.

The fashion background has set the foundation for what we like to achieve in each of our shoots. Our goal is to deliberately craft images that produce fine art, romantic, soft, emotively idealized images. Some say they have a hint of an editorial/fashion catalog vibe. I would say our method is 90% documentary, as well as about 10% inserting ourselves into the situation by directing and/or prompting. Outright posing is something we typically do not do because we feel that many times the couple appears uneasy or uncomfortable. We strive for natural, soft emotion that is as genuine as the love of the couple. We spend a great deal of time with our clients on a typical e-shoot, mostly to enable our clients to get comfortable in front of the camera, encouraging their “true” selves to shine through the images by the end of the shoot. Meanwhile, the extra time gives us a chance to get to know the couple on a more intimate level, providing a level of comfort for the bride and her groom — a level of security and trust in us when they walk away from the shoot.

How much do I love this shoot? So much. I can’t thank Stacey Ramsey enough for sending Josh and Michelle’s love story and full engagement shoot our way! It was such an honor and a joy to feature such a pretty, romantic shoot full of love! Thank you also to Michelle and Josh for sharing their love story with us! So much love and luck to you both! P.S. I’m completely in love with your ruffled dress! It’s fabulous!!! xoxo