Nothing about Jenny and Nathan’s engagement session in Virginia, Illinois at his family’s cattle farm was boring! When I arrived this bustling working farm had trucks and tractors out spraying their crops and baling hay, while the cows were curious about what we were there to do! Jenny and Nathan’s e-session had been a long time coming and at times seemed like the universe was keeping me from getting them in front of my lens. First Coronavirus and the Illinois Stay at Home Order forced us to reschedule. Followed by two more date changes due to all the spring rainstorms. FINALLY last week I met up with Jenny and Nathan at the Ring Farm and I couldn’t be more thrilled! Yet, I knew we would make it happen and it would be magical only because our opportunity to work together seemed like it was meant to be.

Jenny and Nathan have both grown up on farms so this lifestyle is in their DNA and they wouldn’t change it for the world! Jenny works for the Illinois Pork Producers Association and Nathan sells farm equipment and farms with his family. This amazing couple has been together for over eight years and I love how much they find joy just being in one another’s arms! Jenny is also a fellow photographer and I am incredibly honored she has chosen me to capture her biggest moments! Photographing another photographer always carries a bit of weight as you want to do a stellar job for them! Jenny has given me the best gift she could. Trust. And I’m so grateful! Nathan is not your average groom either. He was so open to the idea of photos (I think because he understands how happy it would make his fiancé, the photographer), yet he was excited to be there spending all this time with Jenny!

The historical farm we began at holds so much meaning to Jenny and Nathan. Up in the loft is where Nathan held up a huge sign saying, “Will You Marry Me” to propose to Jenny a short time ago! And when I asked them if they wanted to get up in the loft I barely got the words out before Jenny was scrambling up the ladder in her beautiful maroon dress! I told you she was a country girl at heart! The one main vision Jenny had was photos with the cows peeking out behind them and Nathan worked his magic to make it happen, calling the cows out from behind the barn with, “Come on, girls! Let’s go girls!” So sweet and I couldn’t believe how close the curious cows came to them! It was so fun to see! These two also have plans to get married right in the same pasture overlooking the pond! It’s really a gorgeous spot and I’m so excited to be a part of their day!

Before heading over to another family friend’s farm, we made a stop on the square of Virginia for a different look with these two! The ivy-covered brick building was a simple change of scenery and gave Jenny and Nathan another dimension to their session. But, we couldn’t stay long, or else Nathan could get stuck talking to any one of the million people he knows in town! Once we got to the other farm and after a quick outfit change, Jenny and Nathan were more in their casual element. There are so many wonderful photos of these two it was even hard for ME to choose!

Right before sunset, a few clouds had started to roll in and we were afraid it would ruin any chance of a beautiful sunset for these two. However, we kept the faith and kept on moving as we returned to Nathan’s family farm and they hopped back into their more formal outfit! Nathan told me he was super impressed that I had somehow got him into his pasture with a sport coat on! Too funny! But, as we went along capturing more AMAZING photos of this adorable couple, Nathan began understanding how worth getting dressed up would be in making their photos EPIC! And to all our surprise, as the sun was dropping towards the horizon it because producing beautiful pink and orange light bouncing off the clouds! It was the perfect way to end our time together!

Jenny and Nathan are so genuine, kind, and delightful! I adored spending a gorgeous summer evening with them (and the cows) and cannot wait to bare witness to them tying the knot!

Warm Regards,

We headed to the town square in Virginia, Illinois for a different look!

One of my faves!

Nathan’s last name, Ring, is kinda perfect…Right?!

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