I first met Brooke & David when Brooke interned at the church I attend and we quickly hit it off and became good friends. These two are some of the most genuine, fun people I know and getting to know them over the past few years has been an absolute privilege. As I was choosing images for this post, I started looking back at other photos from the adventures we’ve had together and realized that once I photograph the wedding this coming summer, I’ll have done sessions with Brooke & David in every season! Interestingly enough, one of our first adventures was up to these very same dunes. We randomly decided to take a road trip one fall afternoon and ended up in Silver Lake (albeit on a MUCH more sunny day than this one!) and took a whole set of fun photos exploring the dunes in the sun. About 6 months later we ended up doing a spring morning session in downtown Chicago with the stunning backdrop of blossoming flowers and trees, and now, 6 months after that, here we are back at the stunning dunes in Silver Lake for their engagement photos!

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When Brooke & David scheduled their engagement session up at the Silver Lake Sand Dunes for the end of October, I’m sure they weren’t anticipating the 30mph winds and below-freezing temperatures we were greeted with when we arrived. From the bottom of the dunes, the wind didn’t seem so daunting but as we neared the crest of the first climb we were hit in the face with a bitter, winter wind that didn’t die down for the entirety of our session. However, Brooke & David were determined to make the most of the circumstances and their love for each other brought a warmth to this session that was only accentuated by the coolness of the weather surrounding them, turning the entire session into what can only be described as a very romantic, desert-themed engagement session.

What I really appreciate about this adventure is that despite all of the chaos surrounding us, Brooke & David turned in towards each other, ignored the cold and wind, and focused only on the love between them – and it was truly magical. I know the wind-blown look is incredibly popular right now as is the moodiness that comes with inclement weather…but that’s not why I love this session. I love this session because the weather was the catalyst for true authenticity. Stripped of the perfection of pristine hair and makeup, the only thing that really mattered was the connection between these two and despite the cold temperatures, the moments we captured radiate love and warmth. I’m eternally thankful for couples like Brooke & David who are willing to brave the unideal to create the extraordinary – and I can’t wait to round out our adventures at their wedding this coming summer!