JT & Thomas | Engagement Session in Versailles, Kentucky
The sun was dropping fast behind one of the old oak trees when Thomas broke into a full-face smile. JT had his arms wrapped around him from behind, the two of them leaning into each other like no one else existed in the world. The beautiful late evening glow made it feel like a movie, and the moment was perfect.
That's the shot. Not the one where they think about the camera being there ... the one where they don't.
JT and Thomas met online about seven years ago. Chicago is home now. But JT grew up on a beautiful piece of property in Versailles, Kentucky — surrounded by horse farms and rolling Bluegrass countryside — and this fall, it's where they're getting married. We did their engagement session on the same property, which meant something from the beginning. There are beautiful locations, and there are meaningful ones; this was definitely both.
Earlier in the evening, standing in the middle of the small orchard — apple trees and peach trees, the light filtering through at an angle that made everything go a little golden and soft — I had them face each other and hold hands. Seven years is a long time to get comfortable with each other, but being in front of a camera is difficult. There's always an implied expectation of performance, but what I wanted them to do was to focus on each other. I asked them to look each other in the eyes and communicate just how much the other person meant without saying a word. This quiet, focused prompt helped frame why we were there — to celebrate their love for each other and to do it in a special place.
This was toward the end of our time together. The blackberry bushes were catching the early golden light differently than the open grass — softer, less direct. We had found our footing, and they were much more comfortable in front of the camera. I usually tell couples the first few minutes are going to be awkward, but relax as best you can, and we'll work through the awkwardness to the real emotion. Engagement sessions aren't documentary work the same way weddings are. I work through prompts and gentle direction rather than poses to give people something to feel rather than something to hold. By the time I made this frame, they'd stopped thinking about what to do with their hands and just leaned into each other.
Near the end, the light was leaving but not quite gone. I had them walk through the orchard rows one more time and stayed back. They were talking, mid-laugh about something between them, and turned toward each other without thinking about it. It was such an authentic, real moment between two people obviously in love.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can we do our engagement session on a private family property?
Yes, and some of my favorite sessions have happened exactly there. Private land often carries a kind of meaning that rented venues can't replicate — and that meaning shows up in the photographs. If the location matters to you, it's worth considering.
Do you travel for engagement sessions?
Yes. I'm based in Central Kentucky and serve the greater Lexington area — Versailles, Danville, Frankfort, Nicholasville, Georgetown, Harrodsburg — and I'm open to travel for the right session.
We're not comfortable in front of a camera. Is that going to be a problem?
Almost everyone says this going in. I don't put people in poses and expect them to feel something; I give you something to feel and photograph what happens. JT and Thomas said the same thing before we started, and you can see how well they did!
When should we schedule our engagement session?
The short answer: earlier than you think. Golden hour is the most reliable window for sessions like this — roughly the last hour before sunset — and summer and fall evenings in Kentucky give you some of the best light there is. If you're planning a fall wedding, scheduling your session at least three to four months out gives you time to use the images before the big day.