There's nothing like an engagement session on the prairie.
Kacy and Jason are the exact kind of people you need to spend a Friday evening running around the prairie with after a long week. (I’d be happy to run around any topography with them, really, give or take the emotional length of the week.) When we first chatted about engagement photos, they both kind of cringed at the connotation that comes along with that. Instead of standard engagement photos, which felt stiff and posed in their minds, they wanted something looser, more casual. And they knew for sure they wanted it at Neal Smith Wildlife Refuge, a spot that's also close to my heart as well.
We met up at the Neal Smith Wildlife Refuge Visitor's Center in Prairie City (an aptly named town) and decided to stick to the trails right next to it, juuuuust in case the skies took a turn for the worst. We were worried the scattered showers would impede on our time together, but instead they made for the perfect evening—cool blue skies, warm prairie grasses, and just enough drizzle to keep the bugs at bay.
It really says something about a couple when they can spend an entire session in one spot and get so much variety. As a photographer, it’s really fun to spend time with people who are down for anything and incredibly comfortable together. As a human being, it’s really fulfilling to meet two people who you just vibe with right away. Jason is the kind of quiet smart that also equates to absolutely goofy and hilarious as you get to know him. Kacy is bubbly and full of laughter, and as we stood in the dark parking lot at the end of our session discussing the possibilities of leaving one’s wedding to go to a Chuck W. Cheese ball pit, Jason pointed out the danger of the us two occupying the same space for too long. And other than being incredibly funny, sweet, loving people, they also brought me a doughnut and Alfie some poo bags as a “we’re sorry your doggo is feeling sick” present. Their warmth and generosity are only matched by their goofiness and willingness to laugh anything off.
Our only sadness was their kitty, Neal Smith, could not join us at his namesake. But I’m sure he will enjoy the photos of his mom and dad spending time together there, because, like, how could you not have fun looking at these two having fun?
