On a misty and bitterly cold winter’s day, Kaylynn and Shane stepped onto the freshly fallen snow at the Brown County Reforestation Camp  for their engagement session with KLEM Studios’ associate photographer, Krista. Ever the fashionable couple, Kaylynn brought a number of outfits to the session. However, the centerpiece was the stunning red gown Kaylynn bought because she was so inspired by Witney Carson’s winter engagement session. Kaylynn and Shane knew that for their engagement session, they wanted to embrace Wisconsin’s winter beauty and wander hand-in-hand among tall pine trees (and some fresh snow wouldn’t hurt!).

When Amanda and Jake were dreaming up their perfect engagement session, they shared how special it would be if they could celebrate their love story at the same place Jake proposed: Fragrant Isle Lavender Farm on Washington Island. We picked a date when the lavender would be at its peak and took the ferry across Death’s Door Strait to the island. Surrounded by a sea of purple flowers at the lavender farm, Amanda and Jake walked hand-in-hand, identifying different types of honey bees and talking about the bees they raise at their home.

Love is such a beautiful mystery. It can be all-consuming, fleeting, passionate, and sometimes it just sneaks up on you. It can be tragic, unrequited, painful, and misunderstood. With all of that, I do believe that love, true love, is the greatest thing that can ever happen to all of us. But what if you met the person you were going to grow old with when you were just a teenager? How would you know, what would you do to preserve that relationship and make it stand the test of time? It may not have been clear to Megan and Lane in the beginning how to make it all work, but they've definitely done something right. This July they will be celebrating eight years together, and their journey as husband and wife begins on New Year's Eve.

I get the chance to work with some of the greatest, most adventurous, most unique clients out there. I love getting to spend time with my couples shooting their engagement sessions, too, because it gives us a chance to get to know one another without the pressures of their busy wedding day. We reach a certain comfort level that goes way beyond the photographer-client constraints.

On the south side of Kewaunee, Wisconsin, a quaint Victorian house is nested amongst the residential homes. The Hollyhock House blooms with possibility amongst the roses, hostas, and other plants that decorate the property. This place is special to us because next fall, my fiancé and I will be saying our eternal vows in the gardens of The Hollyhock House. We had a chance to sit down with one of the owners and managers of The Hollyhock House, Karen Howlett, and ask her some questions about the seasoned Northeast Wisconsin wedding venue to help inform inquiring brides:

Krystina knew Dustin was "the one" during her freshman year of college. Dustin was coming home from leave, and she remembers how excited she was to see him, a different excitement than she had felt before. Fast forward to this January when Dustin and Krystina went away for a weekend skiing in Houghton, Michigan. Krystina couldn't understand why Dustin was kneeling in a snowbank on the deck of the restaurant where they had just shared a romantic dinner together. Dustin asked Krystina to be his forever, and she happily said yes.

Their friendship sparked years ago, but who could have known the fire that had been ignited? Perhaps it was the way Josh made Sam laugh, or maybe it was the way Sam tossed her long, blonde hair over her shoulder when she turned to look at him. Their chemistry was undeniable, and their hearts soon began to call to each other.

When one of my best friends, Stephanie, told me Dalton had asked her to marry him, I shrieked with happiness. We had all been waiting for this day. Steph and Dalton have been together since high school, and we have all known they would be together forever. While I've only known them since college, they're love for each other has been obvious to me from the beginning.