I squeezed this St.James Forest Preserve engagement session in with Anne and Craig the week before the sky started turning grey and the trees lost all of their leaves. I love when my couples choose nature filled spaces like the St.James Forest preserve – while it might seem that you can only get so many different photos with trees in the background, spots like forest preserves lend so much more variety and uncapped beauty. They also make a more intimate space with less crowds and more privacy.

Like so many of my couples , Anne told me her and Craig were nervous to be in front of the camera. I hear this time and time again, and always re-assure my couples, I promise you will be fine! And as I guessed, Anne and Craig nailed their session, letting loose after just a few minutes and embracing their time with each other.

I love how goofy and carefree these two are. They spent the entire St. James Forest Preserve engagement session enjoying themselves and just having fun – the way it should be! Getting to meet them in person and work with them made me so unbelievably excited for their wedding day at Esplanade Lakes in Downers Grove this September!