Emily + Eric | Lakeside Engagement Session

I always feel so honored that I have the opportunity to work with really amazing people in this world –  couples that are madly in love, that value marriage and commitment, and who value photography as a way to capture their moments together. Emily and Eric are no different! These two are my kind of people. They love the outdoors, are down to earth, friendly, and there’s no doubt that they adore each other… we even like the same baby names!

As we headed north out of Missoula toward the Flathead Valley, I got more and more nervous at how dark the clouds were getting. The forecast was calling for a 30% chance of rain at most, which usually means that it’s a safe bet to be outside and not get wet. As we turned the corner, however, where the the Mission Range is normally displayed for the first time in all its glory… all we could see was a giant wall of black clouds. That’s when it started DUMPING rain on us. That 30% chance of rain? It was literally sitting right over the reservoir we were heading to.

My heart sank. We had just driven an hour away from nice weather to end up in a heavy rainstorm with no view. Emily and Eric had found such a gorgeous location for their engagement session, and all I wanted for them was to have a great experience with me, and at lease some view of the majesty of the Mission Range! We decided to keep going, in hopes that maybe the storm would lighten up enough to be able to do their session, even if it meant no views.

Guys, not 5 minutes after pulling up to the lake, everything around us changed dramatically. The rain stopped…. the sun came out… and that dark curtain of clouds lifted to give us a peek at the view of those gorgeous mountains. It was meant to be! Emily and Eric embraced that opening in the storm and absolutely rocked their session! They are naturals in front of the camera, an absolute dream couple to photograph. I fell in love with their easy love for each other!

Oh, and her ring? I’m kind of obsessed. The center stone was Emily’s great-grandmothers, placed in a custom setting that Eric designed for her. It’s breathtaking!! In chatting with the two about it, Emily was talking about how special it was to her, but that she would have been “happy with a piece of string” from Eric. My heart exploded. These two have their priorities straight.

I absolutely cannot wait for their wedding at The Woodlands at Cottonwood Canyon in Bozeman this fall!