Anna (she/her) and Ben (he/him) celebrated their fall engagement with a fun and lighthearted session in Franklin County, Virginia. To add a unique touch of adventure, we rode up together on a Kubota to get to our location. Their golden-hour session took place on a perfect fall evening with mild weather. We picked the ultimate dream setting for capturing their love.
Wait, what’s an adventure session?
An adventure session is whatever you want it to be! Most of the time, it’s an engagement session. However, it can also be an anniversary session or a normal couple session. Couples often book adventure sessions for casual photos the day before or after their elopement.
This type of session involves going to an epic location for amazing photos. And, as it’s mentioned in the name, involves some element of adventure. Adventure is completely subjective and could mean something different to each person.
An adventure session to you could mean hiking, climbing, or braving the cold (or heat!) or it could entail visiting a place you’ve never been before or experiencing something you’ve never done before.
Anna and Ben’s Fall Engagement Adventure Session Experience
Anna and Ben had a clear vision for their fall engagement session: they wanted it to feel organic, fun, and relaxed, with natural smiles and settings that allowed them to be comfortable and authentically themselves. This meant keeping things lighthearted and avoiding anything overly romantic or as Anna called it “stuffy engagement photos™.”
Anna’s outfit added a playful and meaningful touch. She wore a tan-colored dress paired with a denim jacket, black chunky Doc Marten boots, and two pairs of earrings—one pair as a nod to them “tying the knot,” and a playful “I” and “do” combination in each ear. Ben complemented her look perfectly with his green flannel, classic blue jeans, and work boots, creating an effortlessly coordinated fall palette.
As we rode up on the Kubota and explored the landscape, we kept the mood light by playing a playlist they’d curated with tunes from artists like Chappell Roan, CAKE, Palmyra, and The Ballroom Thieves. We captured both candid and “safe shots,” ensuring they had a landscape photo for their holiday card and some fun, seated shots in natural settings. Golden hour added that soft, magical glow and every moment reflected their fun-loving connection.
Anna and Ben’s Proposal Story
Anna and Ben’s proposal story is just the sweetest! During a beach trip with friends, Ben had a sunrise surprise up his sleeve. As the first light hit the waves, he got down on one knee and asked Anna to marry him. Their friend, in on the plan, came ready with a camera to capture every moment. It was the perfect, picture-worthy start to their engagement!
Reflecting on Anna and Ben’s Fall Engagement Session
Anna and Ben’s relationship is a beautiful reminder of the joy and connection that comes from being with your best friend. Photographing couples like them, who share such a genuine, playful bond, is incredibly rewarding. Their session was filled with laughter, relaxed smiles, and heartfelt moments, which is exactly why I love what I do—preserving these authentic moments for couples to cherish forever.
If you enjoyed this session, be sure to check out more of Anna and Ben’s love story from their past sessions with me! I had the pleasure of capturing their beautiful elopement and an earlier anniversary adventure session. It’s been amazing to document these special moments and watch their story unfold over the years!
If you’re looking for a photographer who will help you capture your engagement, elopement, or any special moment with a sense of adventure, I’d love to work with you! My name is Cameron (she/her), a Virginia elopement photographer and partial planner. I specialize in half-day, full-day, and multi-day elopements. I also offer adventure sessions separately or as add-ons to any of my elopement packages. So, if you’re dreaming of an adventure in the Virginia mountains, let’s make it happen! Fill out an inquiry form to get started or check out my pricing to learn more about my approach and packages.
I encourage you to check out some of the elopements and adventure sessions I’ve planned and photographed for other couples:
- Hunter and Troy’s Blackrock Summit Elopement in Shenandoah National Park
- Sarah and Sarra’s Anniversary Adventure Session in Newport, Virginia
- Laura and Ted’s Tanners Ridge Overlook Elopement in Shenandoah National Park
- Ryanne and Meredith’s Roanoke Star Engagement Session
- Elli and Joey’s Timber Hollow Overlook Elopement in Shenandoah National Park
Maybe you have plenty of inspiration, but you need planning resources. Here are a few blogs I’d recommend to help you get started:
