When couples ask where they should do their engagement session, my answer is rarely about geography. Epic locations, flying halfway across the globe, and chasing awe-inspiring landscapes can make for incredible engagement sessions. Those experiences are exciting, intentional, and absolutely worth celebrating. My first suggestion, though, is often to consider a place that holds personal meaning. Not because it photographs better, but because it carries history and meaning. Locations like that add a layer to the experience that can’t be replicated, no matter how beautiful the backdrop.

Drew and Trent originally planned to fly to Atlanta for their engagement session, but after talking through what was actually important to them, it became clear the story didn’t live there. So I came to them. What started as a simple idea turned into three days together in their Florida town, just east of Tampa. Three days of slowing down, exploring the places that shape their daily life, and letting the experience unfold naturally. We wrapped up the final day of their session at Trent’s family ranch.

The ranch is more than land. It’s where Trent spent much of his youth. Where long days quietly turned into years. Where a young boy grew into the man Drew fell in love with. Much of it can only be reached on foot or by off road vehicles, which somehow made it feel even more sacred. This is what I mean when I talk about choosing places that matter. This is home. This is family legacy. And now, it’s part of the story they’re building together.