You know those couples that just radiate good vibes from the second you meet them? That’s exactly who Camryn and Austen are. Their Salt River engagement session was one of those shoots that reminded me why I love doing this so dang much. The laughs, the connection, the dreamy Arizona light—and a surprise style moment that had me completely obsessed.

Camryn and Austen’s story starts back in 2021, when fate brought them together at a club in Tempe. Austen was visiting Arizona on vacation when they met, but what started as a spontaneous night out quickly turned into something real. Like really real. They spent the first two years of their relationship doing long distance—and if you’ve ever been there, you know that takes some serious commitment and heart. But for these two, it just made sense. From the moment they met, they were inseparable.

Camryn grew up here in Arizona, so I knew the Salt River was a perfect spot to represent the desert landscape- all where their love began. It’s one of my all-time favorite spots to shoot—majestic desert landscapes, water that catches the light just right, and those iconic saguaros standing tall in the background. I shoot here a lot, but something about this session felt extra magical.

On my drive out to meet them, I was literally thinking, “Okay, one of my next brides has to wear a drop waist wedding dress.” No joke—Camryn steps out of the car in the cutest vintage-inspired, tea-length drop waist dress with red cowboy boots and I just about lost it. Total serendipity. It was giving retro-romantic, desert-chic vibes in the best way possible—and for engagement photos? Chef’s kiss.

As we wandered along the trail, I ended up discovering a new little path that led us right down to the water. It was STUNNING. The kind of tucked-away spot that makes everything feel intimate and quiet, even when the desert’s alive with golden hour light.

What I loved most about this session wasn’t just the views or the outfits (though hello, they nailed both)—it was how natural everything felt. We spent most of the shoot laughing, swapping stories, and just vibing like we’d known each other forever. There was no pressure to pose or be “perfect”—Camryn and Austen were fully themselves, which is always where the magic happens.

They share a love for all things vintage, music, movies, clothing—so we made sure to lean into that. Their session had this subtle nostalgia to it, like a modern-day desert love story pulled from an old film reel. You could see it in the way they looked at each other, the way they moved together, the way they felt like home.

I always tell my couples: the best photos happen when you’re just doing you. And Camryn and Austen fully embraced that.

If this session is any indication of what’s to come, their October wedding in Flagstaff is going to be one for the books. They’re planning something that feels true to them, surrounded by their closest people, tucked up in the pines of Northern Arizona. I’m already counting down the days.

Reach out here to start planning your session. I’ll bring the camera, you bring the love.

X,
D