Sara & Brandon’s High Cliff State Park Engagement Session | Appleton, Wisconsin Engagement Photographer

Fall, Love & One Very Important Fur Baby

There are engagement sessions that are all about the couple.

And then there are engagement sessions where the couple brings along the most important third wheel of all—their fur baby. 🐾

Sara & Brandon’s late-September engagement session at High Cliff State Park in Sherwood, Wisconsin was the perfect combination of all three: the two of them, their pup, and one gorgeous Wisconsin evening.

As an Appleton, Wisconsin engagement photographer, I absolutely love photographing couples at High Cliff because there are so many different backdrops within the park. Add in the beginning of fall, beautiful scenery, and a couple who is completely comfortable being themselves, and you have the makings of a pretty perfect engagement session.

A Late-September Engagement Session in Wisconsin

The end of September is one of my favorite times for engagement photography in Wisconsin.

There's that little shift in the air that lets you know fall is coming. The summer heat starts to disappear, the light gets softer, and the landscape begins its transition into those beautiful autumn tones.

For Sara & Brandon, High Cliff State Park gave us the perfect setting to capture their engagement photos.

We wandered through the park, found beautiful natural scenery, and gave them plenty of opportunities to simply enjoy being together.

Because that's one of my biggest goals during an engagement session:

I don't want you to spend the entire time wondering what you're supposed to do with your hands.

I want you to move, laugh, snuggle, interact, and actually enjoy the person you're about to marry.

I'll give you direction when you need it, prompts when things feel awkward, and plenty of room for the genuine moments to happen naturally.

High Cliff State Park Engagement Photos

High Cliff State Park is such a beautiful location for an Appleton area engagement session.

With its wooded trails, open spaces, scenic views, and gorgeous natural surroundings, there's no shortage of variety for engagement photographs.

It's also a great option for couples who want their engagement photos to feel more relaxed and outdoorsy rather than overly formal.

Sara & Brandon fit right into the scenery.

Their session had that perfect mix of romantic portraits, playful moments, cuddling, laughter, and plenty of personality.

And then, of course, there was their fur baby.

Because Your Dog Is Part of the Family

Let's be honest.

If your dog is part of your life, there's a pretty good chance they're going to be part of your wedding story, too.

So why shouldn't they be part of your engagement photos?

I loved that Sara & Brandon brought their fur baby along for their High Cliff State Park engagement session.

Including your dog in engagement photography can make the session feel even more personal because you're incorporating a piece of your everyday life into your photographs.

And let's face it—dogs have a pretty special talent for making people laugh and bringing out genuine smiles.

Some of my favorite images from sessions like this aren't necessarily the perfectly posed portraits.

They're the photographs where everyone is interacting, laughing, looking at each other, or simply enjoying the moment.

Those are the photographs that feel like you.

Engagement Photos That Don't Feel Stiff or Awkward

If you're nervous about having your photos taken, you're definitely not alone.

Awkward people are my specialty. 😂

You don't need to know how to pose.

You don't need to be a professional model.

And you definitely don't need to spend an hour standing around smiling at the camera.

I'll guide you through the session with easy prompts and movement so you always have something to do.

We'll walk.

We'll snuggle.

We'll laugh.

I'll probably tell you to get a little closer.

And before you know it, you're having fun instead of thinking about the camera.

That's the experience I want every couple to have with Chasing Lilies Photography.

Your Engagement Session Should Feel Like You

The best engagement photographs aren't necessarily the ones where everything is perfectly posed.

They're the ones that bring you right back to how this season of your relationship actually felt.

The way Brandon looked at Sara.

The way they laughed together.

The little moments between the big ones.

And, of course, the four-legged member of their family who made an appearance along the way.

These photographs aren't just something to put on the wall before the wedding.

They're a snapshot of who you are together right now, before the wedding day, before the next chapter, before everything changes.

And someday, those photographs will mean even more.

Planning an Engagement Session in the Fox Valley?

If you're looking for an engagement photographer in Appleton, Wisconsin, Chasing Lilies Photography serves couples throughout the Fox Valley and Northeast Wisconsin, including Appleton, Neenah, Menasha, Kimberly, Kaukauna, Oshkosh, Green Bay, and surrounding communities.

Whether you have a favorite location already or need help choosing the perfect spot, we'll find somewhere that feels like you.

Love the outdoors?

High Cliff State Park is an awesome option.

Want something more urban?

We can do that.

Have a family property, favorite park, meaningful location, or somewhere you and your partner spend time together?

Even better.

Your engagement session doesn't have to look like everyone else's.

It should look like your relationship.

And if that includes your dog, bring the dang dog. 🐾

Sara & Brandon

Thank you, Sara & Brandon, for letting me capture this little piece of your story—and for bringing your adorable fur baby along for the adventure!

I can't wait to see where this next chapter takes you two. ❤️

Chasing Lilies Photography
Appleton, Wisconsin Engagement & Wedding Photographer
Serving the Fox Valley & Wisconsin

Engagement Photography | Appleton WI | Fox Valley Wisconsin | High Cliff State Park | Wisconsin Wedding Photographer