Young, Playful, and SO in Love: A Sunrise Beach Engagement in Fort Meyers, Florida

Capturing love stories in beautiful locations is one of the most rewarding parts of being a photographer. In February, I got to travel to Fort Myers, Florida, to photograph Connor and Elliana's engagements beachside. Set against the stunning backdrop of a beach sunrise, this session was filled with warmth, laughter, and intimate moments that truly brought their love to life. As I prepared for the shoot, I connected with Elliana to understand her vision. I loved her words when I asked her what one of the most important things she wanted captured: "I want our photos to show that we are young and SO in love, yanno?" These words were my guide throughout the entire session.

Their engagement session was my 90 minute documentary session with two outfits, highlighting candid moments and some prompted poses.

Sunrise on the beach, capturing the tranquility and beauty of the early morning.

Sunrise Engagement Sessions Are Always Worth It, Especially on a Beach in Florida

Not much beats getting up early to watch the sunrise, but nothing beats sunrise ON the beach. Being from Colorado, I will take any chance I get to be on the beach as the sun comes above the horizon. I proposed this option to Ellie and she was all for it. When we arrived at our meeting spot the was just enough light to make sense of what was around. We walked onto the beach and every minute continued to get prettier.

The horizon began to illuminate with shades of orange and pink. We could hear the waves lapping against the shore in the distance and birds awakening. There was a calm sea breeze that added to the romance. Ellie expressed to me that they love to do anything together that is outdoors. Because it was 6am, I encouraged them to sit on the sand, wake up, snuggle tight, and take in this moment.

Sunrise sessions, they are early, but always so worth it. I love to arrive about twenty minutes before the sun comes over the horizon because you get the magic of blue hour and a moment like I mentioned above: time to watch colors paint the sky and simply be. Also, the energy that comes with rising with the sun is like no other!

The Excitement to Get Married

It is always so sweet to see how each of us loves one another so differently. Some are a little more passionate in their actions and others are more words driven. You could feel the excitement these two have to get married and I hope you feel it through their photos as well.

I employed a mix of poses and shots to capture their love. Yes, I like to pose, but a lot of the time I like to pose a prompt. For example, " Ellie, Connor, I want you to think back to your first date and the feelings you had. Take those feelings and let that drive your next playful action," or, " Connor, I want you to imagine Ellie, as she is walking towards you, what she will look like walking down the aisle in a few months." These prompts always bring emotion or more movement. They also allow me to capture candid frames.

Outfit Change as the Sun Shines Bright

Ellie and Connor's outfit switch was to something a little more dressy. Ellie wore this beautiful satin dress that fit her figure beautifully and Connor threw on some kakis and a button up. I loved the beach feel of his outfit and I was obsessed with Ellie's dress. Still barefoot, it all fit so perfectly.

As they changed outfits, the sun was shining brighter and brighter. There was this really neat tree on the beach that reminded me of an olive tree- it was gorgeous. I had them stand underneath it, the wind blew into Ellie's pretty hair adding some movement to the scene. SHE LOOKS LIKE A PRINCESS! So stunning. I was loving everything about this frame pictured below.

Showcase What Matters to You Most

Engagement sessions are about more than just capturing pretty pictures; they tell the unique story of the couple. For Connor and Elliana, their sunrise beach engagement in Fort Myers, Florida was a beautiful testament to their youth, playful spirit, and excitement for their upcoming marriage. Being young and so in love, yanno?

We finished their session with toes in the water listening to the waves smack the shore, trees dancing, and birds singing. Reflecting on this day, I feel immense gratitude for being part of such a sweet morning.

As they embark on their journey together, may it be filled with laughter, adventure, endless love, and young love FOREVER!!

If you're considering an engagement shoot—perhaps with the stunning view of a sunrise—remember to showcase the aspects that matter most to you as a couple. Your love story deserves to be captured authentically, just like Connor and Elliana’s, highlighting the many facets of your unique story!