Maeystown, Illinois Engagement Session

Oh Maeystown, how I love you and your perfect setting for any type of session. I first learned about this tiny charming town about 13 years ago when I first started my photography business. I had never even heard about this place until a high school senior told me she wanted to go there for her senior portraits. When I saw Maeystown for the first time, I just knew that I would be spending lots of time there for portrait sessions.

I’ve known Lexi for a while now. She and I live in the same town and I’ve taken lots of photos of her and her friends through sports and senior portraits. When you live in a small town, you seem to know everyone and it’s easy to get excited and cheer others on. I don’t know Frederick as well as Lexi, but I’ve actually done a family session for him and his family and just in the short amount of time I’ve known them I can tell that they are the sweetest family. Seriously, his mother was so sweet and genuine and his father and brothers were all so much fun. I can imagine all the fun those boys had growing up together. I have a feeling that they are going to be a hoot on Frederick’s wedding day!

When Lexi and Frederick got engaged, I couldn’t have been happier for her and when she reached out to me about photographing their wedding, I was so honored. There are a ton of choices that a bride can go with for vendors, so it’s always a huge compliment when you sign a contract and make things official. Lexi and I tossed around some ideas for locations for her and Frederick’s engagement session, and since these two live in the Red Bud area I suggested Maeystown since it’s so close to them. They both loved that idea! It really is the cutest little town. I always suggest to my clients to wear their nicer outfit first, because it’s easier to change into more comfortable clothes (in case you have to change in the car LOL) and it’s also because hair and makeup are fresh at that point for the dressier outfit. Lexi showed up in this cute little satin blush colored dress and Frederick looked so handsome in his dress shirt and pants. Their second outfit was so dang cute, though. I can’t pick my favorite! They wore simple jeans and white tops. It’s always fun for me to see how the comfort level aways opens the guys up a bit more. By the time a guy changes into the second outfit, they are more calm and feeling comfortable with how the session is going. Frederick was a pro at this point and I think his smile got bigger and he had more fun in that casual outfit.

At some point during my engagement sessions I always ask my couples how they met, how the proposal went down, etc. and I absolutely love how Frederick proposed. They were house hunting and there was a house they both fell in love with. While they were looking at it for the second time, they both just knew it was the one and Frederick had the ring with him and he got down on one knee in that house and asked Lexi to marry him and start their life together there. Such a sweet memory for them to share in the house that they are now living in and planning on making so many wonderful memories in.

I’m so happy for these two and I’m very much looking forward to their wedding in April. They are going to kick off my 2023 wedding season and I cannot wait. Here’s a few of my favorites from their engagement session.