Union Station Engagement – Suitcases & Willows

The first time I spoke with Jandilyn and Wilson, we ended up with a long list of ideas as to what we could do for their engagement session. More often than not, the hard part is narrowing possibilities down, instead of struggling to find them. I think what we came up with is a good balance between something playful involving a theme, and something more timeless; the best of two worlds!

It can be easy to get carried away with props, so for the travel theme I felt it was important to keep things subtle, since Union Station (also available for wedding receptions) has a lot to offer on its own. A couple of vintage suitcases –found at one of my favorite antique malls in LA  – a vintage copy of Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights (bought at the Rose Bowl Flea Market), and some wardrobe details were enough to enhance the theme, while still allowing us to flow naturally through the space and get a fun series of shots.

After wrapping up at the station, we headed to a very secluded little haven in Griffith Park to avoid the more highly-trafficked areas of the park on a Sunday. Although there are some great more-well-known areas of the park that are beautiful, I tend to prioritize my clients’ comfort. That privacy allows them to be more natural, without having an audience peek in as they kiss and enjoy each other in the moment, which of course is reflected in the photos! I had scouted this nook a couple weeks prior, and knew that the trick was to get there when the light was perfect, making that the priority when planning the timeline of the day. Plus, I love finding the magic in an environment that does not seem blatantly full of beauty! As Aaron Rose put it in such few words: “In the right light, at the right time, everything is extraordinary.”