Kenzie & Kenny’s Ohio Statehouse Engagement Session

There is something extra special about getting an inquiry from someone I’ve already had the chance to photograph. I first met Kenzie earlier this summer when she was a bridesmaid in Courtney and Hunter’s beautiful wedding at The Dempsey Event Center. Not long afterward, I was so excited to see her name pop up in my inbox—this time because she and Kenny were planning a wedding of their own.

It is always such a meaningful compliment when a bridesmaid reaches out after experiencing a wedding day with us firsthand. Kenzie had already seen how Cody and I work, how we guide our couples and wedding parties through portraits, and how much we genuinely love celebrating alongside everyone. Getting to step into this next season with her and Kenny feels incredibly special.

An Ohio Statehouse Engagement Session

For their engagement photos, we met in downtown Columbus at the Ohio Statehouse. The Statehouse will forever be one of my favorite locations for engagement photos in Columbus. The beautiful stone architecture, tall columns, sweeping steps, and neutral tones create such an elegant backdrop without ever taking attention away from the couple.

It was the perfect setting for Kenzie and Kenny. Their session felt timeless and romantic, but still completely relaxed and true to the two of them.

Kenzie absolutely radiates happiness, and watching the way she and Kenny interact made the evening so much fun to photograph. There were plenty of those polished, classic portraits that I love creating, mixed in with the little laughs and natural moments that happen when two people are simply comfortable together.

A Love Story Years in the Making

Kenzie and Kenny’s story actually began long before this engagement session. They knew each other in high school, and over the years, their paths continued to cross.

There is something so sweet about two people continually finding their way into one another’s lives. Eventually, the timing was right, and all of those little connections led them here—to planning a wedding and an entire life together.

Knowing that history made photographing them feel even more meaningful. This isn’t just the beginning of their story. It’s another chapter in one that has been unfolding for years.

Sunset Over the Columbus Skyline

As the evening went on, we wandered around the Statehouse grounds and took advantage of the beautiful downtown light. We finished their session as the sun began to disappear over the Columbus skyline, giving us the prettiest ending to an already wonderful evening.

One of my favorite parts of engagement sessions is having this uninterrupted time with my couples before their wedding day arrives. There are no timelines to keep moving and no guests waiting for them—just space to talk, laugh, get comfortable in front of the camera, and celebrate the fact that they’re getting married.

After spending the evening with Kenzie and Kenny, I am even more excited to photograph their wedding next fall. I already know it is going to be such a beautiful celebration, and I feel incredibly lucky that our paths crossed at Courtney and Hunter’s wedding and brought us here.

Kenzie and Kenny, I cannot wait to celebrate you two again next fall!