I’m Stephanie, a wedding + lifestyle photographer based in Colorado Springs, Colorado and Warrenton, Virginia. Whether I’m by the mountains of Colorado or Virginia, my soul feels at home, surrounded by rural living and the raw beauty of nature. I genuinely love what I do, and feel so passionate to share the enthusiasm and joy of these celebrations with you!

DOCUMENTING LOVE'S UNSCRIPTED CHAPTERS FROM COUPLES & FAMILIES IN COLORADO + VIRGINIA

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April 19, 2016

Billy & Courtney |Manassas, Virginia Engagement Photographer

Billy & Courtney | Manassas, Virginia Engagement Photographer

To be honest, this was a different shoot than I’m use to. Although a challenge is always great for pushing creativity! Just because this was a conservative shoot doesn’t mean that it’s impossible to capture the fun and personal moments. I wanted to capture their true personalities without crossing any lines but I have to admit that they made my job easy! Billy makes Courtney laugh and that’s one of her favorite traits about him. How appropriate that majority of these photos capture the essence of their relationship? Billy was even making himself laugh from his jokes! I love that! Haha! They made our time together fun and relaxing as we chatted about their jobs, home ownership, their engagement and of course their wedding day next week (!!!!)! Our session time was filled with beautiful lighting and even a little surprise at the end of our time together! We were walking over the stone bridge at the Manassas Battlefields when we stumbled across blooming bluebells!!!! Without any hesitation, we jumped right in! Appeared that they were in peak bloom and there was NO ONE around! So unexpected but perfect for this couple as Courtney loves flowers. 🙂 Glad spring came early this year!

BILLY & COURTNEY’S LOVE STORY

How Billy and Courtney Met
from Courtney’s Perspective

Billy and I met back in 2013 when he asked if I would do a bible study with him.  Over the course of studying different topics, he began attending my church and over the many months following, we became really good friends!  I knew there was something different about him, he made me laugh, he was encouraging, he lifted me up and pushed me towards God, and I began to realize that I had feelings for him.  Shortly after he told me he liked me as well but he never officially asked me out so I left it alone.  Finally, right before Valentine’s Day, he asked if I would want to go on a date with him and I said yes!  Ever since that point, what was a friendship has grown into the start of a wonderful adventure with the craziest man – who makes me laugh and count my blessings every day that I get to do life with someone as perfect for me as him!

How Billy Proposed to Courtney
from Billy’s Perspective

It was on Saturday, February 6th (my mother’s birthdays of all days).  Courtney had been invited to my mothers tea party she was having that day.  Courtney, being the good sport she is, went.  Prior to this, I had contacted someone from church who is pretty good at handling a camera.  I went and conducted some reconnaissance and selected a location in Middleburg, VA that would serve the purpose.  We had it all planned out, he would get to the location ahead of time and lie in wait.  Meanwhile, I had to totally act like things were cool.

Courtney and I leave my mothers tea party and I get a text that my camera guy is just leaving the event he had to attend that day.  So, after a prolonged stop at starbucks, Courtney and I mosey on up route 15 to head into Middleburg.  I was getting more texts from the camera guy, and it sounds as though he wasn’t going to get there before we did.  Thankfully, when we we got to the site and he was in place.

I stand in front of an older building, as we were driving around on the pretense of looking at places where we could get our engagement photos taken.  I casually say to her “maybe we could get them taken on the steps over there” and point to some stairs behind her, which she turns around to look at.  It is at this moment I drop to my knee so when she turns back around I have out the watch I bought her.  I asked her if she would marry me, and the first thing she did was ask if I was serious, and after hearing me say yes I was serious, she said yes!  I saw the flash from the camera go off and knew we had a photo to document the moment. Apparently I had taken her completely by surprise, which is what I had intended and what she wanted me to do for this moment.

Billy and Courtney, I cannot believe your wedding is NEXT WEEK! I’m so so excited for you two and look forward to see you soon to tie the KNOT!!!! Enjoy some of my favorites!!! You are just RADIATING happiness in these photos!!!! xoxo!

Billy & Courtney | Manassas, Virginia Engagement PhotographerBilly & Courtney | Manassas, Virginia Engagement PhotographerBilly & Courtney | Manassas, Virginia Engagement PhotographerBilly & Courtney | Manassas, Virginia Engagement PhotographerBilly & Courtney | Manassas, Virginia Engagement PhotographerBilly & Courtney | Manassas, Virginia Engagement PhotographerBilly & Courtney | Manassas, Virginia Engagement PhotographerBilly & Courtney | Manassas, Virginia Engagement PhotographerBilly & Courtney | Manassas, Virginia Engagement PhotographerBilly & Courtney | Manassas, Virginia Engagement PhotographerBilly & Courtney | Manassas, Virginia Engagement Photographer CONGRATS!!!!! See you NEXT WEEK!!! 🙂

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