Small-town love, a bombshell in blue, and some surprisingly photogenic abandonment.

If you’ve never heard of Buckley, Illinois… don’t worry, you’re not out of the loop. It’s the kind of blink-and-you-miss-it town, but for Alexis & Blair, it’s home. And honestly? That made it the perfect place for their engagement session. I’m always saying pick somewhere close to the heart, and these two understood the assignment.

We started the evening at the church where they’ll tie the knot, and I gotta say, there’s something really sweet about photographing a couple at the spot where their forever officially begins. From there, we walked the “downtown” stretch of Buckley; which, listen, has maybe five buildings, most of which are abandoned, but that sh*t is my jam. Give me boarded-up windows and cracked sidewalks, and I’ll find the light, the texture, and the story. It felt quiet and stripped down in the best way, which let them be the focus.

Now let’s talk about Alexis in that royal blue dress. WOW. That color was so her. She looked amazing without looking like she was trying to be anything but herself. Confident. Relaxed. Radiating joy. A special shout out to Alyssa & Brittney for helping our girl get session ready!

Blair was her balance. Calm, steady, sweet. He’s not one for theatrics, but you can tell he’s her safe place. And you can see how much he loves her in the way he looks at her… like she’s the only thing in the world worth paying attention to. He’s finishing up a degree in sports management, and she’s a teacher, which feels like a well fitting combo; one shapes minds, the other builds futures.

Alexis had followed me on Instagram for a while and is friends with one of my past brides, so when we finally got together it felt like catching up with someone I already kinda knew. There was an ease to it. I had so much fun.

They told me they met on March 26, 2022, over dinner in Delray Beach, Florida, at one of Alexis’ favorite spots. What was supposed to be a normal night turned into hours of deep conversation (they literally shut the place down, then kept talking in the parking lot for hours more.) Since then? They’ve shared trips, adventures, their furbabe (look out for the pawprint ring she wore in honor of the pups!), and lots of time with the people they love. It’s the kind of story that sounds like it came from a movie, but when you meet them, you believe every second of it.

This session was warm, genuine, and full of little moments that make big memories. Buckley may not have much on the map, but it gave these two exactly what they needed: space to just be together.

I CANNOT friggin’ wait to celebrate with you two next year at the Cadillac. It’s going to be a blast!