Winter engagement sessions in the Midwest can be a challenge, because everything is dead and there isn’t much color to add a vibrant pop to photos! However, if you work hard and find the right locations, you can make anything look bright and dreamy… and that’s exactly what we did for Ripki and Bryan’s engagement session in Milwaukee! This sweet couple chose the perfect locations — North Point Lighthouse and McKinley Beach, right along the lakefront! Milwaukee has plenty of snow and ice, which added so much brightness to the photos! Add in the fact that Ripki and Bryan chose the perfect outfits (check out all the beautiful BLUE in the second half of the shoot — I promise we had no idea there would be a fun blue building to shoot up against!!), and the sun peeked out just enough to give us that extra boost of light! Throw in some icy rocks, a brisk and beautiful breeze, a gorgeous-and-so-in-love couple, and Bryan’s sweet dog Crash, and you get some EPIC engagement photos!

A few other things I should mention: it wasn’t sub-zero, but it was definitely COLD. These two were incredible (especially at the end on the beach, which looked and felt like the arctic tundra!!)! But it was so worth it! The blues!! The icy rocks and the spray from the waves! The snow! And two people in love! It doesn’t get any better than that!! ALSO, make sure you scroll to the end for the sweetest photos with their pup… what a good boy!! He was the best dog!!

I always forget how close Milwaukee is to Chicago! (Marty and I flew up to the city in less than 90 minutes!) It reminds me of a mini Chicago — lots of the same characteristics, but on a smaller, more manageable scale! What a beautiful place! Ripki and Bryan, thanks for inviting us up to your hometown! Ripki, you’re going to be the most beautiful bride (!!!) and Bryan, I just love how much you love her! We absolutely cannot wait for September!!!