Courtney & Andres's engagement photo sneak peak from the Spanish Mines and Millwork area in Dubuque.

Looking for a unique and picturesque location for your engagement photos? Look no further than the Spanish Mines State Park in Dubuque, Iowa.

Courtney & Andrew are so much fun to shoot with!

The park is named for the historic Spanish Mines, which were once the site of lead mining in the 1800s. Today, the mines are no longer active, but the remnants of the mining activity can still be seen in the form of old mine shafts and adits, as well as piles of tailings and other mining debris.

Their wedding won’t be as warm as their engagement shoot!

One of the most popular photo spots in the park is the Horseshoe Bluff overlook, which offers panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. The bluff is accessible via a short hike up a steep trail, but the effort is well worth it for the stunning views from the top.

Andrew’s son joined the shoot and showed off the Courtney’s engagement ring!

Whether you're looking for a rustic and natural setting, a historical backdrop, or a touch of adventure, the Spanish Mines State Park in Dubuque, Iowa, offers all of this and more. So why not make this stunning location the backdrop for your engagement photos? With its breathtaking views, unique history, and natural beauty, the Spanish Mines State Park is sure to create memories that will last a lifetime.

Located just a short drive from downtown Dubuque, the Spanish Mines State Park offers a breathtaking backdrop of natural beauty, historical significance, and a touch of adventure. The park's 1,200 acres of woodland trails, rocky bluffs, and panoramic views make it a perfect location for capturing the beauty of your love story.

They were up to try some really fun and different poses.

Aside from its historical significance, the park is also home to a diverse array of wildlife, including deer, foxes, raccoons, and a variety of bird species. The park's trails wind through dense forests of oak and hickory trees, providing plenty of opportunities to capture stunning photos amidst the natural beauty of the park.

Courtney found her dress at Zazou's Bridal Boutique & Tuxedos which is on the right behind the glass, which made the shoot right there even more special.

Other popular photo spots in the park include the rocky outcroppings along the park's many trails, the rustic bridges that cross over the park's streams, and the tranquil ponds that dot the landscape.

Such a wonderful little family!

Engagement Photo Sessions

Engagement photo sessions are an excellent opportunity for couples to capture the excitement and anticipation of their upcoming wedding. Not only do these photos serve as a visual record of this special time in a couple's life, but they also provide a great opportunity to get comfortable in front of the camera before the big day.

However, planning an engagement photo session can be overwhelming, especially for couples who are new to the process. To help simplify the planning process and ensure a successful photo shoot, here are some tips for couples to consider when planning their engagement photo session.

2. Coordinate Your Outfits

Your engagement photos are a great opportunity to show off your personal style as a couple, but it's important to coordinate your outfits to ensure that your photos look cohesive. Choose colors and styles that complement each other, and avoid wearing clothing with logos or distracting patterns.

4. Consider the Time of Day

The time of day can have a significant impact on the lighting and overall mood of your engagement photos. Consider scheduling your session during "golden hour," which is the hour before sunset when the lighting is soft and warm. Alternatively, early morning sessions can also produce beautiful lighting.

5. Bring Props

Props can add a fun and personalized touch to your engagement photos. Consider bringing items like a chalkboard with your wedding date, a bouquet of flowers, or props that reflect your shared interests.

In conclusion, planning an engagement photo session can be a fun and exciting process for couples. By considering the location, coordinating outfits, hiring a professional photographer, considering the time of day, bringing props, and being yourselves, you can ensure a successful and memorable photo shoot that captures the excitement of your upcoming wedding.

1. Choose the Right Location

   The location of your engagement photo session can set the tone for your photos, so it's important to choose a location that's meaningful to you both. Consider places like your favorite park, the spot where you first met, or a location that reflects your shared interests. Keep in mind that some locations may require permits or have time restrictions, so be sure to do your research ahead of time.

3. Hire a Professional Photographer

While it may be tempting to have a friend or family member take your engagement photos, hiring a professional photographer is worth the investment. A professional photographer will have the experience and expertise needed to capture high-quality photos that you'll cherish for years to come.

6. Be Yourself

Finally, it's important to be yourselves during your engagement photo session. Relax, have fun, and don't be afraid to show your personalities. The more comfortable and natural you feel, the better your photos will turn out.

What does wedding photography include?

Every wedding photographer is different but there are many similarities in what wedding photographers include in their services.

Wedding photography in general includes: a set number of hours, images, and number of photographers for your wedding day. Past those basic three items each wedding photographer will offer a wide variety of wedding photography services to add to your wedding experience.

First let’s talk time: Many wedding photographers will offer a variety of hours for your wedding day. From as few as 2 hours to as many as 12 hours of photographic coverage. Over the years we have offered many different time packages and are now happy with our current offering of 10 hour lead photographer with an 8 hour 2nd photographer. When considering time for your wedding day photos please understand, YES you can book a photographer for 8 hours but you are short changing your wedding day photo experience here or are going to try and cram all the photos into this package causing both stress for yourself and your photographer. While you might not think there is a big difference between 8 and 10 hours, there is. An 8 hour package could be from noon to 8pm, but then about an hour of that time is dinner at your reception so money wasted here, then if things get delayed during toasts some photographers will of course charge yo an hourly rate to stay later (of course some may be nice and stay for free to make sure they get your formal events and some general dancing photos but should they give you a Free hour when you didn’t book the right package?) With a 10 hour package, when you organize the timeline with your photographer they will be in-partnership with you organizing the day helping you decided 12-10pm, 11-9pm, or 10-8pm. This is based on what time your ceremony is, if your doing a first look, where your dressing is compared to the ceremony venue, what time your grand entrance will be and how the reception is organized for formal events.

With our package, we can adjust the lead and 2nd photographer to create more coverage for the wedding day to fit your wants and needs.

Next to consider: is an engagement photo session included and how many hours, outfits, and locations does the engagement session include. Today many couples like visiting a couple favorite locations, with at least 2 but not more than 3 outfit changes. This takes travel time and dressing time for the engagement shoot. Both you and your photographer should have a clear understanding of what the engagement session will include, what you will receive, and when you will receive it. Engagement photos are great table center pieces for the reception, of course as Save the Date postcards, and as an album and prints for your home.

We include an engagement session with our wedding photography package, we do not have a formal set number of hours, we discuss this with you at booking. We believe the engagement session is a great way for us to get to know each other and have some fun. In general 2 hours and 2 locations is normal for our engagement sessions but we don’t mind doing a little more or less depending on your ideas.

Deliverables: What all are you getting from your photographer after the wedding? Albums, printing rights, flash drives, prints, and more are all options. Please understand yes, this is a business and of course when delivering printed material we are attempting to profit from these services. The printing companies we use in the industry should and normally will offer archival printing meaning this is higher quality longer lasting prints and materials than you will find from companies like Shutterfly in general. With this quality there is a high quality price for us and you. If a photographer offers printing rights they (we offer them) are giving away an opportunity to earn more money allowing you to go to someone else to print photos. Please always consider at least asking about prints from your photographer even if you are on a tight budget and see what they can do for you.

We offer a full range of printing services from metal and canvas prints to albums of your wedding day. We would love to talk with you about options and pricing and how we can help you get the best hard copies of your wedding photos within your budget. We no longer offer albums in our package because the current market fluctuations have made this difficult to anticipate price changes 6 months or a year out from a booking. Supply chain issues have affect our printers.

Does you photographer meet with you and work out the timeline details with you for your wedding day? In many respects your photographer is like a prepaid wedding planner. We can help in more ways than just taking photos, use us as the experts we are in weddings. If you book a photographer that doesn’t help you organize your wedding day timeline, they are not doing your wedding the justice you deserve. We know how long to allow for family photos, what time you should be in the dress before the 1st look, when to make sure you have eaten before the fast paced day really gets going. How long to allow at the reception for toast and spacing for sunset photos and golden hour shots.

These are just a few of the things a professional wedding photographer will and should include in their wedding photography for you.