The Kind of Couple Who Make My Job Easy - Fall Engagement Session at Cliffside Acres | Ohio
I've had Cliffside Acres on my radar for a while. It's one of those venues where you just know. The white barn, the towering trees, the grounds that feel intentional without being overdone. So when this couple not only booked me for their wedding there but also wanted to do their engagement session at the venue? I said yes before they finished the sentence.
It had rained a lot leading up to our session. The kind of stretch where you keep checking the forecast and holding your breath. But the evening we showed up, the sun came out and everything was that deep, saturated green that only happens right after a good rain. The light was soft. The air was warm. It was one of those fall evenings that feels like a gift.
A Little Awkward. A Lot of Fun.
I'll be honest, not every couple walks into an engagement session feeling totally comfortable in front of a camera. And that's completely okay! The best sessions aren't always the ones where everything clicks immediately. Sometimes they're the ones where you can watch a couple loosen up in real time, and by the end they're just… themselves.
That's exactly what happened here. They came in a little reserved, open-minded, willing to try whatever I suggested. And somewhere along the way, I think it was around the time I asked her to jump on his back, they completely let go. After that it was just easy. Genuine. The kind of session I love most.
The Piggyback Ride That Started Everything
Okay, the piggyback photos. I'm obsessed. He took off running across the field with her on his back, both of them completely losing it, and I just kept shooting. Those frames; the full belly laughs, the fall color in the trees behind them, her holding on for dear life, are some of my favorites I've taken all year.
After that I had them just run around and play in front of the venue. No posing, no direction. Just move. And they did. Spinning, pulling each other, showing off the ring, sitting in the grass under that massive tree with the barn glowing behind them. That's when I get the shots that matter. When they forget the camera is there.
Two Outfits, Two Totally Different Feels
They came with two outfit changes, which I always love. We started with something a little more dressed up. A flowy dark dress for her, a linen shirt for him and used that look for the more moody, wooded parts of the property. Black and white felt right there. The light filtering through the trees, fallen leaves everywhere, him smiling at her from across a clearing. Quiet and still.
Then they changed into something more casual. Jeans, a plaid shacket, a white top, and that's when we moved out front and things got fun. The contrast between the two looks gave the whole gallery this really nice range. Intentional and editorial, then warm and real. Both of them.
About Cliffside Acres
If you're considering Cliffside Acres for your wedding and wondering what it looks like through a camera, it's stunning. The white barn is clean and modern with just enough warmth. The grounds have real variety: open lawn, mature trees, wooded areas, a gravel drive. You can do a whole session here and never run out of backdrops.
I'm so glad I finally got to shoot here. And I cannot wait to come back for their wedding this fall.
Booking Engagement Sessions at Cliffside Acres
If Cliffside Acres is your venue or even just on your list, I would love to photograph your engagement session or wedding there. I'm a wedding and couples photographer based in Dayton, Ohio, and I'm booking dates now.
The best sessions happen when you show up as yourselves. These two proved that.
Venue | Cliffside Acres
