I had been thinking about getting a pair of leather boots for a long time… so it wasn’t impulsive – or at least I told myself. We were in the city walking into different shops and enjoying the shelter from the whipping wind outside. I tried on several pairs – as did Matt – before settling on a tall dark brown pair that came to the knee. They were just what I was looking for.

A few hours later, I decided they weren’t what I was looking for. Too tall, too stiff, too not what I wanted. I tried them on in our hotel room with the exact pants I would wear, which were much skinnier in the leg than those that I stuffed into the boots earlier in store, and didn’t like them.

Alas, the store did not return but only accepted store credit, so we were left with a dilemma. After a flurry of trying on shoes and suppressing our hunger for breakfast, I spotted one pair I hadn’t considered. They were little house on the prairie with just enough vintage to be modern… and I liked them? I traded them in and walked out wearing them, since there was no turning back.

Just like the leather they are handcrafted in, they’re breaking me in and growing on me. In a way I like the challenge to wear something new, and I love the side zips, so easy to slip on and off.

This engagement session takes place in Rochester NY in an unlikely farm in the middle of the city. I had been excited for this session since I started talking with Margaret + Luke about some of their ideas for the shoot, and we decided to break up and do both a country picnic and a night session that you’ll see later on. Unlike most guys who are more tentative about having their picture taken, Luke was all about it which made it even better. We were even joined by a special guest, an alpaca, who wandered in and out of the frames to our delight.

Now that their engagement session is done, I’m looking forward even more to their wedding, which is going to be a gorgeous outdoor affair at a park/amphitheater in North Carolina. Margaret is doing a lot of planning for the big day and incorporating a lot of handcrafted details, so I can’t wait to see what she has in store. She is also a talented letterpress artist and is printing my business cards and a few other materials for me! You will be seeing some of those soon if you haven’t already.

Isn’t Margaret beautiful? Can’t wait to see her as a bride. You’ll notice in the pictures the flowers Sassafras did for the shoot. Gorgeous! I love that succulent bouquet soo much.

Not only are they in love, but they balance each other out. Luke is more practical, Margaret is more of a dreamer. Ah, love is amazing.

I love these last two! Margaret + Luke you guys are wonderful and I can’t wait for your wedding this fall! Hope you enjoyed the pictures and stay tuned for round two tomorrow morning!