For Nick & Kate’s engagement session, we spent the afternoon walking along the lake at St. Mary’s just talking and checking out the beautiful scenery.  Fall is my absolute favorite season of the year, even if us Chicagoans only get to experience it for just a short amount of time.  I love the crisp coolness in the air; the changing colors of the trees and vegetation; I love the smell of burning leaves that hits your nose every now and again; the gentle wind through your hair; and most of all, I love that fall weather is just perfect enough to bring out  all those great boots, sweaters and light pea coats that have been hibernating in your closet all year round.  My favorite season + two fun, adorable people in love + my camera = the perfect Saturday afternoon.  As you can tell, Nick & Kate are just so laid back and so in love, I couldn’t have asked for an easier day (and how cute is it that Nick’s parents used to walk through these woods together all the time when they were first dating?).  Thanks for spending the day with me K&N, Vasili and I are really looking forward to your wedding next May! In the mean time, enjoy just a few of my favorites from our time together.. 🙂

On a side note, when I asked Kate & Nick to sit on these stairs, I instantly noticed the way that the afternoon sun lit up Kate’s gorgeous red hair.  Without any hesitation I told Kate how beautiful she was (because let’s face it, a woman can never be told too many times how great she looks). Kate chuckled a little, as if she didn’t believe me…

… but Kate, this is what I saw through my lens.