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Gilifan Trail Engagement Photos | Emily & Jason

September 5, 2019

engagement

Gilifan Trail Engagement Photos

Emily & Jason

These Gilifan trail engagement photos have completely stolen my heart! Not just because of the gorgeous location, but mostly because of the wonderful people in them. I honestly could not wait to meet Emily and Jason in person. Speaking with them over the phone, I just knew they were my ideal clients. Meeting them in person confirmed all my predictions. They have the kindest hearts, and I instantly felt connected with them. I am pretty sure Emily and I are kindred spirits. Our personalities synced right up! We even introduced our love for “The Office” to our significant others around the same time! I just know we will be good friends long after their wedding.

Before this session, I had never explored Gilifan Trail before. It is a beautiful square trail in Upper St. Clair. In the middle of the trail is a private property (with cows!!! I love me some sweet little cows!) and a private garden held by the Gilifan Trust. We spoke with some of the wonderful people who tend to the private garden there, and they allowed us to come in! I loved shooting with the wildflowers! Gilifan Trail also has an old cabin shed that created the perfect backdrop for us. It transported us out of the suburbs and right into the countryside.

Emily and Jason brought so many fun goodies to use as props. I love when my clients bring a variety of items to play with, as well as multiple outfits. These two brought flowers, a sign, a bible, their favorite coffee mugs, a blanket and tons of outfit choices. Of course I loved photographing them with their mugs – these two, like me, LOVE COFFEE! At the very end of the session, we photographed them each wearing black shirts and jeans because they often (unintentionally) dress in the same outfits. This made me laugh!

Their story

Emily and Jason met at a bible camp. They quickly became friends. Then, as Emily tells it, their relationship blossomed into what she knew would eventually end in marriage. Emily says they love to travel together, try new restaurants, go to coffee shops, watch movies, go on hikes, attend concerts, and dance together. Jason added they also love to go to Marshals or Target, eat delicious food, and learn, talk or sing about God.

Something else that made this session special, is that Gilifan Trail is not just the location of their engagement photos, it is also the location of their proposal! Jason planned a sweet little picnic, took her to a side trail that opened to a field, and proposed to Emily there. Of course we took some cute shots out in that field, too.

Their hearts

Emily and Jason have rooted their hearts, their lives, and their relationship in their love for God. Emily admits that one of her favorite things about Jason is the fact that he loves God more than anyone or anything in his life, and this makes everything else in life better. She wants her future self to remember that “it is okay to grow slow, that God loves you right where you are at, and to love because He first loved us.” Jason hopes he always remembers that his “wife is a gift from God, build good things in your relationship together.”

At the end of the night, these two made me cry. Obviously, this was my first time exiting an engagement session in tears! When we ended the session they asked if I needed any prayers for myself. My initial response was that we could pray for them to have a stress free wedding experience. However, as we held hands to pray, Jason thanked God for bringing me into their lives. He asked God to watch over me. I immediately started to cry thinking about how overwhelmed I have been feeling and how much I needed to hear that. Just God reminding me that I am following the path he has made for me.

I know their wedding day is going to be a special one, and I will forever be grateful I get to be a part of this journey with them!