Engagement photos have such an impact on a couple’s wedding experience: true, they result in lovely portraits of you and your favorite person during a beautiful season of life, but their benefits go far beyond that. They are the perfect opportunity to spend time with your photographer, learn their shooting style, get out any jitters you might have about being in front of the camera… plus, people, they’re just plain fun! Who doesn’t want the opportunity to make a fine memory with their soon-to-be and be able to cherish it for years to come? Certainly not Sara & Shawn — they’ve got this thing locked down!

A word from photographer, Lisa Silva:

“I met up with Sara and Shawn at the driftwood beach at Big Talbot Island, Florida on a sunny July day for a beachy engagement session with major summer vibes.

This shoot could not have been more perfect, from Sara’s flowy blue dress that made her eyes pop, to the gorgeous light, and the obvious chemistry between the two. I am so in love with the images and can’t wait for this beautiful couple’s wedding!”

Love notes from the couple, Sara & Shawn:

How did you two meet? What were your first impressions of one another?

“We met on a dating app and our first date was at a coffee shop.”

Sara: “I thought Shawn was so handsome and very easy to talk to.”

Shawn: “I thought Sara was very pretty, super intelligent, and I felt like I could talk to her forever.”

“We did in fact talk for an hour and a half over a honey vanilla latte and were almost late to work!”

Tell us a funny story relating to your relationship!

“Shawn swears we originally ‘met’ on another dating app and talked briefly, but I must have deleted the app, because we never actually met until over a year later when we reconnected on a separate app.”

What part of your wedding day is most important to you?

Shawn: “The whole day!”

Sara: “The most important part to me is the marriage itself, and committing our lives to one another. But if I had to pick just one moment, it would be seeing him for the first time!”

What was your favorite part about planning your wedding?

Sara: “My favorite part has honestly been our engagement photos! They were so fun to take, and a new experience for us which was surprisingly intimate and romantic.”

If you had one piece of advice for other couples, what would it be?

“Make their happiness your own, and love with a servant’s heart.”

photography: Lisa Silva / location: Big Talbot Island / film lab: Goodman Film Lab