Some sessions live in your heart long after the shutter clicks—and this one is especially close to mine. My sister Claire and her fiancé Santiago got engaged recently, and we knew exactly how we wanted to celebrate: with a session that felt cinematic, nostalgic, and so very them.
We’d been dreaming up this Lana Del Rey coded engagement session for months with Santiago’s Indian motorcycle. Claire, with her effortlessly retro fashion sense and deep love for all things vintage, had already been curating outfits that gave major 60s and 70s energy. So when they officially got engaged, we knew it was the perfect time to bring our vision to life.
We shot the session out at our grandparents’ ranch in Poth, Texas. The land there is wild and golden, with tall, whispy grass that sways in the wind like something out of a dream. The sun hung low in the sky that evening, casting everything in warm, honey-drenched light. It was the kind of setting that feels like a memory even while you’re still in it.
Claire channeled that signature Lana Del Rey energy in every way—from her winged eyeliner and chic headband to the dramatic, feminine silhouettes she wore. Think lace, leather, fringe, and a little bit of mystery. Santiago was the perfect counterpart—laid-back and cool on his bike, with the kind of effortless confidence that made everything feel natural. Together, they looked like they belonged on the cover of a vintage vinyl or in the pages of an old Rolling Stone spread.
Every frame from their Lana Del Rey coded engagement session tells its own story. One moment they were slow dancing in the tall grass with the motorcycle parked nearby, the next they were laughing in each other’s arms as the sky turned that dusky blue only Texas can offer. They rode the bike through the open field, the grass parting around them as Claire held tight, her hair catching the breeze and boots kicked up behind him. It felt like a scene from an old film reel.
There’s a certain kind of magic that happens when you photograph people you know and love—when the setting is familiar, and the story is deeply personal. That was this session for me. More than just documenting a milestone, it felt like capturing a love letter to their style, their story, and this wildly romantic chapter of life.
Claire and Santiago’s engagement session wasn’t just about pretty photos—it was about a mood. It was the essence of Lana Del Rey’s world: a little vintage, a little wild, deeply romantic, and undeniably cool. And on that golden Texas evening, with the sun melting into the hills and the hum of the motorcycle in the background, it all came together like a dream.
My couples are anything but typical, and you deserve photos that reflect that. Looking for an engagement photographer who makes taking photos fun? Fill out my contact form and let’s chat!
be the first to comment