An Autumn Dreamstate: Amanda & TJ’s Vintage-Inspired Engagement Session
When we first sat down with Amanda and TJ, it didn’t take long to realize they were going to be some of our favorite wedding clients. They are both elementary school teachers, pouring their hearts into the next generation, with Amanda specifically focusing on art. It was actually her artistic soul that sparked our initial connection. During our consultation, she mentioned how much she resonated with the name of our brand, Dreamstate. That shared appreciation for creativity laid the foundation for what would become an incredibly inspiring relationship.
From the moment you meet them, you can’t help but be drawn in by their beautiful personalities. They exude a rare kind of peacefulness, punctuated by constant laughter and genuine, radiant smiles. They possess a deep, effortless joy for life that is entirely infectious—a quality I found myself not only captivated by, but honestly a little envious of. Just being around them feels like taking a deep breath of fresh air.
Here at Dreamstate, we always design our engagement sessions to be deeply personal. Instead of just posing in pretty locations, we want the majority of our images to center on the activities, interests, and quiet moments that define a couple’s unique bond. We want to know: What common interests brought you together? What passions did you introduce to each other that sparked a whole new adventure?
For Amanda and TJ, the answer was a beautiful tapestry of art, music, and simple togetherness.
Both of them share a deep, consuming passion for LPs and records. Their vast collection takes up a proud majority of the cozy, beautiful apartment they share together near a scenic downtown park. When we planned their session, it only made sense to capture them in their element. We spent time documenting them exactly as they are on a quiet weekend: listening to record after record, letting the soft autumn breezes blow in from their balcony window while they cooked delicious meals together. We watched as they seamlessly transitioned from stirring something on the stove to taking impromptu breaks, swaying and slow dancing in the middle of the kitchen to their favorite songs.
But their story isn’t just confined to the walls of their apartment. Another beloved pastime is taking their tandem bike out for a spin through that beautiful downtown park. Driven by the crisp air and vibrant colors of the autumn months, their perfect afternoon consists of pedaling through the changing leaves, stopping for a warm cup of coffee, and naturally, visiting the local vintage record store to hunt for new treasures.
What I found so remarkable about capturing this season of their lives is the sheer authenticity of their bond. They truly both have their own distinct flavor and independent drive toward these hobbies. Neither of them ever has to force an interest for the sake of the other; their passions simply overlap in perfect harmony.
Their engagement session became a visual love letter to the life they are building. Art making, tandem bike riding, cooking warm meals, breathing in the autumn air, and listening to records while they slow danced in each other’s arms. They are moving to a soundtrack written decades before they were born, yet making it brand new for the beautiful life they are forging together. We couldn’t be more honored to have captured their dreamstate.
Stay tuned for our next blog post, where we’ll share the unforgettable story of their wedding day—a day that was going exactly as planned, until it started raining, hard – with choppers.
