🎨 What a vibrant, artsy, unique engagement session– I am so happy to be a creative LGBTQ+ engagement photographer! Breanne & Steph are fun, easy-going, sweet, and willing to get messy. I feel so lucky to be photographing their engagement and their wedding at The Bond!
When asked what they are hoping for in their photos, Steph says, “We’re hoping to have photos that truly reflect who we are as a couple—happy, real, and unique. We want images that tell our story and feel natural, not staged or overly posed. Mostly, we just want pictures that’ll make us smile every time we see them and bring back all the warmth from this unforgettable time!”
Breanne adds, “We want the overall feel to be vibrant and collaborative, pieces of us coming together—artistry, fun, and have a playful sense of experimentation—all captured in a way that’s visually striking but warm and relatable.”
That’s a tall order!! Let’s see how we did….
Why Rhinehart Photography?
Steph shares, “We were looking for more than just someone to take pretty pictures; we wanted a photographer who could truly capture the essence of our special day and help us preserve meaningful memories. Our venue (The Bond) actually suggested Lisa, and after learning more about her work, we knew she was the perfect choice. Her ability to tell stories through her photos and create authentic, heartfelt images made us confident that she could do more than just snap pictures; she could help us relive these moments for years to come.
She continues, “Planning our session with Lisa was a breeze. She took the time to understand our vision and helped us bring it to life. Her guidance made us feel confident and relaxed, allowing us to be ourselves during the shoot and resulting in photos that are truly ‘us.’”
Breanne adds, “Steph, who is typically very shy around new people, was able to come out of her shell quicker than I have ever seen. Lisa made her feel comfortable and allowed Steph to be herself.”
Kaleidoscope Vibes: Creative LGBTQ Engagement photographer
Breanne shares that, to them, the kaleidoscope pictures represent, “A mosaic of moments, colors, and textures that come together to tell a story. Each piece matters and, when joined, reveals a larger image of who we are.”
They also share that the mirrors, “Represent reflection, growth, and seeing all sides of us. They capture how we complement and challenge each other in playful ways.”
LOVE & LEGOS: Creative Collaboration
Steph reflects, “Our Lego moment is at the heart of our story. I proposed to Breanne in a scene that felt both planned and perfectly imperfect. She walked into the room before I was ready, and was surprised by our German shepherd wearing a bandana that read, “Will you marry my mommy?” Next, she was surprised by the ring box tucked in my pocket.”
She laughs, “After Breanne said yes and we shared a kiss, I admitted I still needed to make the real ring box. Then I pulled Legos from my other pocket and said, “I wanted to build the ring box, but you came over before I could put it together.” We ended up building the ring box together, brick by brick, and that moment became our blueprint for the future: we’ll construct our life side by side, with creativity, collaboration, and a whole lot of love.
WORKING WITH NATIVE AMERICAN ARTIST, RAINE
It was an honor to partner with a fantastic artist and my friend, Raine Dawn Valentine.
Steph and Breanne share, “We were aiming for something uniquely us. Lisa provided several ideas to help us narrow down our options, and Raine’s place stood out. As artsy people, a couple’s painting with Raine felt like a perfect way to reflect our personalities and collaboration as a couple.”
They continue, “We love that this setting isn’t just another outdoor, staged photo shoot. Raine is a Native American artist located about 20 minutes from us. After seeing her work and watching Lisa share a session from one of Raine’s classes, we knew we had found our ideal backdrop. The decision worked because it allowed us to infuse personal elements into the shoot.”
UNIQUE ENGAGEMENT RINGS: queer engagement photographer
Breanne shares about their rings, “Steph proposed first with a ring that made me speechless, which is hard to do. When it came time for me to find her ring, I knew it was no easy task. Steph’s desire to be truly unique inspired me when creating her engagement ring. I knew she would need something that would show off her personality and style. After seeing the Alexandrite stone, which changes colors depending on the lighting (varying shades of blue/green/purple), I knew it was the one. Proposal number two was a success! It was official, we had both said yes!”
COLOR PLAY: vibrant, playful lgbtq photographer
Breanne shares, “We wanted a vibe that felt creative, joyful, and true to who we are as a couple. The idea was to blend playful energy with meaningful, complementary moments that showcase our personalities. Steph and I are adults who still embrace our inner kids. This playful spirit helped shape the session, moments of lighthearted silliness balanced with genuine connection.
We leaned into creative setups and interactive elements (like the painting moment) to highlight how we complement and bring out the best in each other, while staying true to our love for exploration and creativity.”
Clean-up IN BEAUTIFUL LIGHT:
Steph smiles, “Lisa’s ability to make us feel comfortable and capture genuine moments is her biggest strength. She’s creative, attentive, and truly listens to what we want. Choosing Lisa was one of the best decisions we have made as a couple!”
ONE FINAL COLORFUL MOMENT
Breanne giggles, “Steph was initially very quiet, but I could sense there was more beneath the surface. Though she mostly smiled and kept her responses brief during our first date, her eyes had a way of drawing me in, like there was no silence at all, just an unspoken connection.”
Bashfully, Steph explains, “It’s so hard to pick just one thing that made me fall for Breanne. Her smile, her reactions, and the overall feeling of love. Those moments just come together. I can feel the connection between us, even though it’s hard to put into words.”
They smile, “We love our playful, childlike spirit that keeps our relationship fun and lighthearted. But what really makes us work is our strong communication and the deep bond we share. We’re able to be open, honest, and supportive, which helps us navigate everything together with love and understanding.”
Breanne & Steph: Slideshow
CIRCLING BACK: HOW’D I DO?
This couple started the blog with what they were looking for:
“We’re hoping to have photos that truly reflect who we are as a couple—happy, real, and unique. We want images that tell our story and feel natural, not staged or overly posed. Mostly, we just want pictures that’ll make us smile every time we see them and bring back all the warmth from this unforgettable time!”
Breanne adds, “We want the overall feel to be vibrant and collaborative, pieces of us coming together—artistry, fun, and have a playful sense of experimentation—all captured in a way that’s visually striking but warm and relatable.”
How do you think I did? Let me know in the comments 🙂
HUNGRY FOR MORE?
- More LGBTQ+ Photography
- Tips for Finding the Best LGBTQIA+ Wedding Photographers
- Stephanie & JP’s Wedding at The Bond
CONTACT ME!
Are you or someone you know looking for a photographer for their engagement, weddings, portraits, business branding, etc? I’m your girl! Contact me here, I’d love to hear all about it!