Engagement Photographer: Brayden & Aeva's Fernan Lake Engagement

Brayden and Aeva have such a cool story. They are also some amazing people. There is an energy around them, with so many great smiles, easy laughs, and a natural way of just being themselves. I don't know when that started but I wouldn't be surprised to hear it happened when they were in high school - when they first met. You see, Brayden transferred to Aeva's school (Gonzaga Prep) when he was going to be a senior. Turns out, Aeva and him both lived in Coeur d'Alene at the time and were some of the only people driving from CDA for school. So it didn't take long before these two started to carpool together to school. They would become friends - best friends. In the winter they found out that both of them loved to Ski, and would head up to Schweitzer with their group of friends - they of course would ride together (coming from Coeur d'Alene as they were).

Mt Spokane Engagement: Chris & Kelsey

I meet a lot of couples. I hear a lot of stories. But Chris and Kelsey are one of the very, very few that would classify as love at first sight. One of the amazing things is they weren't looking for it. Kelsey was in town for a couple months as she was working over seas, and Chris was out doing his own thing. The day was Valentines day, and neither of them were with someone. Chris went to a concert, and Kelsey found herself being stood up by some unknown jerk.

Engagement Downtown Spokane WA: Dan & Cameran

Dan and Cameran have known each other for a long time. They went to junior high together. They went to high school together. But they never talked. It was one of those things where they knew each other existed, but they weren't really friends. This all changed after high school. Dan would leave into the military but when he would come back home to visit, there was this cute girl hanging with all of his friends. So of course, he would talk to her.

Farragut State Park Engagement: Kyan & Beth

They met at work. Kyan told me that when he first met Beth she was "really annoying" which I thought was hilarious. He said it didn't take long though (a couple of shifts) to realize that Beth wasn't "trying really hard" but rather she was "just that funny". A friendship would blossom. Beth, for her part, really liked Kyan from the very beginning. He was "cute" and "a really good guy". And while their friendship began to grow, Kyan and no clue that the feelings weren't matched on either side.

Spokane Photographer: Stephon & Maria's Manito Engagement

Sometimes things align in the right way, and bring two people together who would never have met otherwise. For Stephon and Maria, this is how I think of their story. Maria, visiting Hawaii on vacation from her staying Australia, was out looking to get some drinks with her friend. They picked a bar. The same bar that Stephon and his air force friends had also picked (they were there for a little while from where they were stationed in Japan). Two people, from two totally different parts of the world, end up going to the same bar.

Spokane Engagement Photographer: Pierre & Molly's Tubbs Hill Engagement

Pierre and Molly like the same drink (Tequila on the rocks), and several years ago Pierre was in CDA visiting when he and her happened to order the same drink. Now, to be fair, the fact they ordered the same drink is just a cool little fact, it wasn't what brought them together. In fact, Pierre said their eyes locked from across the room, so he got up, walked over to her and said "do I know you from somewhere?" Molly, for her part, thought she also recongized him. Pierre has such a genuine smile, and kind manner, that it is easy to think of him as someone you've talked with before. In this case, neither of them knew each other.

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Brent Looyenga is a Spokane wedding photographer based IN SPOKANE WASHINGTON and Coeur d’Alene Idaho area. He loves people and specializes in wedding, engagement, family and senior photography. You can like Looyenga Photography on Facebook or follow them on Instagram.