Not Just Couple Sessions: Capturing the In-Between Moments That Matter

Stephanie Brown
Jun 17
2 min read

I recently had the privilege of photographing a couple whose story pulled at all the heartstrings. They started dating back in high school. The kind of young love that grows through hallway glances, long car rides, and texting late into the night. Now, they’re navigating college, long distance, and all the complicated, beautiful transitions that come with growing up side by side, even if miles apart.

This summer, they’re both home in Grand Rapids. It’s brief, just a few weeks. A pause in the middle of two different internships in two different states. One is headed to Georgia. The other to California. So they reached out for a photoshoot. Not for an engagement. Not for a big announcement. But simply to capture this fleeting moment. This sweet, sun-soaked space in their relationship where they finally get to just be together.

And honestly, it was one of the most romantic and intentional sessions I’ve ever photographed.

They were playful and full of laughter. Holding each other like they’ve done for years, and yet still looking at each other like it was all brand new. We chased golden light. Recreated little date ideas that meant something to them. Made space for stillness too. The kind of quiet that only exists when you’re with someone who knows your heart.

These are the moments I live to capture.

Not just the “big moments”. But the in-betweens. The early mornings before they fly off to different time zones. The walks through favorite parks. The soft, familiar way they lean into each other after months apart.

If you’re in Grand Rapids this summer and you’re home with someone you love, whether you’re dating, married, long distance, or somewhere in between, I’d love to help you freeze this chapter in time. These sessions don’t have to be fancy or posed. They can be as simple as a picnic, an ice cream stop, or a walk in a spot that holds meaning to you.