Sometimes a shoot is about telling the couple’s story. And sometimes it’s about chasing a feeling—leaning into the energy of a place and seeing where the day takes you. Set the engagement session in Vegas around Valentine’s Day, then yeah… you are absolutely chasing a feeling!

That’s exactly what we did with Jasmine and Elias for their super sick, super energized, super engagement session! Did I mention it was super?

Why Vegas?

Vegas is one of those places that’s impossible to fit into a box. It’s got the glitz, the grit, the romance, the weirdness—and whatever happens in Vegas, stays there. Except, today, we have permission to share these photos! There’s something about shooting here that feels a little whole lot adventurey every time. Adventurey is now a new word – you have mine and Zoey’s blessing to use it whenever you want.

That’s what drew us to the idea of this shoot. We reached out to Jasmine and Elias and asked if they’d be up for playing along. They said yes, and the rest of the day unfolded the way the best shoots always do—organically, without too much planning, and with plenty of room for the unexpected.

Valentine’s Engagement Session in Vegas

We kept this one loose on purpose. Really, we try to keep every session loose. The one thing Zoey and I never want to do is make an image “posed” or even perfect. We embraced this idea a long time ago because we want our photos to represent life and living. Two things which are never perfect, but somehow are beautiful.

We wandered through different parts of the city—finding corners with great light, little pockets of color, and plenty of Vegas charm along the way.

There’s something about having a couple out in the middle of Vegas on Valentine’s Day that makes the energy feel different. The city was buzzing—people everywhere celebrating, laughing, taking photos, grabbing drinks, and just soaking it all in. Jasmine and Elias fit right into that scene.

They weren’t overly posed or trying too hard. They were playful, relaxed, and just present with each other—which is always when the best images happen.

Why Shoots Like This Matter

One of the things we always encourage couples to think about when planning engagement sessions (or even wedding day portraits) is this: make moments, then memories.

There is this idea that every session needs to be memorable, but not every thing we do is memorable. Have you ever stood in line at the DMV? Yeah, we would rather not remember that too.

So how do you design a moment? Well, in this case, just going to Vegas is filled with moments. We’ve done simple things to design moments as simple as going out to eat pizza.

Not every session has to be at a perfectly manicured venue or in a matching outfit. Sometimes the best photos come from letting go of the idea of “perfect” and just saying:

“Let’s go explore. Let’s chase some light. Let’s have fun with this.”

That’s what made this session so refreshing. Jasmine and Elias were down for whatever, and Vegas gave us plenty to work with.

Valentine’s Vibes

Doing this session on Valentine’s Day made the whole thing even more special. The city was alive with couples celebrating in every way you can imagine—from quick chapel weddings to rooftop dinners to hand-in-hand walks down the strip.

It was the kind of day where love—big, loud, subtle, sweet—was everywhere. And getting to photograph Jasmine and Elias in the middle of it all was a great reminder that sometimes the simplest shoots can be the most meaningful.

Final Thoughts

You don’t need a traditional wedding day to create photos that tell a story. Sometimes you just need a couple who’s down to explore, a city with endless energy, and an afternoon that doesn’t ask for anything more than good company and a camera.

Vegas, you delivered again.
And Jasmine and Elias—thanks for saying yes to this little adventure with us.