A man and woman stand back to back and smile at the camera while standing in front of a brick wall during their engagement session in downtown Springfield, Illinois

Engagement Session in Springfield, Illinois | Abby + Mick

[THE BLOG]

For Abby and Mick’s engagement session in Springfield, Illinois they wanted to tie things back to the roots of their relationship. From the locations to the time of day, there was so much thought and purpose put into planning their engagement session, and I for one CANNOT get enough of it! These two had an incredible engagement session, and have an equally incredible love story that I’m SO excited to share with you all here!

A couple in a park smile at one another while they dance during their engagement session in Springfield, Illinois

A Bit About These Two

So first let’s take a look at Abby and Mick’s relationship to see what made their engagement session in Springfield, Illinois as special as it was. For starters these two have a ton of history, going to the same high school together, having similar friends, and even having undisclosed CRUSHES on one another! Their relationship didn’t start there though, that wouldn’t happen until 5 whole years after high school where they met again on a night out on the town. That night they and their group of friends hit Gin Mill, Floyd’s, and finally Celtic, which for those of you who are not from Springfield is a bar that stays open to the lovely hour of 3am!

Throughout the night Mick was flirting with Abby, but this STILL wasn’t the start of their relationship. This next gap was much shorter though, as it was only a few months before the two crossed paths on dating apps. From there it was basically a done deal. From then on their conversations came quickly and naturally, and their first date in Abby’s garage consisted of a 9 hour conversation followed by a slow dance. Talk about romance! Eventually Mick would propose to Abby in Washington Park which brings us to their engagement session at that same park.

A woman smiles at a man while they dance together in a park during their engagement session in Springfield, Illinois

2 photos side by side of a couple dancing in a park together, the left is of them both upright close together, and the right is of the woman smiling as the man dips her

2 side by side photos of a man and woman standing next to one another in a park each with an arm wrapped around the other. In the right photo they are kissing and in the left they are looking at one another

A man and a woman stand side by side in a park while holding hands and looking in opposite directions during their engagement session in Springfield, Illinois

A man smiles as a woman touches his chin and leans in for a kiss while the two stand in a park during their engagement session in Springfield, Illinois

2 photos side by side, the left is a close up of a woman's hand with an engagement ring on it, the couple is out of focus in the background. In the right photo the couple smile at one another as the man lifts the woman in the air

3 photos side by side of a couple in a park together, the left is of them hugging and the woman smiling at the camera, the middle is of them hugging and both looking at the camera, the right is of them gesturing and making funny faces towards the camera

2 photos side by side of a couple in a park, in both photos the man is kissing the woman on the cheek while she smiles with her eyes closed towards the camera

2 photos side by side of a man and woman sitting at a picnic table in a park, the left photo is of the woman laughing as the man sticks his tongue out at her, the right photo is of them smiling while holding hands at the table

2 black and white photos side by side, the left is of a man and a woman sitting next to one another at a picnic table in a park about to kiss, the right is of the same couple and the woman is laughing as the man whispers something in her ear

2 photos side by side of a man and a woman sitting at a picnic table in a park together, the left is a close up of the woman's dress and the right is of the man hugging the woman as they both close their eyes

Their Engagement Session in Downtown Springfield

I told you how Abby and Mick were extremely purposeful with their engagement session, and that’s not me just fluffing up their session! Washington Park is a gorgeous park in Springfield, Illinois and the perfect location for an engagement session, hence it being on my list of top engagement session locations in the city! Abby and Mick’s session had the extra emotional attachment to it though being the location of Mick’s proposal. It was SO much fun to capture these two at this moment in their relationship in a spot that already meant the world to them.

The tie backs to their early days doesn’t end there though! Later on for our session we made our way into downtown Springfield for some more portraits throughout our lovely town. As the sun set and the night began to fall on the city, the setting must have been similar to the night where Abby and Mick reconnected on their night out. Talk about a perfect way to end an engagement session!

2 photos side by side of a couple walking with one another in front of a brick building, the left photo they are smiling at one another and in the right photo the man is skipping while looking back at the woman

During an engagement session in downtown Springfield, Illinois a man makes a face at the camera while spinning a woman as they dance in front of a brick wall

During an engagement session in downtown Springfield, Illinois a woman laughs at the sky as a man smiles at her and holds her hands while they stand together in front of a brick wall

3 photos side by side of a couple in front of a brick wall, the left is of them standing together and about to kiss, the middle is of the man lifting the woman in the air, and the right is of them standing next to one another looking in opposite directions

During their engagement session in downtown Springfield, Illinois a man leans in for a kiss as the woman smiles at him, the background is a brick wall

2 black and white photos side by side of a couple standing back to back with one another in front of a brick wall, in the left photo their eyes are closed and in the right photo they are open

Black and white photo of a couple holding hands and looking at one another while walking across a street during their engagement session in downtown Springfield Illinois

2 photos side by side of a couple sitting together on a set or red metal stairs, the left photo is of them touching their foreheads together, the right is of the man kissing the woman on the forehead

2 photos side by side, the left is in black and white and is of a couple sitting together on an outdoor staircase and smiling at the camera, the right photo is of the same couple in the same spot but in color and the man is kissing the woman on the cheek

While underneath an overhang a man and woman dance with one another at night during their engagement session in downtown Springfield, Illinois

2 photos side by side of a couple together underneath an overhang, the right is in color and is of the man kissing the woman on the cheek, the right is in black and white and is of the man lifting one of the woman's legs as she smiles

During their engagement session in downtown Springfield, Illinois a couple are about to kiss one another while under a light outdoors

2 photos side by side of a couple underneath a clear overhang, the left is in black and white and the couple look in opposite directions from one another, the right is in color and is of the couple smiling looking in the same direction

I had SO much fun with Abby and Mick during their engagement session in Springfield, Illinois! This session has been a favorite of mine for a long time now, and I’m so glad I’m finally able to share it with you all. If you’d like to see some of my other favorite engagement sessions in Springfield check out this one downtown, or this one outside the Illinois Capitol Building. If you’re ready to book me for your own engagement session and wedding day send me an inquiry!

Engagements

October 26, 2023

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Heyoo, I'm Rachael (she/her)! I'm a Wedding + Elopement Photographer based in Illinois, helping tell love stories in Chicago, St Louis, and beyond. I hope you'll find some inspiration and helpful resources on this blog, whether or not you choose me to be a part of your big day.

No Gatekeeping Here!

All love is affirmed & celebrated here.

more about me & My Work

I'll give you direction when you need it and space when you don't. I believe the best photos aren't always the ones where everyone is looking at the camera.

Sometimes they're the ones where your best friend is crying. Your grandma is laughing.
Your partner is looking at you when you aren't paying attention. And someone is absolutely losing their mind on the dance floor.

Those are the photos I want to make.

I'm Rachael (she/her) by the way.

For the people who would rather be living the moment than posing for it.