A Summer Couple’s Session in Missoula- Kihla & Jakob

When I first connected with Kihla, I knew this session was going to be extra special. She told me that she and Jakob are in a long-distance relationship — between school in Washington and school in Missoula — and that the time they do get together in person is precious. That made their upcoming session feel like more than just photos: it was a moment of presence, a memory bank they’d turn to when the miles stretch between them again.

We chose the beautiful green setting of Silver’s Lagoon in Missoula, Montana, a lush little lagoon surrounded by trees and reflected light, water with ducks floating by, and that glorious soft summer hue. The setting felt like a natural storybook for couples photography: water shimmering, the green of summer surrounding them, a little island-feeling path where they could just be together.

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The Story Unfolds

From the moment they arrived, the session felt easy — and that’s exactly what makes for beautiful images. Kihla brought something deeply personal: a locket with Jakob’s initial on it, and tucked inside, a photo of them together. That little detail? It told a story all on its own: their connection, the thoughtfulness, the way love honors memory even when you’re apart.

We walked the lagoon’s path, paused by the water’s edge, watched tiny ripples, heard a duck quack in the background, and captured the two of them just being. There were playful moments — laughter, soft touches, glances that say “I’m so glad we’re here, together” — and vulnerable ones, too. It is such a brave thing to stand in front of a camera, and when couples trust me enough to be themselves — to be silly, to twirl, to lean in, to just hang out — the photographs become them, not just “posed”.

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Why this session mattered

Because each time they’re together is a gift, and we got to freeze that gift in time. When Jakob and Kyla go back to their separate campuses — when calls and messages bridge the gap — they’ll have these images: a reminder of touch, of laughter, of shared space. A tangible memory of this summer day by the lagoon in Missoula.

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After years of life in Montana, I am now based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and am available for weddings and sessions in both NC and for destinations across the country.