Keeneland Engagement Session | Kayla & William

Kayla & William’s Keeneland Engagement Session

Kayla and William chose a Keeneland engagement session while they’re living in Lexington for school, and the location was especially fitting because William loves horse racing. Instead of sticking to the areas most people immediately associate with Keeneland, though, Kayla wanted their photos to look a little different.

We met in May on a slightly overcast evening, which gave us really pretty, even light as we explored some of the quieter areas of the property. It also gave me a chance to see a completely different side of Keeneland than I was used to.

Exploring a Different Side of Keeneland

When you think about engagement photos at Keeneland, the track and more recognizable horse racing areas are probably what come to mind first. Kayla specifically didn’t want to focus on those spots, so we headed farther back into the property instead.

One thing I hadn’t realized before their session was just how much more there is to Keeneland beyond the areas most people see. The back of the property has a much more park-like feel, and we had the area completely to ourselves during Kayla and William’s session.

Their outfits worked really well with the setting too. They went slightly dressier, with Kayla wearing a pink dress and William in a blue dress shirt and slacks.

Kayla is also one of those people who makes you feel like you’ve known her forever within about five minutes of meeting her. She’s incredibly bubbly, while William is a little quieter, and the two balance each other really well. We were able to keep the session relaxed while still giving them the slightly more polished look they wanted.

Bringing Their Dog to Their Engagement Photos

Kayla and William also brought their dog along, so of course we had to include her in some of their engagement photos.

When couples bring a dog to a session, I like to get the photos where everyone is looking at the camera, but some of my favorites are usually the ones where we’re actually giving the dog something to do. For Kayla and William, that included a photo of all three of them running together, which ended up being a really fun way to include her without expecting a dog to sit perfectly still for every photo.

From Lexington to Their Louisville Wedding

The next time I photograph Kayla and William will be very different from our quiet evening at Keeneland. They’re getting married next March with their ceremony at the Cathedral of the Assumption and their reception at Mellwood Art Center in Louisville.

That’s one of the things I enjoy about engagement sessions. By the time the wedding arrives, we’ve already spent time together, they’ve had a chance to see what it’s like being photographed by me, and being in front of the camera isn’t completely new anymore.

For Kayla and William, we also got engagement photos in a place that reflects this particular part of their lives together in Lexington before everyone heads to Louisville for the wedding.

Looking for a Lexington KY Engagement Photographer?

If you’re planning a Keeneland engagement session or looking for a Lexington KY engagement photographer, I’d love to hear what you have in mind. Your engagement photos don’t have to look exactly like everyone else’s photos at the same location, and I’m always happy to explore a different area or approach if there’s something you want to do.

You can learn more about my engagement photography and what’s included on my Services page, or reach out through my Contact page to start planning your session.