A Love That Shines: Alex & Andrea’s Downtown Glendale Engagement Session

I recently had the chance to photograph an engagement session in the heart of Glendale, Arizona, and it quickly became one of my favorite sessions to date. Alex and Andrea were an absolute joy to work with—easygoing, natural in front of the camera, and clearly so excited for this season of their lives together.

We began the session in the charming area of Catlin Court Historic District, which is always a perfect starting point for engagement photos. The historic homes, tree-lined streets, and soft neutral tones create such a warm and romantic atmosphere. Alex and Andrea settled into the session right away, laughing together and making my job incredibly easy. Their chemistry was effortless, which allowed us to focus on capturing authentic moments rather than overly posed ones.

Another thing that really stood out right away was how classy and well-coordinated Alex and Andrea’s outfits were. Alex’s clean, tailored look paired perfectly with Andrea’s elegant dress, creating a timeless style that complemented the historic surroundings beautifully. Their wardrobe choices elevated the entire session and gave the photos a polished, romantic feel that fit their personalities so well.

One detail that really stood out during the session was Andrea’s engagement ring. It featured a stunning rectangular-cut diamond that caught the light beautifully throughout the evening, especially as the golden hour glow began to soften. The elegant and timeless design complemented her style perfectly. I always love capturing close-up moments like this because the ring is such an important part of the story—it represents the beginning of their next chapter together. Andrea’s ring photographed beautifully and added a meaningful detail to the overall gallery.

From there, we explored some of the nearby alleys, which turned out to be a hidden gem for textures and variety. Between the layered brick walls, colorful doors, and interesting architectural details, each corner gave us something new to work with. I love incorporating these types of locations because they add depth and contrast to a gallery, and Alex and Andrea brought such great energy to every spot we found.

Next, we made our way toward the Glendale Civic Center. The clean lines and open spaces gave us a modern look that balanced nicely with the historic charm from earlier in the session. The light was starting to soften at this point, creating a more romantic feel as the evening progressed.

As golden hour approached, we walked over to Grace Lutheran Church, where the architecture added another beautiful backdrop. The structure and surrounding areas offered a timeless look that fit perfectly with Alex and Andrea’s style. By this point, the sunset colors were beginning to build, and we knew we wanted to end the session somewhere that would really showcase the sky.

To finish the evening, we headed to the top of a nearby parking structure—and it did not disappoint. The sunset delivered incredible color, and the open skyline gave us that dramatic, cinematic feel to close out the session. These ended up being some of my favorite images from the entire shoot. There’s something about ending an engagement session with sunset light that always brings everything together.

Alex and Andrea were truly wonderful to photograph. They were relaxed, fun, and completely themselves the entire time. What stood out most was how clearly in love they are—the way they looked at each other, laughed together, and naturally gravitated toward one another made every moment feel genuine. That connection really came through in the photos and gave the entire gallery a romantic, authentic feel that perfectly reflects this season of their relationship.

Sessions like this are a great reminder of why I love what I do—capturing genuine connection in beautiful locations, and this one will definitely remain a favorite for a long time.