When I was little, my aunt and uncle would take my younger sister and me to Southeast Michigan's Kensington Metropark. I remember going to the park's Farm Center, where my aunt and uncle would pull out some bird seed and pour it into our hands. After standing still for a few minutes, black-capped chickadees would land on our fingers to snack on the seed.
That was back when I wasn't afraid of literally everything. Now that I'm older, I think I would be too nervous to let the birds land on me! Regardless, the memories, while vague, are sweet.
It has been years since my aunt and uncle used to take me there, so when Shelby and Ben told me they wanted to do their spring engagement photos at Kensington Metropark, I was thrilled! As many of you might already know, I have been slowly becoming more and more interested in bird photography. I’ve been on a mission to photograph a bald eagle for a few years now, and I’m constantly trying (and failing) to take photos of red-winged blackbirds. This new obsession combined with the sweet time shared with my aunt and uncle as a child, made this session all the more special for me. Kensington is FILLED with birds, and much to my delight, Shelby and Ben’s photos are also filled with birds!
Photos with subtle details and secrets have always been my favorite, so I’m excited to have a portrait gallery filled with them! As you look through this blog post, I encourage you to count how many birds you see in the photos. Don’t worry if you think it might be the same bird twice. Once you have your answer, send me an email telling me how many you spotted. Anyone who gets the answer right will receive a $10.00 credit for their next session with Pábitel Photography along with five additional photos added onto the selected session package!*
Okay, now onto the fun stuff…
Shelby and Ben
Shelby and Ben met back in 2019 through a dating app. If you’ve met them, they have probably told you a different story about how they met though. 😉 Their first date was at a bookstore. One of their first dates after that first-first date was to Kensington Metropark where they still like to visit once in awhile with their pups. And, when Ben proposed, he did so in the parking lot of their favorite breakfast spot.
Now, I can always tell a lot about a couple during the short amount of time I spend with them planning and executing an engagement session. Just from this quick backstory summary, don’t you feel a sense of home and coziness? Humble moments filled with warmth and love? I sure do!
they care about each other's feelings I learned several other things about Shelby and Ben as a couple during our time working together over the last couple of months. For example, when I received a random email from Ben saying “Most important to me is just that Shelby feels stunning in the photos. If there is anything I can do to help with that, please let me know,” I immediately could tell that these two truly care about each other’s interests and feelings. It’s not too often that when working with a couple both reach out to me to help with the planning aspect. Usually, I just have one point of contact (it had been Shelby up until this point)! This was my first session where the other person in the couple reached out to me individually.
they balance each other out
Out of the two of them, Shelby seems to be much more reserved than Ben who is the more extraverted one in the pair, and while I haven’t known Shelby and Ben very long at all, it is clear to me that they balance each other out perfectly. Watching them talk and interact, it is so obvious that they are best friends. Throughout their hour and a half spring engagement photo session at Kensington, their laughter was absolutely contagious and truly so fun to witness.
they are comfortable in the quiet moments The way Shelby and Ben look at each other is something else. Their facial expressions are filled with so much love. It’s heartwarming. When I think of their eyes filled with love, exactly two things come to mind, especially when looking at the photo below.
First, a quote from Everything Everywhere All at Once.
“…I wanted to say, in another life, I would have really liked just doing laundry and taxes with you.”
Sometimes it’s not about the big, exciting moments and accomplishments. A lot of times it’s simply about the little in-between moments: a glance here and there, a person’s gentleness, and who makes those dreaded life tasks much more enjoyable. This one line completely encapsulates how Shelby and Ben look at each other.
And second, a Taylor Swift lyric (you know her lyrics are constantly running through my mind).
“...give you the silence that only comes when two people understand each other.”
This is what I see when I look at Shelby and Ben. I have said it over and over again, but it’s the little, quiet, in-between moments that make life, or in this case, a relationship so wonderful. These simple, real moments are so beautiful and are what you truly want to remember whether you're aware of it at the time or not. These seconds are the ones to photograph and the ones to build a life upon, and from what I can tell, Shelby and Ben have already created a pretty solid foundation to start with.
Thank you, Shelby and Ben, for letting me into your lives and for creating such magic with me. I can't wait for your September wedding!
*Offer only valid through July 1, 2022. A contract must be signed, and a deposit paid, for your session by June 1st, 2022. More details will be sent through email to those who qualify.
A few of my typical side notes:
I am currently booking all of the sessions! Contact me to learn more, or check out my services to learn more about what session types I provide.
I am looking for two real couples to model for me. The session and photos are free! Learn more and apply today!
Download your list of my 10 Date Ideas for Guaranteed Fun in Michigan.
NEW for 2022: gift cards and a print shop for my nature + landscape photos. Contact me to purchase a gift card, and visit my print shop here.
Pábitel Photography is now on Society6! Visit my shop, and read about why I chose Society6 as a source of passive income!