Meant to Be in Hocking Hills: Magical Cedar Falls Engagement

April Transformation

Hocking Hills in April is a study in transformation, where deep green hemlocks meet the first delicate spring blooms. When Shay and Hunter reached out to document their engagement, I knew the mossy textures and rushing water of Cedar Falls would perfectly reflect their connection.

A close-up of the forest floor at Cedar Falls in the Hocking Hills, featuring delicate spring ephemeral wildflowers emerging.

Meant to Be

Shay and Hunter’s story is a classic case of "meant to be." Though they met on Hinge in Ohio—where Shay is an ophthalmologist, and Hunter is a neurology resident at Ohio State—they soon discovered their paths had crossed years prior. Both attended the University of Iowa at the same time and likely were in the same lecture together.

A close-up of an engaged couple in a wooded setting, with the woman’s hand held toward the camera to showcase a sparkling engagement ring. The couple is softly blurred in the background, focusing attention on the ring and the texture of the forest environment.

A Hocking Hills Milestone

Their path to marriage began with a mutual, heartfelt conversation about their future at Goodale Park, followed by a celebratory dinner. With a summer elopement in Tennessee on the horizon, their Hocking Hills engagement session was the perfect way to pause and honor their milestone.

Unicorn Vibes

Shay looked like a literal unicorn stepping into the woods, her hair set in a heatless curling rod for our descent into the gorge. I always advise wearing sensible shoes for the hike down—having seen too many heels meet their match in the mud and on uneven terrain—but we lucked out with dry trails. At the bottom, as the light hit a sandstone wall, Shay swapped her sneakers for sandals and unfurled her hair.

An engaged couple arrives at the Cedar Falls trailhead in the Hocking Hills; the woman wears a light-colored heatless curling rod wrapped over the top of her head, resembling a unicorn horn, as they prepare for their spring session.

The Quiet Strength of Care

In the quiet, "in-between" moments, Hunter’s care for Shay was undeniable. Without being asked, he held her steady and used his phone to help her adjust her hair. This gentle, protective energy reminded me of what he mentioned about their first date in a park; though he didn't want the night to end, he was mindful of making sure Shay felt safe as dusk fell. That same thoughtfulness was present all afternoon.

A couple stands before the rushing white water of Cedar Falls; the woman twirls in a long, mossy green dress that catches the light, while the man leans in to capture her movement with a vintage Polaroid camera.

Nostalgic Moments

We reached the waterfall and found ourselves in solitude. To lean into the fun, I brought out my Polaroid camera. It was wonderful watching them swap the camera to capture candid glimpses of each other. I could tell that they loved the nostalgia of the film, and I suggested they purchase a similar camera to help document their elopement.

A Woodland Tale

The creek was high, so we spent our time exploring the rock shelf and didn’t cross closer to the waterfall. Shay leaned against a tree and looked like a woodland nymph. I asked them to role-play a story: a man discovering a forest spirit and gently leading her away from her tree to show her the world.

A man reaches out his hand to support a woman as she carefully steps down from a moss-covered rock and tree trunk, capturing a supportive and gentle moment in a lush forest of Hocking Hills.

An engaged couple stands poised against a towering, weathered rock formation; the woman rests her head gently on the man’s shoulder with a serene expression, their steady and graceful pose resembling a classical stone sculpture amidst the rugged textures of the gorge.

Finding Home

On a rock formation I hadn't used in years, I positioned Shay leaning into Hunter’s shoulder—the visual personification of finding "home" in another person. The result was timeless and strong, reminiscent of a marble statue of Greek gods.

Merging with Nature

I had an idea in post-processing. I created multiple exposures by layering spring ephemerals over their portraits to symbolize their lives merging with Nature. We also experimented with motion and shutter speeds, resulting in ghostly individual frames that I transformed into mystical, living GIFs.

A double exposure portrait of an engaged couple layered with delicate spring ephemeral wildflowers. The couple’s silhouettes are translucent, allowing the intricate details of the blooms and forest greenery to shimmer through them, creating a mystical, ethereal effect that blends the subjects into the natural landscape.

An overhead, close-up shot of two people sitting together, holding a small, square Polaroid photo. In the film's frame, a woman smiles while framing a heart shape with her hands against a backdrop of spring forest greenery. The Polaroid is placed in a heart carved into the sandstone.

Polaroid Keepsakes

Before the crowds arrived, we sat together and looked at their Polaroids. Hunter’s favorite was a shot he took of Shay making a heart with her hands.

View Shay & Hunter's Magical Gallery

April in the Hocking Hills provided the perfect backdrop of new blooms and rushing water for Shay and Hunter’s engagement. From nostalgic Polaroids to mystical double exposures, their session captured the quiet, authentic magic of their connection.

Tell Your Story

Ready to capture your own "meant to be" moments? Whether you’re planning a romantic elopement or a whimsical engagement session, I’d love to help you tell your story.

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Meant to Be in the Hocking Hills: An Enchanted Cedar Falls Engagement