Rain After the Hail: Lauren & Jesse at Nelson-Kennedy Ledges State Park

Charles Novak

Oct 28

2 min read

Lauren & Jesse didn't let a hailstorm get in the way of their engagement session at Nelson-Kennedy Ledges State Park.

Watch Their Engagement Film

Waiting Out the Storm

We arrived at Nelson-Kennedy Ledges State Park just as a storm rolled through, and for a moment it looked like the session might have to be called off. Instead, we waited it out and decided to make the most of whatever the evening had in store.

Once the hail passed, we headed into the woods with a light rain still falling. We hiked the trails, explored the ledges, laughed along the way and embraced the weather instead of letting it stop us.

Lauren & Jesse standing beside a still pond that reflects the tree line

Lauren & Jesse walking hand in hand down a wet road after the storm

Jesse dipping Lauren in a grassy meadow under a cloudy sky

Jesse lifting Lauren off her feet in a meadow

Lauren & Jesse spinning together in tall green grass

Lauren & Jesse smiling close together, her head on his shoulder

Jesse holding Lauren as they laugh toward the camera

Rain in the Forest

The rain ended up adding so much to the session. The forest felt completely different, the trails were covered in water, and the soft overcast light created some incredible moments for both photography and video.

What started as a session that almost didn't happen turned into an evening that felt like its own little adventure.

Lauren & Jesse walking into a narrow rock passage at Nelson-Kennedy Ledges State Park

Lauren & Jesse kissing among moss-covered rocks at Nelson-Kennedy Ledges

Lauren & Jesse sitting close and laughing beneath a rock overhang

Lauren & Jesse standing small in a rocky gorge at Nelson-Kennedy Ledges

Lauren & Jesse on a rock ledge under a huge sandstone overhang

Lauren & Jesse beneath a giant rock formation in the forest

A small waterfall in a mossy gorge with Lauren & Jesse below it

Lauren & Jesse sitting by a waterfall in a green, rain-soaked gorge

Lauren & Jesse sitting on the rocks below the waterfall at Nelson-Kennedy Ledges

Jesse holding Lauren beside a moss-covered rock wall

Lauren & Jesse walking a narrow trail between tall rock walls

Lauren & Jesse standing on a fallen log across a mossy gorge

Close portrait of Lauren & Jesse in the forest, foreheads together

When Plans Change

That's one of our favorite things about engagement sessions. They don't always have to go exactly as planned, and sometimes the unexpected moments are what make the photos and film even more meaningful.

Years from now, Lauren & Jesse won't just remember what they wore or how the photos looked. They'll remember the hailstorm, hiking through the rain, chasing the light and laughing through an evening that turned out completely different than expected. That's what makes this session theirs.