When our friends, Brian and Merritt, discussed their dream for their engagement session, Brian (the naturalist) saw a scene in nature, and Merritt (the romantic) pictured plenty of PDA. Their combined, binocular vision materialized in 3D up in the mountains of Tahoe for a playful photo shoot with bushels of smooches in the most gorgeous of alpine locations, along a trail featuring trees that were not only just tall and beautiful, but, according to Brian, could be identified by cone, bark, or leaf as Ponderosa Pines, Douglass Firs, or Pacific Dogwoods. Not only did we learn plenty of tree names, but also came to recognize the Juncos, Steller's Jays, and other birds that occupied them.

The photo session started in the morning with an impromptu jam session at the cabin, with Brian strumming his banjo and Merritt banging on a Peruvian jawbone. Meanwhile, our friends, Maya + Liam prepared breakfast, the bouquet of smoky bacon wafting out of the kitchen and creating smoke tails in the window's morning light. With filled bellies, we headed out on a hike to a high sierra alpine lake, getting a little lost on the way, but finding beautiful fall leaves for a perfect yellow and orange photo backdrop. After jumping some train tracks, we finally reached the lake, glacier cold and burnished a rippling blue by the sun and wind. Merritt + Brian were adorable, cuddling along the banks and practicing their rock-skipping skills. Back at the cabin, they threw together a gourmet pizza dinner (including a heart-shaped pizza pie!) and we all gathered around the kitchen table, relaxed and refreshed after our day soaking up nature.

We adore Merritt + Brian and they complement each other so wonderfully -- Merritt is always quick with her wit and full of laughter, and Brian is such a sweetheart, full of wood lore, and completely head-over-heels for his lovely lady. We are elated that Merritt + Brian are getting married and we are so happy to be able to document their engagement with these photos, that show all the ways the have fun and celebrate life together.

Congratulations M + B!!!! Lots of love.

Lake Tahoe Engagement Photo Session. © Bowerbird Photography 2014

xoxo,

Ariel + Sam