We just have to start out by saying that any time spent with Sam and Tim is time well spent. They’re two of the kindest, most genuine people you’ll ever meet, and we feel so lucky they’ve chosen us time and again to capture their life’s big milestones. This post about their engagement session is years overdue, and since then we’ve photographed their wedding, maternity photos, and even their son at our Santa Minis every single year, starting when he was just days old (yes, days old!). But before all of that, there was this unforgettable engagement session that still makes us smile whenever we look back at it.
We kicked things off at Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park in Tampa. The choice of location was actually a little funny—Sam had found a photo on Pinterest of a Tampa engagement shoot that she loved, and we were determined to figure out where it had been taken. The only clue we had was that it was “along the river.” After way too many hours of searching, we finally realized it was indeed at Julian B. Lane…but the photo she’d found was from before the park was redone, which explained why we couldn’t match it up exactly! Even though it looked different now, the park gave us beautiful spots to explore and a relaxed start to the session.
Sam and Tim are the epitome of best friends, and it shines through in every photo. Whether they were walking hand-in-hand, laughing at an inside joke, or simply leaning into one another, their chemistry was effortless. The park’s open spaces and riverside views gave us the perfect backdrop to highlight their natural connection.
Of course, no session with Sam and Tim would be complete without incorporating something personal to them. They pulled out their favorite card game, Monopoly Go, and it was such a fun addition. Watching them play—teasing each other, laughing nonstop, and letting their competitive sides come out, gave us some of the most candid and genuine photos of the day.
To top it all off, we ended the session with a boat rental that perfectly fit their adventurous yet laid-back vibe. Sam and Tim brought along their own charcuterie board, queued up their favorite music, and snuggled close as we cruised down the river. In true romantic-comedy fashion, they even fed each other grapes, laughing the whole way through. It was intimate, playful, and so them. The combination of gorgeous water views and their sweet connection made for the perfect ending to this incredible engagement session.
Sam and Tim’s Tampa engagement session perfectly reflected who they are: fun-loving, adventurous, and completely in sync with one another. From laughing through Monopoly Go to sharing quiet moments on the boat, their love story shone in every frame. Sessions like this remind us why we do what we do, it’s about capturing not just posed photos, but the real, joyful moments that make a relationship unique.
xo,
Veronica
Southern City Photography
