Some love stories feel written in the stars. Rylie and Conner’s? It was written in the dust of her family’s cattle property, where the air smelled of leather and hay, and the kind of history that only comes with generations of tending the land. It’s the same place where Conner first walked into Rylie’s life—quiet, steady, and ready to make his mark.

The way they met is pure Western romance. Conner came out to help her family brand cattle, a day filled with hard work, cowboy grit, and a touch of serendipity. Rylie, as fate would have it, was on a date with someone else—but the minute Conner showed up, it was clear who’d be stealing her attention. By the end of the day, Conner had the other guy gracefully bowing out and Rylie wondering just how her heart had changed so fast. Some things are just undeniable.

It felt only right to return to where it all began for their engagement session—a place that isn’t just a backdrop but a character in their story. The wide-open fields, the weathered fences, the horses grazing lazily in the distance—it’s the kind of beauty you can’t plan. It just is. And that’s what I love about working with couples like Rylie and Conner: they don’t need perfection. They just want what’s real.

Rylie trailered in their horses from down the road, and we started in the golden fields where the horizon seemed endless. The two of them moved with a kind of ease that comes from years of knowing each other—him teasing her, her laughing in a way that felt like sunshine. Their horses stood close, part of the story as much as Rylie and Conner, nudging them like they were rooting for the love unfolding in front of me. These weren’t just photos; they were moments alive with personality.

As the sun began to dip, we headed back to their home to capture some candid shots in their space. There’s something sacred about being invited into a couple’s world like that, to see where they spend their quiet mornings and dream about the future. It felt raw, honest, and real. Even when a few headlight photos didn’t quite pan out the way we hoped, Rylie and Conner just laughed it off. Because for them, it wasn’t about every detail being perfect—it was about being present, together, in a life they love.

That’s what stood out most to me: how grounded they are. Their love isn’t flashy or loud. It’s rooted, like the land they call home—solid, enduring, built to last. And as I packed up my gear, I couldn’t help but feel grateful to have witnessed it, to have been trusted with capturing the start of their next chapter.

Rylie and Conner reminded me why I do what I do. It’s not just about the photos (though theirs are stunning, if I do say so myself). It’s about the stories, the connections, and the quiet, extraordinary beauty of moments like these.

Couple’s Socials: @rylieannegan | @connermcclure26