A Hillsborough River State Park Engagement Shoot to Remember

If there’s one thing I love about photographing engagement sessions, it’s being able to witness and document a couple's love — and learn about their love story! In my experience as a Florida engagement photographer, some of the most fun photoshoots are the ones that allow them to truly be themselves and share a piece of who they are.

There’s nothing more romantic than a couple who’s carefree and in love! I love it when my clients are down to try anything to create amazing and memorable images, and this couple was exactly that. Geo and Miriana took me on an unforgettable adventure with them for this daring Southwest Florida engagement shoot!

photo of man kissing woman’s cheek while she’s smiling as they sit in a canoe

Geo and Miriana: A Free-Spirited Love Story

This couple’s love story is the kind that made me want to become a Florida engagement photographer in the first place. If ever there was a love story that felt like something out of a Nicholas Sparks movie, it’s Geo and Miriana’s real-life romance! This Southwest Florida couple met at church, through their church friends, and sparks immediately flew between the two of them!

Since Geo was in the Marines, much of their relationship was long-distance. At one point, he was stationed far away and Miriana had decided to go on a trip. He miraculously got the day off to fly to where she was and met her where she was staying! Their visit only lasted FIVE minutes before she had to head back home. He sat on a plane for hours knowing he would only be able to see her for five minutes, but he knew that even seeing her for only a few minutes was completely worth it! If that isn’t love, I don’t know what is!

side by side photo of couple sitting together at a river smiling

I was so excited to capture their beautiful love story for our Southwest Florida engagement shoot! This couple was incredibly sweet, friendly, and just so much fun to work with. I noticed right away how loving and giddy they were together, always laughing with each other. Their free-spirited, adventurous personalities made them shine in this Florida engagement photoshoot — and their fun, spontaneous sides made for an adventure that I’ll remember forever!

photo of woman and man sitting across from one another as they canoe across a river in Florida

side by side image of woman and man walking across wooden bridge in Florida state park wearing a white dress and tan colored clothing

A Location Made For an Adventurous Florida Engagement Session

Geo and Miriana decided to have a Hillsborough State Park engagement photoshoot. This state park is home to one of the only running rivers in Florida. The park is perfect for anyone doing an engagement shoot near Tampa, as it’s conveniently situated 9 miles away from the city.

In addition to featuring a beautiful running river and lush green nature, Hillsborough State Park is also home to suspension and wooden bridges — and a center for canoe rentals! I knew it would make an amazing backdrop for Geo and Miriana’s Florida engagement photoshoot and that it would be the perfect place for their adventurous hearts to explore!

photo of man and woman canoeing in a Florida river under a wooden bridge

side by side image of woman and man in a canoe kissing and him kissing her hand

I met Geo and Miriana at Hillsborough State Park. They showed up dressed to impress! Miriana opted to wear a simple white dress with cute cutout designs, tan sandals, and a green leaf flower crown that really tied her look together. Geo, on the other hand, chose to wear a tan short-sleeved button-up shirt with khaki pants and brown moccasins. The shades of white and khaki that they chose looked bright and crisp. I loved the way the neutral outfits they chose for their Hillsborough State Park engagement photoshoot popped against the greenery and the landscape!

For the first part of their Southwest Florida engagement shoot, we focused on capturing beautiful canoe photos! What made this shoot so fun and exciting was that this was Geo and Miriana’s first time in a canoe! They did so amazing, you never would have guessed it! They both looked like naturals in their canoe engagement photos. They had such a great time paddling down the river, sharing in so many sweet moments, as I documented their fun time and love.

photo of man paddling canoe on Florida river while woman reaches in the water to touch something

side by side photo of man and woman cuddling with each other in a canoe at Hillsborough State Park and showing off her engagement ring

photo of woman looking around while fiancée paddles a canoe down a river

During their Florida engagement session, we laughed so hard. Not only were Geo and Miriana in a canoe, but I was in one as well trying to capture the moment! There was a lot of trial and error with this engagement shoot because their canoe kept floating away while I was trying to take their shots! We spent a lot of our session exploring ideas and they were definitely up for the challenge!

Geo and Miriana loved trying new things during their session. This helped me to get in the zone in terms of being creative, and it allowed us to get some very candid engagement photos.

side by side photo of woman and man holding hands walking along a river and sitting with each other, cuddling

photo of woman and man holding hands with her head on his shoulders as they stand on a fallen down tree

Once we finished capturing their canoe engagement photos, we walked around the park. Geo and Miriana found a beautiful tree that created a natural bridge from one end of the river to the other. They had so much fun walking across it and exploring it together. We were able to capture some beautiful portraits there for their Southwest Florida engagement shoot!

side by side photo of woman and man walking across and sitting down on a fallen down tree over a river

Miriana and Geo’s Romantic Florida Engagement Photoshoot

This session was a dream come true for me as a Florida engagement photographer. I was so glad we were able to create such a memorable engagement photoshoot at Hillsborough State Park! Our engagement photos captured their love so perfectly. Their canoe engagement photos remind me of something out of The Notebook, giving a whole new meaning to their Nicholas Sparks sort of love story!

Another one of my favorite parts of this engagement shoot near Tampa is that I had a truly amazing time bonding with the couple. We really enjoyed each other’s company and felt like old friends. As the engagement shoot came to an end, we were all so sad to part ways!

photo of woman and man holding hands walking across bridge at Hillsborough River State Park

side by side photo of man kissing woman’s forehead in a canoe and woman standing up kissing man in canoe

I was so excited when I had the privilege of documenting their love story twice. Miriana and Geo asked me to be their Florida wedding photographer, too!

Looking to Book a Southwest Florida Engagement Shoot?

Are you ready to take the leap and book an engagement photoshoot? I’m a Southwest engagement and wedding photographer serving Tampa, Fort Myers, and surrounding areas. I love capturing every couple’s love story, no matter where they are in your journey! Whether you want to book a Hillsborough State Park engagement photoshoot to create your own canoe photos or you have a Florida engagement photoshoot idea that’s entirely your own, I’d love to help bring your vision to life!

If you’re ready to take the plunge or you have questions about booking with me for your Southwest Florida engagement shoot, please don’t hesitate to reach out!