Downtown Durham Urban Engagement Photos • Shannon + Mark

Braving the southern, August heat paid off in a big way last week because I’m obsessed with Shannon and Mark’s urban engagement session! Their downtown Durham engagement photos contain all the rustic beauty of city bricks, rust, iron and paint accented by this playful pair. It was great to meet Shannon’s best friend and Maid of Honor, Bliss, who I adored having around as an extra set of eyes and ears for traffic stopping, champagne “hydration,” and hair fixing! She was great! The result is these beautiful images that, I’m happy to say, will enable them to finally have professional photos of them for their new house for after they tie the knot at Highgrove Estate in a few weeks! 

We walked within a few blocks (it was perfect for dealing with the summer sun and high temperatures) and I was able to find amazing backdrops. My favorite is the “Liberty” apartment building where they preserved the old facade of the shops and drive-in in its reconstruction. I also adored taking their engagement photos by a grey mural with pops of color, an old “Welding Works” building and in front of a really cool metal door that was showing signs of rusting over time.

Shannon and Mark’s outfits were perfect – they were the picture of perfection as a well dressed pair. They were buttoned up (pun intended with Shannon’s cute corduroy skirt!) but not too stuffy! I loved the berry tones in her skirt and his pants. She also took the opportunity to break in her pink Kate Spade wedding shoes and showcase pops of hot pink that will be highlights of their wedding as well. (Did I mention it was also her birthday during their session?) The finishing touch for the birthday girl? Her beautiful diamond engagement ring with a round center stone, square set halo and filigree detail on the band.

If there’s anything that struck me most during their engagement photo session in downtown Durham, it was how happy and in love they are! I am so excited for their wedding in less than three weeks!

Wedding planner: Kelley Ann, A Southern Soiree

For more engagement session inspiration in North Carolina, check out:

• Chloe and Xander in Downtown Durham
• Lucy and Van in Chapel Hill
• Rachel and David in Downtown Raleigh

Interested in having us capture this time in your lives? Contact us!