There is something about a summer evening that already feels a little magical, which is exactly why I love photographing at Como Lakeside Pavilion for engagement photos.
The bright green grass, the lake, the swan boats floating across the water, the old pavilion, and the little pathways tucked throughout the park. There are so many different places to wander that a session here never has to feel like standing in one spot taking photos over and over again.
And Meghan and Ryan’s engagement session gave us a little bit of everything.
Summer by the Lakeside
We started their session tucked into the bright green grass on one of the hills overlooking Como Lake.
Nothing complicated. Just the two of them cuddling, talking, laughing, and settling into the evening together.
This is one of my favorite ways to begin a couples session because there is no rush to immediately perform for the camera. We have time to wander, get comfortable, and let things unfold naturally.
From there, we started making our way toward the water.
A Little Swan Boat Romance at Como Lakeside Pavilion
Of course, if you are taking photos at Como Lakeside Pavilion, the swan boats are hard to resist.
Meghan and Ryan took one out onto Como Lake, which gave us an entirely different little chapter of their session.
And if you want to make a whole date night out of your session, there is even ice cream available to buy right next to the swan boat rentals. Get some before your session, grab some afterward, or make it part of your photos.
From the shoreline to the glowing swan boats, we wandered around the lake as the sun disappeared and blue hour began to settle in.
By the time we made our way back to the dock, it started to rain.
The Magic of Trusting What Happens
The dock was wet, blue hour was settling over the lake, and the swan boats behind them had started glowing.
Technically, this probably would have been the moment to call it.
But I had an idea.
So instead of running for cover, we kept going.
The Kind of Magic You Can’t Plan
Meghan and Ryan stayed on the dock, laughing, dancing, getting soaked, and eventually kissing in the rain like a scene straight out of The Notebook.
And those became some of my favorite photographs from their entire session.
It wasn’t something we planned.
It wasn’t something I could have recreated on a perfectly sunny evening.
It was real.
And that is exactly why I love leaving room during sessions for things to happen.
Rain doesn’t automatically mean we have lost the magic. Sometimes it gives us something even better than what we planned.
Meet Me Under the Lamplight
Still damp from the rain, they ended the evening beneath the warm glow of the lamplights.
Dancing, laughing, and holding each other as the sky grew darker around them, it was the sweetest ending to a romantic summer evening.
We went from bright green grass and sunshine to swan boats, rain, blue hour, and glowing lamplights, all during one session.
That kind of variety is one of my favorite things about photographing couples at Como Lake.
Little Pieces to Keep
I also photographed pieces of Meghan and Ryan’s evening on Polaroid.
They’re imperfect. They’re one of a kind. And I think that’s exactly what makes them so special.
They’re tiny physical pieces of the same evening that can actually be held, tucked into a keepsake box, stuck on the fridge, or found years from now.
Little pieces of their summer evening at Como Lake that exist outside of a screen.
Planning Your Own Como Lakeside Pavilion Session
If you are thinking about having your engagement or couples photos taken at Como Lakeside Pavilion, there are a few things I recommend knowing beforehand.
Give yourself a little extra time to arrive. I recommend getting there at least 15 minutes early because Como frequently has events happening nearby, and parking can get a little clogged up.
Bring comfortable shoes! There are so many different little pockets around Como that I love exploring, which means we will probably do some walking. You can always bring the cute shoes for your photographs and change into something comfortable while we move from one location to another.
Como is also a public space, so there tend to be quite a few people around, especially during beautiful summer evenings. People might look while you are getting your photos taken. I have never had any issues, but it is something worth knowing ahead of time if you are a little nervous about having an audience.
And there are SO many places to photograph here.
The shoreline, grassy hills, swan boats, dock, lamplights, pathways, greenery, and all the little pockets we discover while wandering.
Meghan and Ryan didn’t even get to all of them.
That is part of why I love photographing sessions this way. We don’t need to race through a checklist of poses or force ourselves into a strict little schedule.
We get to wander.
We get to follow the light.
And sometimes, we get caught in the rain.
Your Own Evening at Como Lakeside Pavilion
There are so many little pockets of magic tucked around Como Lakeside Pavilion, and we didn’t even make it to all of them during this session.
That’s part of what makes photographing here so much fun. We can wander around the lake, chase whatever light we find, explore somewhere new, and let your session unfold as we go.
If you’re dreaming about engagement or couples photos at Como Lakeside Pavilion in Saint Paul, Minnesota, I would love to wander around the lake with you and document whatever the evening decides to give us.
Come wander the ferns with me.
