Hannah & Eric: Coralville Trail and Old Schoolhouse One Year Anniversary

I have known Eric since I first moved to Iowa when I was four. He is my best friend’s brother and, as an extension, a brother to me. Since I’ve known him, Eric had a gift in the arts. His paintings, drawings, even simple pen drawings on the back of the church bulletin, are amazing! It’s no surprise that his wife, Hannah, is also gifted in the arts; however, her arts is in music. You can see how these two connected! I’ve known Hannah since she came to attend UI back in 2012. Fun fact, she was my very first college group leader the summer I transitioned from high school into college! We’ve been friends since, and she’s been such a wonderful addition to my extension family!

We all attended (and still attend) the same church so we’ve been around each other for quite some time now. Having been in the same college ministry and the two being in the same friend group, sparks were bound to fly, and in 2015, they did! They dated for about two and a half years before Eric proposed back in 2017, and they got married on a summery July day last year! It was a blessing to be able to be a part of their wedding day making their wedding film (when I was still doing videography) and an even greater blessing to take their one year anniversary portraits this year!

Originally, I suggested the Old Town part of Coralville where there was a pond, a trail, and an old schoolhouse. But earlier this week, I was running a few errands in the Coralville area when I spotted a snippet of trees through a few buildings. Curious, I drove by the place after my errands. Thankfully, there weren’t any cars behind me because I was going 10mph so I could see where the light hit and imagine where I would place Hannah & Eric. I knew it was going to be a beautiful location so I drove on happily towards home to let Hannah know of this new location. However, I didn’t go past more than half a block when I noticed a trail behind IHOP. I’ve probably driven by this place hundreds of times because it was the faster way to get to the mall, but it was the first time I noticed the light, the framing of the trees, and the gentle greenery that grew on the sides of the trail. Knowing Hannah as more of a nature kind, I couldn’t help think of how perfect the place was. I went home and we made plans to shoot on this trail and then head to the schoolhouse afterwards.

I nervously checked the weather at least twice a day the week leading up to the shoot. The forecast threatened rain, varying the degree to how much and going back and forth between 40% and 20%. I prayed and prayed for good weather, and come Saturday, rain wasn’t in the forecast until late in the night! It was quite humid, though, and I prayed it would get cooler. God answered my prayers with clouds (no rain!), dropped temperatures, and a slight breeze that we forgot existed and could cool down a hot day. It was perfect!

To be honest, it was a little weird at first to ask them to kiss, but they were so fantastic in front of the camera, I stopped noticing how weird it was! Even Eric, who doesn’t like getting his pictures taken, was having fun and being such a good sport!

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Hannah brought a few props like her veil, a bouquet of fake flowers that looked like her real wedding bouquet, and husband-and-wife mugs! It was so much fun to incorporate the reminders of their wedding day and their marriage into their session!

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Hannah & Eric, I am honored to capture and commemorate your one year of marriage! It still boggles my mind sometimes to think they’re married since I’ve known them in their singleness and while they were dating! I’m glad to have been around and see you both grow in your relationship with Christ and with each other. I’m excited to see the rest of your years in marriage and more growth in Christ!