Summer UW-Arboretum Engagement Session – Dinda & Geron

Dreamy UW Arboretum Engagement Session

Dinda and Geron wanted fun, real, and nature-rooted, and that is exactly what we created together at the UW Arboretum in Madison. To be clear, this was truly a UW Arboretum Engagement Session that highlighted their personalities. From the moment we stepped onto the grass, you could feel the easy, joyful energy between these two.

They came to me looking for an engagement session that would feel like a natural extension of their wedding day. Nature was a must. So after I sent over a handful of location options, they landed on the UW Arboretum, which is one of my absolute favorite places to shoot in Madison. By the way, a UW Arboretum Engagement Session is my top recommendation for couples who love outdoor beauty. The sky was a little moody that afternoon, but the weather cooperated beautifully otherwise. And with all the playfulness they wanted in their photos, we had so much fun the whole way through.

Why the UW Arboretum Is the Perfect Engagement Session Location

The UW Arboretum spans more than 1,200 acres, which means you are never short on options. Forested trails, open meadows, and seasonal blooms. It has it all, and that variety is exactly why Dinda and Geron felt drawn to it.

When a couple tells me they want nature to be part of their story, this is the first place I think of. You can shoot here in spring, summer, fall, or winter and walk away with something completely different each time. That flexibility makes it a dream for couples who want their photos to feel personal rather than generic, which is why a UW Arboretum Engagement Session is ideal for so many pairs.

My Favorite Spot at the Arboretum

If you ask me where to go for the best light, I will point you to the evergreen area that opens up into a wide grassy field. That transition spot is pure magic, especially in the evening. The sunsets there are absolutely amazing, and the open space gives couples room to move, laugh, and just be themselves. It is the kind of backdrop that makes playful couples like Dinda and Geron shine. In short, these are the ingredients that make every UW Arboretum Engagement Session so unique.

How Dinda and Geron Met

Every great session starts with a great story, and theirs is one for the books.

Dinda and Geron met on Hinge during the height of COVID. Dinda had pretty much given up on dating apps and was not feeling hopeful about romance. Then, right when she thought she had deleted everything, a notification popped up. Geron had liked her profile.

They started chatting online, and before long, Geron invited her to Margaritaville on a Thursday night. Dinda was a full-time grad student juggling student teaching and night classes, but as luck would have it, that was one evening she had free. They hit it off the second they met, laughing at each other’s jokes, sharing a couple of drinks, strolling along the riverwalk, and wrapping up the night with a movie back at Dinda’s apartment. The rest, as Dinda puts it, is history. Thanks, Jimmy Buffett.

Their First Impressions of Each Other

Dinda’s first impression of Geron? Confident, easygoing, funny, and caring. Geron, on the other hand, described Dinda as smart, hardworking, and kinder and more empathetic than anyone he had ever met. He even said that being around her motivated him to become a better person, especially in terms of compassion. If that does not melt your heart, I do not know what will.

A Story That Sums Up Their Relationship

When I asked them for one story that captures who they are as a couple, they told me about a camping trip in Texas.

Geron had become curious about camping, and since Dinda had grown up loving the outdoors, she took him out to Ink’s Lake. They set up the tent, hit the trail for a hike, got a fire going, and settled in for the evening. Then Dinda started having terrible stomach pain. She would later be diagnosed with celiac disease, but in that moment, she just wanted to enjoy the night.

The stars were stunning, and Geron did not want her to miss them. So he dragged the cots out of the tent so they could lie back comfortably and take in the view together. It was the kind of small, thoughtful gesture that says everything about how they care for each other. They still go camping often.

Photographing Their Playful Connection on Camera

This is the part I love most about my job. When a couple is as comfortable with each other as Dinda and Geron, the camera picks up on it instantly.

We laughed our way through the whole session. They teased each other, cracked jokes, and let their guard down, which is exactly what makes for photos that feel alive. You cannot fake that kind of chemistry. The cloudy sky actually worked in our favor, too, giving us soft, even light that flattered every shot. By the time we reached that grassy clearing near the evergreens, they were fully in their element.