Maggie & Johnathan’s Belle Isle Engagement Photos

Back to Belle Isle

Maggie and Johnathan had seen photos from another Belle Isle engagement session I’d photographed and wanted to go there for theirs. So on June 28, 2026, we met up on the island in Detroit and spent the session outdoors around the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory.

Between the glass exterior, the garden paths, and all those flowers, we had plenty to work with. We made our way around the grounds, getting a mix of wider photos that show off the setting and closer ones of just the two of them.

I have to mention the ring

I really like Maggie’s ring, and the story behind it makes it even better. Johnathan used to be a jeweler’s apprentice. When it came time to have her ring custom made, he reached out to some of his old connections to help bring it together.

Of course, we had to give it a few photos of its own. It’s a beautiful ring to photograph, and I love that there’s a little bit of Johnathan’s own history behind it, too.

We were racing the sun

Now, the funny part: we were racing the sun. Maggie and Johnathan had a particular vibe in mind, and we were trying to catch the light that would give us that mood. There was definitely a bit of a countdown happening behind these photos.

By the time we left, the sun was almost gone. We got the shots and the mood they wanted, and that race against the light is probably what I’ll remember most about this shoot.

A few favorites from their session

Looking through these photos brings me right back to that evening: the gardens, Maggie’s ring, and us trying to squeeze in those last shots before the light was gone. I’ve pulled together a few favorites here so you can see how it all came together.

Thinking about Belle Isle for your engagement photos? If you’ve seen a session of mine that catches your eye, tell me what you like about it. That gives us a great place to start planning yours.