From Engagement to Maternity: Documenting Every Chapter of Lacey and Austin’s Story

Some clients come into your life for a single session, while others become part of your story too. Photographing Lacey and Austin through their engagement, intimate wedding, Italy elopement, and now their maternity session has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my career.

I’m Abigail, the photographer behind A Toler Photography, and I have had the incredible honor of documenting Lacey and Austin through so many of life’s biggest moments. Somewhere along the way, they became more than clients. They became friends who I’ve made so many sweet memories with, and every new chapter I get to capture with them feels more meaningful than the last.

Where did Lacey and Austin’s story begin?

My time with Lacey and Austin began at Fellows Lake, a place filled with memories from Lacey’s childhood. Austin had privately proposed there just two days before their engagement session, so we returned to the same place and recreated that moment together.

Their engagement session already felt deeply personal. It was not simply about taking beautiful photographs, it was about preserving a place, a memory, and the beginning of everything that was ahead of them. Lacey’s custom ring from Golden Hour Jewelers made the session even more special, reflecting the intentionality that would continue through every part of their story. At the time, I had no idea how many incredible places and milestones I would eventually document with them.

What made their intimate wedding so personal?

Lacey and Austin’s wedding on January 14, 2026, was an intimate, family-centered celebration at The Highlands Retreat in Jasper, Arkansas. Tucked into the Ozark Mountains and overlooking the Buffalo River, the private retreat gave them the freedom to create a wedding that felt completely like them.

Nearly every part of the day was touched by Lacey’s own hands. She arranged flowers with her family that morning, styled the retreat herself, and thoughtfully curated the details throughout the home. Their custom perfume and cologne were even transformed into candles for their guests, creating a scent connected specifically to the memories of their wedding.

After a quiet first look, Lacey made her way down the retreat’s spiral staircase for their sunset ceremony in the living room. Surrounded by the people closest to them, they exchanged vows without the pressure or production of a large traditional wedding.

The evening ended with an intimate candlelit dinner prepared by private chef Isaac Kenneth, with Lacey even helping prepare dessert. The entire celebration was personal, creative, and centered on what mattered most: getting married and being present with the people they love.

How did their story continue in Italy?

Lacey and Austin continued their celebration in Italy, traveling from Milan to Lake Garda and eventually into the Dolomites. Their trip began with a ring workshop in Milan before we documented their elopement at Villa de Vigo near Lake Garda.

Their Italy elopement felt like a continuation of everything I had already come to know about them. It was intentional, adventurous, and focused on creating an experience they would always remember. We photographed their time around Lake Garda, documented a relaxed poolside session, and preserved another chapter of their marriage in one of the most beautiful places in the world.

There is something incredibly special about traveling across the world with people whose story you have already been trusted to tell. I was not meeting them for the first time on their elopement day. I already knew their relationship, their history, and the people they were together. That familiarity created space for their photographs to feel even more honest and personal.

Why was their Dolomites maternity session so meaningful?

Photographing Lacey and Austin’s maternity session in the Dolomites felt like watching their entire story come full circle. After documenting their engagement, two wedding celebrations, and travels through Italy, I now had the honor of photographing them as they prepared to welcome their baby.

This time, we were not only celebrating where they had been. We were celebrating who they were becoming.

There are certain moments in my career that remind me why I chose photography, and this was one of them. I have watched Lacey and Austin move from an engaged couple to husband and wife, and now into parenthood. Getting to preserve each of those seasons has been an honor I do not take lightly.

What does it mean to photograph every season of someone’s life?

Photographing every season means creating more than a collection of individual galleries. Together, the photographs become a visual history of a relationship, a marriage, and eventually a growing family.

I want my clients to know that I am here for all of it: the engagement, the wedding, the mundane seasons, the adventures, and especially the really big milestones. I want to remember how your story began so that when we meet again years later, we are not starting over. We are simply continuing what we already began.

Lacey and Austin are such a beautiful example of what that can look like. They trusted me with their story before either of us knew how many places it would take us. Through every session, shared experience, and new chapter, our relationship has grown into a genuine friendship.

That is one of the greatest gifts photography has given me.

Are you looking for a photographer who will grow with your family?

I would love to work with more couples who want their photographer to be part of more than one day. I want to know your story, celebrate alongside you, and document the milestones that shape your life, both big and small, but especially the big ones.

Whether you are planning an engagement session, an intimate wedding, an elopement somewhere meaningful, or preparing to welcome a new baby, I would be honored to preserve this season for you. Your photographs should tell more than the story of one moment. Together, they can tell the story of a life.