Nikkita and Jason are Sarasota locals and lucky enough to live right on the doorstep of Longboat Key’s white sands – one of Florida’s most idyllic engagement session locations. Although they’ve been married for around seven years (and have just welcomed their daughter Olympia to the world), they wanted to have an e-session style portrait shoot that captured the love they have for one another.

So we headed out to Longboat Key, or more specifically Beer Can Island, which is located on the northernmost point of the island. It’s a picturesque spot where the sand is blindingly white, with driftwood and gnarled mangrove trunks along its curved spit.

We had decided on a late-afternoon sunset e-session taking in these beautiful surrounds in the most atmospheric lighting conditions (and what turned out to be perfect weather). Both Nikkita and Jason appeared really comfortable in front of the camera as I captured casual portraits of them both at the waters edge, with the late afternoon sun giving a golden glow to the images.

As the sun sank towards the horizon, I got more creative with some west-facing silhouettes, incorporating a luminous sunburst between the couple, as well as some whimsical black and white portraits of the couple embracing and walking hand-in-hand on the sands. Both Nikkita and Jason had opted for jeans and pastel-toned shirts which worked in perfectly with the relaxed feel of this beach e-session, and they exuded a real warmth and chemistry towards one another.

After capturing a black and white shot from afar as the couple watched this gorgeous sunset together, we took advantage of the horizon backdrop which was turning brilliant shades of pink and orange. I grabbed some romantic silhouette shots of the couple embracing at the end of a pier, backed by this natural display, as well as some artistic, off-camera flash portraits as they shared in this special moment.

It was a real pleasure to be the Florida engagement photographer for Nikkita and Jason on this Longboat Key beach e-session (even if I did stub my toe on a mangrove trunk)! It also reminded me that no matter how long you’ve been married, it’s never too late for a portrait shoot with your loved one.

A creative portrait of Jason kissing Nikkita’s head during their sunset beach engagement session on Beer Can Island, Sarasota.

A casual portrait of Jason in the late afternoon light during his beach engagement session in Sarasota, Florida.

A whimsical black and white portrait of Nikkita and Jason embracing during their beach engagement session in Sarasota.

Nikkita standing on the white sands of Beer Can Island during her beach-themed portrait session in Sarasota

Engagement Pictures of Jason and Nikki at Beer Can Island on Longboat Key in Sarasota, Florida

Capturing a tender moment between Nikkita and Jason during their romantic e-session on Beer Can Island.

Black and white portrait of Nikkita and Jason walking hand-in-hand between the driftwood of Beer Can Island during their Sarasota e-session.

An intimate black and white shot of the couple during their beach engagement session on Longboat Key, Sarasota.

A silhouette sunset portrait of Nikkita and Jason during their Sarasota engagement session on Beer Can Island.

Nikkita and Jason kiss on a mangrove tree trunk during their sunset beach engagement session on Beer Can Island, Sarasota.

The couple walk along the white sands of Beer Can Island, backed by the Gulf of Mexico waters, during their Sarasota beach e-session.

A silhouette shot of Nikkita and Jason standing on the end of a pier during their sunset e-session in Sarasota, Florida.

A creative, off-camera flash portrait of Nikkita and Jason in the post-sunset moments during their Beer Can Island e-session.

Capturing a silhouette kiss between the couple at the end of their sunset e-session on Longboat Key, Sarasota.