If this playful engagement session doesn’t bring a smile to your face, we’re not sure what will. Stephanie and Alex are both Long Island natives but they didn’t meet until a soccer camp at Duquesne University finally brought these two together. After an adventurous proposal, this pair chose Iris Marie Photography to capture their love in the city that holds a special place in their hearts. Their session consisted of skipping across iconic yellow bridges and getting close to the flowing waters of the rivers at the North Shore before strolling around parts of Duquesne University’s campus – the very place where the two met years ago. Bonded by their hometown and love for soccer, it only made sense that they share a fun-loving game on the campus’s field. Their infectious smiles were infused into every photo and the contagious laughter and genuine moments of quirkiness show how unique yet fun an engagement session can be. We adore these creative portraits and if you love out-of-the-box ideas, you will too!
About the Couple
Alex and Steph both played soccer at Duquesne University, which is how the met. However, they could have (and should have) crossed paths long before, as they also both grew up on Long Island. Although they did not know each other in New York, they did have mutual friends through the soccer community. When Steph was recruited to play soccer at as a Lady Duke and she started her freshman year, a close friend of her family reached out because he was also interested in playing soccer at Duquesne. She advised him to attend the Duquesne Men’s Summer Camp to get a feel for the city, program, atmosphere, and campus. Lucky for Steph, Alex was the friend he chose to bring along with him. It was through that camp that Alex ended up being recruited to play soccer at Duquesne as well…so wild!
When Alex got to Duquesne in 2012, he and Steph hit it off right away. One year, the men and women’s soccer teams planned a spring break trip to Cancun together and the two were inseparable. Finally, after almost a week of partying at the pool bar, some beach time, and a DJ Pauly D concert, Steph told her best friend that she had fallen in love with Alex. Steph and Alex battled life’s ups and downs over the next few years, including hard classes, intense competition, and even family bereavement.
During the pandemic, they spent time traveling domestically, exploring the Pacific Northwest, hiking Angel’s Landing, and so much more. It was during that hike that Alex asked Steph to marry him. Their friends, who also were on the hike, surprised them with a bottle of champagne and they walked down that trail as a newly engaged couple.
About the Session
Steph and Alex wanted this engagement session to live and breath Pittsburgh – yellow bridges and rivers! And, of course, they had to incorporate the very campus that brought them together – Duquesne. They started out in the North Shore, romping around the rivers and bridges, and then moved to Duquesne’s campus where they had a soccer battle on their home field. Steph and Alex wanted to make sure their quirk-factor was felt in every image…they hung from the soccer nets and sat upside down on benches. These two just LOVE adventure and having fun.
