Giuli & Robert | A snowy November afternoon at Aldo Leopold Park

There is something about photographing your best friends that just hits different.

No awkward silences. No stiff smiles. No one asking "what do I do with my hands?" Well, maybe a little of that, but it's easier to laugh it off when you've known each other for years.

Last November I took Giuli and Robert out to Aldo Leopold Park in Monona for a portrait session and the conditions were just right. Snow on the ground, soft winter light, and two people who are genuinely in love and genuinely hilarious together.

I've been practicing more and more with my Canon R5 and an 85mm lens, and I've also been using the Unscripted app for a few months now. If you're a photographer who ever freezes up on posing, I can't recommend it enough. It gives you prompts and directions you can feed your subjects so you always have something up your sleeve. It takes so much pressure off.

At one point I asked Robert to give Giuli a piggyback ride. I don't think either of them expected to be laughing that hard. I don't think I expected to get the shot I got. But that's the thing about photographing people you love: the real moments sneak up on you, and all you have to do is be ready.

These are some of my favorite photos I've taken so far. I can't wait to keep getting better.