I met Zoey and Max in Camdenton at Haha Tonka for their engagement session! I enjoyed strolling around the park and documenting their genuine connection. From the moment they arrived, they were dressed to impress and were so bubbly and kind. It felt like I was immediately chatting with old friends! They are so in love and affectionate with one another, it truly made my job so easy!
It was supposed to be cloudy and rainy, but much to my surprise, the sun came out and cast a golden glow throughout the evening. Next, we ventured over to Max’s family farm in Camdenton. His family farm is absolutely gorgeous. I see why Zoey and Max love spending so much time there. They lovingly frolicked in the open fields, strolled by the rivers edge, and enjoyed wine and fruit picnic to close out the session. It was a session for the books that I won’t soon forget!
How They Met
Zoey and Max met in 2015 at just 16 and 17 years old. Both were more on the rebellious side as teenagers, which is how Zoey and Max ended up where they were when they first met. To most people, Zoey and Max say they met through a group of friends, which isn’t a lie but it is the quickest version on how the two met. In a more descriptive explanation Zoey and Max met in an enthusiastic sobriety program. Zoey had been there for about a year before Max joined. Dating was not allowed in this program before certain things were met. Zoey recalls it being difficult avoiding flirting with Max and having to stay away from each other. Fast forward to a year later (2016) and Max finally was able to start going on dates and of course Zoey was the lucky girl he wanted to ask on a date!
Max asked Zoey on a date the last weekend of March 2016. They had their first date the next week at his family farm. Zoey’s favorite food was spaghetti, which she now knows would be the last thing Max would choose to eat. He cheffed up some spaghetti for their lunch that day and Zoey just thought he was the sweetest thing ever; admitting that his spaghetti was pretty delicious. From there, Max drove Zoey around on the 4-wheeler, they walked the trails, and admired the outdoors. Zoey remembers having to scoot across this dead tree that was making a path across the fast moving creek below them so they could get the other side of the farm. Zoey and Max stopped at the end of the land and looked out into the river, looking at all the rocks beneath their feet. Here, they found their “rock” and Zoey and Max have this rock to this day. Zoey thought it was beautiful, although in hind site it looks like just some ordinary rock. Max had the rock as a decor in his car for a few year after that. Zoey thought she was in love at the young age of 17. But little did she know there was way more things waiting for her to fall in love with Max even more.
Max doesn’t think he ever really had one singular moment where he knew Zoey was the one, as he’s such a cautious person. Max would notice how Zoey make him a much stronger person (many times she does not know). Max experienced a ton of different situations where he said to himself, “I think she might be the one”. Eventually that turned into a belief that Max held in his core. He just enjoyed his life with Zoey so much!
How He Asked
Max and Zoey been together so long that marriage wasn’t going to be a huge surprise to Zoey at that point. Max never really considered himself getting scared before. However, he had been nervous about the surreal moment all week.
Zoey and Max went on a trip to Puerto Morales, Mexico with a group of friends in March 2023. Zoey was hoping he would propose because she thought it would be the perfect place and out of the ordinary. She tried hard not to think about it because she didn’t want to get her hopes up, but it was about impossible. That Monday, Zoey and Max decided to go look at rings to see what they had and if anything caught their eyes. And sure enough Max saw a beautiful ring and they both were in awe over it. Zoey was getting the butterflies and nervous feelings because she felt like the time was sure enough approaching now that he had a ring.
But at this point, Zoey didn’t know if Max would ask her in Mexico as they only had a few days left, but at this point she was over the moon he planned on asking her at some point in the future. Two short days later Max kept saying “We have to go to our bench later” (they had a bench where Max gave Zoey her promise ring 6 years prior). Every time he said this, Zoey remembers thinking, “omg he’s going to ask tonight!”
Zoey and Max had a beach day with their friends, took naps, and then it was time to get ready for dinner with their friends. With all of this, Zoey remembers anxiously wanting to get her mom a gift before they left the next morning. Zoey kept saying, “we need to go shopping.” and at this point, time was running out and Zoey was stressed thinking she wouldn’t have time to get her a gift.
During dinner, Zoey could tell his nerves were also a bit more elevated, so she was sure he was going to propose at some point soon. But she also needed time to shop, so after dinner Zoey said, “no we have to get her a gift before we go to our spot!” Zoey says she can definitely be very hard headed sometimes. They finally walk over to their bench and look out at the sea listening to the splashing waves. Max started to talk his sweet talk and her heart started racing! He touched her hand and Zoey could feel his pulse pounding and she knew it was happening!! As Zoey stayed sitting in the bench, Max pulled out the ring and got on the ground to face Zoey and asked her to marry him! Of course Zoey just cried and said yes! She turned around and he had their friends recording them and our moment!
I cannot wait to have Zoey and Max back in front of my camera again next year for their wedding day! These two are so much fun to be around, so I have no doubt their wedding day will be one to remember!
