Clare + Zack

Long distance relationships are hard. However, the lessons learned when you are apart from your significant other can help your relationship grow in ways you never would have thought possible. If a relationship is strong enough to endure and continue to grow through long periods of distance, you know you've got something good.

Clare and Zack are a wonderful example of this. Soon after they started dating, Zack was assigned to work in Italy for the U.S. Air Force. These two have spent the last year or so not just living in different time zones, but in completely different countries! I'm so in awe with how connected, loving and just downright happy these two are together. Zack had only been in the country for 18 hours when we met up for their engagement session in Poulsbo, WA (one of my personal favorite spots). The three of us had a great time enjoying the sunshine, which seemed to give way to beautiful and deep storm clouds by the end of our session.

What a honor it was to document these moments for them. After our session, they headed into Seattle for an intimate wedding ceremony, just a couple of days before Zack had to head back out of the country.

Here are a few favorite snaps from our afternoon together: