A Highland Cattle Engagement session in New Hampshire


There’s something so special about engagement sessions with one of my future wedding couples. Catriona and Phillip are getting Married next October, and I had the opportunity to shoot at the Mandico Cattle Company in Nottingham, New Hampshire. The backdrop for this session was picturesque and the weather was unexpectedly temperature for late October!


The farm, owned and run by the incredible Kathy and her equally impressive husband Conrad, isn’t your average homestead. When Kathy isn’t busy managing the farm, she’s a full-time researcher and educator specializing in oil spill recovery strategies in high-risk regions. How cool is that? The farm is her passion project—a "side gig" that’s anything but ordinary. She and her husband raise some of the most stunning Highland cattle, available both as livestock or for beef. Their care and pride in every inch of their property are undeniable, and that care for the cattle and the land radiated throughout our entire session.


The Highland cattle were the stars of the show! Their shaggy coats, curious expressions, and calm demeanor added a whimsical, almost fairytale feel to the session. We were lucky to photograph Catriona and Phillip with the cattle roaming in the background—every frame felt alive, full of the energy of the land.


The farm itself offered so many perfect spots for portraits. From rustic rock walls to the rolling pastures surrounded by golden fields, every corner had something beautiful to offer. We wandered through open spaces, stopping now and then to capture those quiet, candid moments where Catriona and Phillip would laugh, embrace, or just steal a glance at each other.


What made this session so meaningful was knowing that it took place on a farm built with so much purpose. Kathy and her husband’s commitment to their animals and land is inspiring, and it created a space that felt alive with care, hard work, and joy. There’s something magical about photographing love on land that has been so lovingly cultivated—it makes every photo feel that much more genuine and heartfelt.


By the end of the shoot, it was clear: Catriona and Phillip’s love is much like the farm itself—rooted in dedication, passion, and joy for the simple, meaningful moments in life. This engagement session wasn’t just a celebration of their future together, but a reminder of the beauty that blooms when people put their whole heart into what they love.


I couldn’t have asked for a more fitting location for this couple, and I’ll be carrying the memories of this shoot with me for a long time.

Here’s to Catriona and Phillip—and to Kathy, Conrad, and the magical, soulful Mandico Cattle Company that gave us the perfect canvas to tell their story.


Check out Mandico Cattle:

https://www.mandicocattle.com/

https://www.facebook.com/mandicocc



Highland cow stands nearby while couple shares a moment in fall forest with orange leaves.
Close up of engagement ring on white decorative pumpkin with Mr. & Mrs. text.
Romantic autumn moment with curious Highland cattle watching in a wooded setting.
Intimate autumn engagement session on rocks surrounded by fall foliage.
A Scottish Highland cow watches a romantic autumn scene unfold among golden fall foliage.
A fluffy Highland cow poses in the foreground while a couple stands among autumn leaves in a forest.
A couple stands together in fall forest with their Highland cow grazing in the background.
A majestic Highland cow stands in a forest clearing surrounded by autumn foliage and fallen leaves.
Couple holds hands in foreground while Highland cows graze in autumn forest setting.
Highland cow photobombs a romantic couple's moment in a golden autumn forest.
A Highland cow watches a couple's intimate moment in a sunlit autumn forest.
Two Highland cows frame a couple's romantic moment in a sun-dappled autumn forest.
A couple shares a romantic moment between two Highland cows in a golden autumn forest setting.
A couple stands with a Highland cow in an autumn forest with golden sunlight filtering through the trees.
A Highland cow photobombs a couple's romantic autumn photoshoot in a leaf-covered forest.
A couple embraces in a sun-dappled autumn forest with fallen leaves covering the ground.
A couple pets a friendly Highland cow in a forest setting with orange fall foliage.
A tender moment between a couple in a sunlit autumn forest with golden leaves.
A romantic couple shares an intimate moment with a Highland cow visible in the background.
Highland cow photobombs an intimate autumn forest engagement photo with golden sunlight.