08/31/2026
š¤ Sam + Dom | Custer State Park š¤
Sometimes the most beautiful photo sessions are the ones that were never really planned.
I had the pleasure of meeting Sam and Dom this spring when I stayed at the Bavarian Inn during one of my trips to Custer. They were both working there for the summer, and from the very beginning, they were incredibly kind to me.
So when I returned to Custer a couple of weeks ago, Dom was so excited to see me againāand asked if I would take some photos of the two of them before they headed back home to Lithuania for school.
Of course I said YES! ā¤ļø
Sam and Dom met three years ago while going to school in Lithuania, where Dom is from, and you donāt have to spend very long with them to see how sweet they are together.
They had originally hoped to make it out to the Badlands for photos, but between work schedules and their limited time before leaving, we decided to wander through Custer State Park instead and see what beautiful little spots we could find along the Wildlife Loop.
Turns out, the scenery really didnāt matter.
These two completely stole the show. š„°
We found rocky hillsides, wide-open Black Hills views, wildflowers and some absolutely gorgeous places to stop along the way. But my favorite part was watching the two of them togetherāthe little looks, the laughter, the way they naturally reached for each otherās hands, and all those quiet moments in between.
And seriously⦠CAN WE TALK ABOUT THE COWBOY HATS AND BOOTS?! š¤ š¤
They couldnāt have looked more perfect against the rugged South Dakota landscape if weād planned their outfits ourselves.
Sam and Dom, Iām so glad our paths crossed this springāand even happier that they crossed again before you headed home. I hope someday when you look at these photographs, they bring you right back to your summer together in Custer and this little adventure through the Black Hills. ā¤ļø
Safe travels back to Lithuania, you two. Thank you for letting me capture a little piece of your story.
š Custer State Park, South Dakota