America’s Favorite Couple 2025: Champlin Couple Shannon & Rene’s Story of Love, Resilience, and Deaf Inclusion
America’s Favorite Couple 2025: Our Champlin Minnesota Love Story Continues
Hi, we’re Shannon and Rene—a Champlin, Minnesota couple still pinching ourselves over this wild journey! We’ve made it through to the next round of America’s Favorite Couple 2025 finalists. We’re holding strong because so many of you are showing up with your daily votes. Your shares and encouragement also keep us going. 💛
If you’ve been tracking along, you know me as a dating profile photographer and portrait artist. But my work has always been about more than photos—it’s about people. Connection. Visibility. Love after 40.
So to now be sharing our actual Minnesota human interest story in a national contest that celebrates real connection? It still feels surreal. And honestly, a little magical.
About America’s Favorite Couple 2025
The America’s Favorite Couple 2025 competition celebrates modern love stories.
The Grand Prize Winner will get:
- 💰 A $20,000 cash prize
- 📸 An exclusive feature in Variety Magazine with a professional photo shoot
- ✈️ A travel experience and stay in Arizona for the photo shoot
But beyond the prize, this is about something bigger: visibility for stories like ours—stories about Deaf inclusion, resilience, and finding connection after 40.
What’s Next in the Contest:
- 📅 Top 10: July 17–24 (Voting for the Top 10 ends Thursday the 24th of July at 7PM PDT
- 📅 Top 5: July 24–31
- 📅 Group Finals: July 31–Aug 7
- 🎲 Wildcard Round: Aug 8–10 (for 2nd place couples — this could be our safety net, but let’s not rely on it 😉)
- 🏆 Quarterfinals: Aug 11–21
- 🎯 Semifinals: Aug 22–28
- 👑 Finals: Aug 29–Sept 4
- 🥇 Winner announced: Sept 19
How to Vote for America’s Favorite Couple 2025
Voting is 100% free—no account or payment required.
You can vote once every 24 hours.
Each vote helps us move closer to the finals!
- 💛 🎉 Help Us Win America’s Favorite Couple 2025!
- Just click the link and hit the VOTE button below: VOTE FOR SHANNON & RENE
- (It’s quick, free, and means so much!)
💡 Tip: Set a daily reminder to vote—every single click counts!
🎉 Update: We Made the Cut — Still Holding 1st Place!
Update: We Made the Cut — Still Holding 1st Place!
We made it to the next round of America’s Favorite Couple 2025 because of your votes, shares, and encouragement. We’re holding steady in 1st place and are now part of the Top 15 moving ahead.
But we’re not out of the woods just yet.
This round closes soon, and we’ve been teetering on the edge between 1st and 2nd place. Every vote counts right now to help us hold steady and make it to the next phase!
This isn’t just about votes (even though YES, we’d love yours!).
It’s about visibility. Representation. Sharing a story that reminds people Deaf love stories, blended families, and love after 40 deserve to be seen, heard, and celebrated.
If you’ve already voted today — THANK YOU.
If not… will you help us hold the line?
👉 Vote for us here (daily!- its FREE and fast):
https://americasfavcouple.org/2025/shannon-and-rene
💛 Set a reminder to vote every 24 hours — we need every click to keep this story moving ahead!
Want a Daily Reminder to Vote for Us?
Help us win America’s Favorite Couple 2025 by casting your vote every day. It only takes a few seconds. Your support means everything.
Drop your email below and we’ll send you a short, friendly nudge each day only while voting is open. No spam. Just love. 💌
A Bumble Love Story That Led to America’s Favorite Couple 2025
The Coffee Date That Changed Everything
Rene and I met in our 40s. He’d been navigating dating apps for years. I was a single mom who gave Bumble a cautious try at 42. He was only the second person I met… and my last first date. ❤️
He didn’t mention that he was Deaf, but I noticed right away.
What stood out even more was how present he was.
He turned his chair to face mine.
Asked thoughtful questions.
Truly listened.
What I didn’t know then—but understand now—is how much courage it took for him to keep showing up.
Rene had “Deaf” listed on his dating profile for years. Over time, he noticed how few matches he was getting. He also saw how rarely conversations would even begin. It felt limiting, like a label people used to make a decision before they knew anything else about him. So eventually, he took it off. It wasn’t because he wasn’t proud of who he is. It was because he wanted the chance to be seen for more than just that one word. He wanted to meet someone who was curious, open-minded, and willing to get to know him as a whole person.
But even then, some women would show up for a first date, realize he was Deaf, say, “I just need to use the restroom…” — and never come back. It happened more than once.
I shared this part of our story on Instagram recently, and it resonated with so many people:
But what mattered to me wasn’t how he communicated — it was how he showed up.
From the very beginning, Rene led with kindness, humor, and an openness that felt rare. He didn’t let past experiences harden him. Instead, he kept showing up with his heart wide open.
That’s what mattered to me then. That’s what still matters now.
We talked for 90 uninterrupted minutes. The whole time, it felt like we were meeting in the middle of a conversation that had already begun. Not rushed, not surface-level. Just two people showing up, fully.
When we walked away from that coffee date, we both knew:
This wasn’t just coffee.
This was the beginning of everything.
A Proposal, A Blended Family, A New Beginning
Exactly one year later, he brought me back to that same coffee shop—and proposed. Our kids were there, watching. There were tears. And joy. And this feeling that somehow, after all the detours and timing that didn’t quite line up… we’d landed.
💛 Back at the same coffee shop—this time with a ring and our kids watching. 🥹
We now share a life—and a home office! Our desks sit side-by-side. We blend families, clean the garage like champs, and wind down with old fashioneds and a good TV show. Is it glamorous? Nope. But it’s everything.
This is more than a Bumble love story. It’s a reminder that love doesn’t expire with age. Love endures through experience and a few heartbreaks along the way.
💬 Curious how Bumble works or thinking about giving it a shot yourself?
- I wrote a guide to help you navigate the app with clarity and confidence. 👉 Read: How Does Bumble Work? Your Guide to Modern Dating Success in 2025
Help Us Win America’s Favorite Couple 2025 With Your Daily Vote
Voting is 100% free and takes just a second.
You can cast one vote every 24 hours through this link:
- 👉 VOTE FOR SHANNON & RENE HERE
- The contest includes several rounds—and each daily vote helps us stay in the running!
🟡 If our story made you smile—or reminded you that love can happen at any age—we’d be so grateful for your support. 💛
Want a Daily Reminder to Vote for Us?
Help us win America’s Favorite Couple 2025 by casting your vote every day. It only takes a few seconds. Your support means everything!
Drop your email below and we’ll send you a short, friendly nudge each day only while voting is open. No spam. Just love. 💌
Why This Love Story Matters to My Work
As a Twin Cities dating profile photographer, I’ve photographed hundreds of people stepping into new seasons of life. People brave enough to be seen again—after heartbreak, divorce, single parenthood, or just plain dating burnout.
This love story is the reason I do what I do.
It’s why I believe so deeply in:
- Online dating photography that feels natural and inviting
- Portraits that reflect your personality, not perfection
- Helping you feel magnetic and confident in front of the camera
If you’re thinking, “Maybe it’s time to try again,”—you’re in the right place. And I’d love to help you feel seen. 👉 Book a session with me or view my portfolio
Press & Media Inquiries:
- Download our press release Here.
- Or visit my Media Kit Here
Free Tools for Intentional Dating
Looking to boost your confidence, prep for your next date, or reflect on your current season?
📝 Browse my free resource library featuring:
- Confidence checklists and more
- A Post-Date Reflection Journal
- My Dating Profile Session Prep Guide
Thank You for Being Here
Whether you’re here for the first time or you’ve been part of this community for a while—thank you.
And whether you’re voting, dating, or simply rooting for more real love in the world—I’m so glad you’re here.
What’s YOUR Story? What Would Make You America’s Favorite Couple 2025?
We’ve loved sharing our journey as finalists in America’s Favorite Couple 2025—but now we want to hear your love story.
Did you meet through a dating app? Reconnect with someone from your past? Fall in love later in life or blend families after 40? Whether it’s unexpected, unconventional, or simply beautiful—we want to celebrate it.
👇 Drop your story in the comments below.
Let’s fill this space with real love stories that deserve to be seen.
Help Us Share This Story — One Vote at a Time
This journey isn’t just about us. It’s about visibility for stories that deserve to be seen. These are stories about Deaf inclusion and blended families. They remind us that love doesn’t expire with age, experience, or a few heartbreaks along the way.
If our story has resonated with you, we would be so grateful for your daily vote. Every single click helps keep this story visible. It’s important for the people who need to see that connection, kindness, and real love are still out there.
💛 Vote for us daily here (it’s free + fast!): 👉 Vote for Shannon & Rene Here
Thank you for showing up for love stories that look a little different—and matter just as much. 💛
If our story resonates with you, would you consider sharing the link with a friend?
Every little nudge helps keep this story visible—and we’re beyond grateful to have you in our corner. 💛
Oh hey there, nice to meet you!
I’m Shannon, a Twin Cities-based photographer specializing in online dating profile photography, personal branding photography, business headshots, and senior portraits in Minneapolis–St. Paul. Whether you need updated photos for your dating apps, LinkedIn profile, business website, or senior graduation announcements, I create natural light portraits that boost confidence and help you stand out.
With 15+ years of experience — and a personal journey from single mom to entrepreneur (and a CBS feature along the way) — I know the power of an image to tell your story. — whether it’s attracting better matches, landing new clients, or celebrating a milestone. My photography style is authentic, relaxed, and approachable, designed to help you feel like yourself on camera while making a strong first impression.
I’m also the creator of the Empowered Evolution Mentorship Program for photographers — where I teach creative entrepreneurs how to build profitable photography businesses through SEO strategies, streamlined systems, and intentional marketing.
When I’m not behind the camera, you’ll find me with my husband, my son, and our beautifully blended family, soaking up life’s everyday moments in Minneapolis–St. Paul.
📸 Looking for natural, professional photos to elevate your online presence? From online dating photos to headshots and branding portraits, I’ll help you look confident, approachable, and aligned with your next chapter. Let’s book your session today.
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