Romantic Sunrise Engagement Session in the Columbia River Gorge | Oregon Engagement Photographer
Experience the magic of a sunrise engagement session in the Columbia River Gorge near Cascade Locks. With breathtaking views, soft morning light, and serene locations like the Bridge of the Gods, it's the perfect setting for adventurous couples. Capture your love story with an experienced Oregon wedding photographer in this iconic natural wonder.
Romantic Surprise Proposal at Cannon Beach, Oregon Coast
Planning a proposal or elopement on the Oregon Coast? Cannon Beach offers breathtaking views, iconic landmarks like Haystack Rock, and a serene setting perfect for romantic moments. As an experienced Oregon wedding photographer, I had the privilege of capturing this unforgettable sunset proposal. Discover how you can explore Cannon Beach, from hikes at Ecola State Park to beachfront dining, and create your own magical experience on the Oregon Coast. If you’re searching for a Portland wedding photographer to document your love story, let’s connect!
Golden Hour on the Columbia Gorge // Delaney & Brenna
GOLDEN HOUR HANG OUTS AND CAPTURING PHOTOS ON THE COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE — PURE MAGIC.
THESE TWO. Joy joy joy.
Do you ever meet people and feel like you’ve been friends forever? Yep, that was Brenna and Delaney for me. 100%. They are pure joy and full of kindness, oh and also HILARIOUS. We all laughed… so. much. I’m grateful for people who meet me and trust me to see their true selves. It’s an honor to share in a piece of your stories.
Enjoy all the golden goodness that we got to experience on the Columbia River Gorge!
PS. Starting this blog with a little black and white series of images that, I feel like, gives the perfect glimpse into our whole evening together!
xx
Sunrise at the Sand Dunes // San Luis Obispo, California
Exploring the San Luis Obispo Sand Dunes at sunrise to catch that golden light for this couples shoot!
Evening Surf Couple Photos // San Luis Obispo Beach, California
Catching that California golden sunset for this evening surf session in San Luis Obispo (plus the pups of course), and making all the magic happen for these adventurous couple photos!
San Luis Obispo didn’t disappoint — especially when we rolled up on the beach for this gorgeous sunset! These two rolled up with the coolest van, the sweetest dogs, and surfboards strapped in for some fun photos in the waves!
If you’re looking for a day to play in the sun, HIT ME UP — there are so many incredible places to go and explore in San Luis Obispo — so let’s go adventure in SLO together! ;)
So excited to share these fun photos with you, hope you enjoy and can feel the warmth and smell the ocean!
MAKE A DAY IN SAN LUIS OBISPO — a few of the bests:
COFFEE // Scout Coffee
DRINKS // SLO cider bar & Central Coast Brewing
FOOD // Bliss Cafe (delicious vegan food)
BEACH // Pismo State Beach - Grover Beach
CHECK OUT // Things to do around Pismo Beach
Palm Springs Windmill Couple Photos // Some Desert Gems in California
Hanging out in Palm Springs California? You don’t want to miss out seeing these views — desert plateau meets industrial windmills.
We met just before dusk to make this golden magic come true! After winding down some dirt roads, we walked out into otherworldly windmill field up against the desert mountains. I love finding the beauty in obscure places!
So, if you’re in the Palm Springs area, the windmills are a MUST see! And, here area few other gems to make the road trip complete —
I. COFFEE STOP // Ernest Coffee
II. SMOOTHIE BOWL // Fresh Juice Bar
III. BRUNCH // Farm & Cheeky’s
IV. GRAB A DRINK // The High Bar & Truss & Twine
V. COOL OFF // check out these ideas for some pool hopping!
Enjoy all these sweet moments, and then let’s plan your own adventure!! Scroll to the bottom to check out all the amazing people involved in creating this magic!
ALL THE CREATIVES INVOLVED —
DRESS // The Kindred Soul
MUA // Breezo
EARRINGS // Meesha Farzaneh
The Griffin House, In Home Cozy Session // Columbia River Gorge
A cozy in home couples photo session at the Griffin House overlooking the Columbia River Gorge — just about as dreamy as it gets!
WHAT. A. DREAMY. MORNING.
I was so grateful to finally get a chance to hang out with these two lovely humans — out time together was long overdue! After having to cancel their wedding due to COVID, we still wanted to get together and do a fun, cozy shoot! When Hana texted me pics of this beautiful home she found, I think I sent her more heart eye emojis than I can count! It was such a gorgeous house on the clifftops over looking the Columbia River Gorge! The whole house was basically a dream — a mix of boho modern decor, so many fun rugs, big windows, stunning natural light, and overall just the most perfect aesthetic.
ALSO… we found out it’s a WEDDING VENUE. What?!?! Check it out if you’re on the search for a cool Oregon wedding venue with indoor & outdoor options!
We had such a great morning together! We also probably spent the first 30 mins just running around the house exploring and gushing over all the fun rooms and spaces! Then, we had a blast getting creative (and eating cinnamon roles too, duh). Grateful for these two and the way they immediately felt like close friends!
Lake Powell, UT // Couple Photos + Creating an Experience
CREATING AN EXPERIENCE TOGETHER — OUR TRIP TO LAKE POWELL & IDEAS ON HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE!
This story and collection of images is a little bit different than normal — it’s more personal, but also a space for you to begin dreaming up ideas for your own adventure!
Over the summer, we had the opportunity to go to Lake Powell with a group of our closest friends. We road-tripped through the night to Utah, rented a houseboat for 5 days, and floated out into the beautiful canyon arms of Lake Powell.
Living on a boat together — with no signal, just us and the lake — was a DREAM. It was a space of laughter, star gazing, late night conversations, kayaking explorations, living in swim suits, dancing to music, sleepovers every night on the top deck, and true connection with friends. It’s special. These are experiences we have to choose into. And, these kind of meaningful moments look different for everyone — they can be as big or as small as we want, we just have to be intentional about them.
These images are obviously personal to me — but they taught me a lot. They taught me that the feelings and memories an image carries comes with the authentic connection we create in the moment we snap them.
The experience.
THIS experience — it’s one I will never forget. We created it, we lived into it, and these images (along with hundreds of silly iPhone videos haha) will solidify the memories always.
Now, it’s your turn. What adventures can you start dreaming up? What experiences do you want to create?
TIPS & IDEAS —
LAKE POWELL HOUSEBOATS // Bullfrog Marina Houseboat Rentals
LAKE POWELL MUST SEE SPOTS // Points of Interest
BRING A STRAW HAT ;) // Billabong & Quicksilver & Patagonia
a few others…
bring sunscreen // bring books // bring lots of drinks to hydrate through the day // bring bug repellant // bring games to play // bring floaties for the water // bring lots of coolers & lots lots lots of ice (it gets HOT) // expect chill — this is a space to not rush — swim, read, swim, read again. Enjoy every second //
Want travel ideas? Check out my travel bucket list here →
Dunes on the Oregon Coast // Engagement Photos
Exploring the Oregon Coast sand dunes with these two was a DREAM!
I was over the moon excited to get a chance to hang out with these two before their wedding next year!! We each road tripped to meet on the Oregon dunes for an evening of exploring the sandy coastline!
Having not spent much time on the Southern coast of Oregon, it was so fun to experience the new scenery and landscapes. I’m always blown away by all the different types of terrain the Oregon Coast offers — it’s truly incredible!
We spent the evening running around and soaking up the golden sun as it set over the dunes. Grateful for these two lovely humans — and goofballs ;) — and for an evening with new friends! It’s gonna be a freakin’ party at their wedding next year!
Summer Anniversary Photos // Columbia River Gorge, OR
These two picked a summer evening on the Oregon Columbia River Gorge for their anniversary photo session!
Summer evenings in the gorge are magical — golden skies, illuminated clifftops, lush forests, and warm, windy nights. There are so many incredible locations along the river for photos, but this might just be one of my favorites. I was so excited when these two reached out wanting their anniversary photos in the gorge!
Grateful for peaceful spaces and gorgeous views, and wonderful people to adventure with!
Pacific Northwest Engagement Photos // Columbia River Gorge, OR // Mason & Grace
One of my newly discovered favorite locations in the Columbia River Gorge for engagement photos! This beautiful river spot has the most gorgeous views of the mountains reflecting in the water!
The Columbia River Gorge just East of Portland, OR is one of my FAVORITE places to watch sunset! It’s also one of the most beautiful drives — mountains on one side, river on the other. As the sun goes down, the entire gorge is illuminated with light, and the colors change every minute of the sun dipping down!
Spending the evening with these two, exploring a new location, was SO MUCH FUN. We had a blast trailblazing through the long weed-y grass, splashing in the river, watching salmon jump, and spotting sea lions (yep, that’s a thing in the river).
Grateful for amazing humans, stunning views, and deep breaths out in the wilderness!
Desert Lake Couple Photos // Bend, OR
A DREAMY EVENING OVERLOOKING A DESERT LAKE FOR THESE COUPLE PHOTOS IN CENTRAL OREGON
Golden hour is always magical — but, when you’re standing on a cliff overlooking a desert lake with mountains in the background, it’s a new level of beauty.
I had a blast exploring the central Oregon lake views with these two on this lovely summer evening. It was impossible not to take some pretty grand images with that background!
Always grateful for new friends, windy + golden evenings, and exploring this beautiful state!
Why Joshua Tree is the Perfect Backdrop for Your Engagement Session || Joshua Tree National Park Engagement Photos
Looking for a stunning backdrop for your engagement session? Joshua Tree National Park offers iconic desert landscapes and dramatic rock formations perfect for adventurous couples. As a Joshua Tree engagement photographer, I’ll guide you to the best spots and capture unforgettable moments in this magical setting.
Rowena Crest Couple Session // Columbia River Gorge
A SUMMER AFTERNOON SPENT FROLICKING AROUND THE WINDY CLIFFTOPS OF ROWENA CREST OVERLOOKING THE COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE!
The rolling golden hills at Rowena Crest were dancing with the wind when we all arrived at the Columbia river Gorge overlook! It was so fun to prance around and laugh SO MUCH during these photos! It was an absolute blast to hang out and enjoy the summer afternoon together!
THINGS TO DO AROUND ROWENA CREST VIEWPOINT —
// Eat at Eastwind Drive-in
// Coffee at Dog River Coffee Co.
// Stay at The Society Hotel, Bingen
Hood River Cabin Engagement Session // Paige & Brenden
A COZY, IN HOME ENGAGEMENT SESSION IN HOOD RIVER OREGON!
If you live in Oregon or have spent any time here in the winter, then you know it can be pretty rainy during the fall through spring! So, that means that for winter engagement photos (if it’s an extra stormy week), you have to get creative!
AND, let me tell ya, there are LOTS of cool places! Just jump on Airbnb or VRBO and you’ll find a list of places that you can rent to have some cozy in home photos together! I love this idea, because it also is a great excuse to make a fun overnight trip out of it! A little getaway together AND photos savoring that too!
These two found an adorable cabin in the woods near Hood River, Oregon! They had coffee, played their fave music, and got all the cuddling while getting to stay cozy inside! If you think you might want something like this for YOUR engagement photos, shoot me a message! I have a list of amazing Airbnbs you should check out!
Van Life Couple Adventure Session // Joshua Tree, California
THIS ADVENTURE COUPLE SESSION MADE ME WANT TO PACK UP, MOVE INTO A COOL VAN, AND TRAVEL THE DESERT AND CALIFORNIA COASTLINE!
Hello, meet the coolest van life couple EVER! Also, the kindest humans you’ll ever meet! After hanging with Lydia and Philip for that afternoon, we all wanted to just keep chatting for hours! Check out their Instagram to follow along on all their van-lifing adventures together!
Grateful for these sunny, desert adventures together in Joshua Tree National Park!
Northern California Waterfall Couples Session
Spent a sunny day with these two gems exploring this Northern California Waterfall in Lassen National Park!
As you explore Lassen National Forest, you may stumble across this gem of a waterfall in Shasta County. It truly appears out of nowhere, and if you get there at just the right time of day, it’s grandness draws you in with the sun beans bursting through the sprays of water!
Loved getting to explore California’s beauty with these two!
Exploring the Urban Jungle // Scott & Cassie
ANOTHER CITY EXPLORATION - CAPTURING LOVE IN AN URBAN JUNGLE!
As many of you know — I have an equal love for all things adventure in nature AND a love for the creativity a city photo shoot holds! So, exploring down town with these two was so fun. Every corner was a new adventure and challenge to create a meaningful image!
AND, a fun story from this shoot! After chatting a bit, we realized Scott is IN the band that did Josiah and I’s first dance song!!!!! WHAT THE HECK?! Basically, I met a celebrity and had a starstruck moment when I found out hehe. So, everyone should go check out @mybrothersandi and also go listen to the song Fly Away. K, that’s all. I adore these two.
I also found a list of the 50 most beautiful cities in the world, while that may be kind of subjective, I still found myself wanting to go to every single one of them! So, check them out and maybe we can go explore one of them while doing photos! ;)
Engagement Photos in the City // Allison & Joey
LOVE THE CITY? OBSESSED WITH THOSE URBAN VIBES? LET’S GO EXPLORE THE CONCRETE JUNGLE FOR YOUR ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS!
There are so many incredible locations to head to for your engagement photos - and the CITY is one of those! We explored The Pearl district in Portland, OR for Joey and Allison’s engagement session!
I love all the dynamic lines and angles the city offers for photos — every corner is a new challenge and canvas to make a good photo. There is so much creativity to be had in urban-scapes, and I’m grateful to all my couples who trust me to co-create images with them in those kind of spaces!
