When April on the Oregon Coast Feels Like Summer

There is something quietly magical about the Oregon Coast in April and May that most people never get to experience. While the rest of the country is still shaking off winter, the central coast delivers these golden, warm evenings that feel more like midsummer than spring – before the marine layer rolls in and reclaims the season. The kind of evening that makes locals stop and look at each other like they know a secret.

Kiara and Carson’s engagement session was one of those evenings. Lightly overcast, warm, and completely unhurried – on a stretch of coastline I keep close to my chest for exactly these moments.

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A Hidden Gem on the Oregon Coast

The location we chose for these two sits on the central Oregon Coast and it has everything – dramatic rock formations rising from the sand, wide open beach, swaying tall grass, and an active bird habitat that means at any given moment something is flying through your frame completely unrehearsed. The birds in these images were not added later! They were just there, doing what they do, making everything more beautiful.

It is the kind of place that still belongs to the people who find it. I would like to keep it that way a little longer.

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Photographing Kiara and Carson – On Giving Couples Space

Kiara and Carson are OSU students – thoughtful, a little reserved, and exactly the kind of people who light up when a camera stops feeling like a camera. From the moment we started I could sense that the usual close-direction approach was not going to serve them. So I gave them space.

This is something I have come to believe deeply as an Oregon Coast engagement photographer: proximity is not always the path to authentic images. Sometimes the most genuine moments happen when I step back, give a loose direction, and let distance do the work. When couples cannot quite tell if I am shooting or just watching, they stop performing and start simply being together.

That is exactly what happened with Kiara and Carson. They ran along the shoreline, wandered through the tall grass, and settled into each other in a way that felt completely natural – because it was. My favorite frames from this session are the ones where they forgot I was there entirely.

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How the Session Unfolded

The Rock Formations

The rock formations along this stretch of coast are the kind of thing that stops you mid-sentence. Layered, textured, and completely photogenic from every angle – they gave the session a dramatic anchor while the open beach kept everything feeling spacious and free. We moved around them, used them as framing, and let the scale of the landscape do what coastal Oregon does so effortlessly.

Tall Grass and Birds in Flight

Some of my favorite moments from the session happened in the tall grass just back from the shoreline. There is a softness to those images – the grass catching the light, the coast visible just beyond – that contrasts beautifully with the wide open beach shots. And the birds. I genuinely love when wildlife shows up uninvited into a session. It adds an element of place that no amount of posing or planning can manufacture.

Running the Beach at Dusk

We ended the way I love to end sessions on the coast – moving. Running along the waterline as the evening light softened and the beach stretched out ahead of them. By that point Kiara and Carson were completely relaxed, laughing, fully themselves. Those are always the frames I come back to.

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What to Know About Booking an Oregon Coast Engagement Session

You Do Not Always Need the Famous Spot

Cannon Beach is stunning. Cape Kiwanda is one of my favorites. But some of the most extraordinary sessions I have photographed on the Oregon Coast have happened at places most people have never heard of. If you are drawn to something that feels genuinely discovered rather than documented, I love finding the right location for you – whether that is a well-known stretch of coast or somewhere I keep quietly in my back pocket.

Spring and Fall Are Underrated

Summer is peak season on the Oregon Coast, but the marine layer means coastal summers are often cooler and foggier than people expect. April, May, and October can deliver genuinely stunning conditions – warm light, fewer people, and that unpredictable coastal drama that makes for the most interesting images. Those are the months us locals actually call summer. If your dates are flexible, shoulder season is worth considering seriously.

My Approach – Space, Naturalness, and Real Moments

I work best with couples who want images that feel like them rather than images that look like posed engagement photos. That means I lean heavily on natural direction, movement, and distance rather than posed, close-contact setups. If you are shy, introverted, or just not sure what to do in front of a camera – that is completely okay. Actually, it might mean we are a perfect fit.

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Ready to Book Your Oregon Coast Engagement Session?

I’m Jackie, an Oregon Coast engagement photographer who knows this coastline intimately – the famous spots, the hidden ones, and everything in between. If you are dreaming of something genuine, atmospheric, and completely your own, I would love to connect HERE!

A Moody Spring Evening on the Oregon Coast

Rishab and Sneha’s Cape Kiwanda engagement session was really a classic spring evening on the Oregon Coast. A gloomy spring sky, low tide pulling back to reveal the hidden edges of the cliffs, and a beach that was entirely ours from start to finish. No crowds, no distractions – just two people, the Pacific Ocean, and everything Cape Kiwanda had to offer that evening.

This is the kind of session where the location does some of the heavy lifting, and Cape Kiwanda is extraordinarily good at that.

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Why Cape Kiwanda is One of the Best Engagement Session Locations on the Oregon Coast

If you have never been to Cape Kiwanda or Pacific City, it is hard to fully prepare you for it. The golden sandstone headland, the massive dune that spills dramatically down to the shoreline, the sea stacks rising from the Pacific just offshore – it is a location that layers texture, scale, and drama in a way that very few places on the coast can match. Has a bit of a Cannon Beach vibe without all the visitors. And unlike some of the more heavily trafficked spots further north (like Cannon Beach), Pacific City still has a laid-back, unhurried energy that makes it feel like a place you discovered rather than a place everyone already knows about.

For engagement sessions specifically, Cape Kiwanda offers something rare: genuine variety within a single location. In the span of one evening you can move from wide open beach to towering dunes to dramatic cliffside to the water’s edge – and every backdrop feels completely different.

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How Rishab and Sneha’s Session Unfolded

The Dunes

We started by climbing the dunes – and if you have never stood at the top of the Cape Kiwanda dune looking out over the Pacific, it is a view that genuinely stops you. The scale is unexpected. The ocean stretches out endlessly to the west, the beach curves away below you, and on an overcast evening the whole scene takes on this soft, cinematic quality that I find myself chasing every time I am out there. Rishab and Sneha took it all in, and that stillness translated beautifully into the images.

The Cliffs and Low Tide Slots

Low tide at Cape Kiwanda opens up a part of the location that many visitors never see. As the water pulls back, narrow slots and alcoves appear in the sandstone cliffs – tucked-away pockets that feel completely hidden from the rest of the beach. We found one that framed the two of them perfectly against the rough texture of the rock, the Pacific visible just beyond. It is one of those spots that requires a little timing and patience to access, and completely rewards you for both.

Running the Beach at Dusk

After the sun dropped below the horizon, we ran along the shoreline as the last light faded, the waves coming in beside them, the whole beach still ours. There is something about that end-of-session energy, when everyone has relaxed completely into the day, that produces some of my favorite frames. Rishab and Sneha’s were no exception.

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Planning Your Own Cape Kiwanda Engagement Session

When to Go

Cape Kiwanda photographs beautifully year-round, but spring and fall are my personal favorites for engagement sessions. You get dramatic skies, softer light, and significantly fewer people than the busy summer months. Overcast and even gloomy conditions — like the evening Rishab and Sneha had – are genuinely ideal here. The diffused light is flattering, the colors in the sandstone and ocean deepen, and the mood of the images takes on a quality that clear sunny days rarely deliver.

Timing Your Session Around the Tides

If accessing the cliff slots and lower rock formations is something you want to include, check the tide charts before you book. Low tide opens up parts of Cape Kiwanda that simply are not accessible otherwise, and it is worth planning around. I always check tide times when scheduling sessions here – it makes a real difference in what we can access and where we can go.

What to Wear

Lean into the natural palette of the location. Warm earth tones, dusty neutrals, terracotta, cream, and deep greens all photograph beautifully against the golden sandstone and grey-green Pacific. The wind at Cape Kiwanda is real – flowing fabrics and relaxed silhouettes tend to work better than anything structured or stiff. And comfortable shoes you do not mind getting sandy are a must, especially if you want to climb the dune or explore near the waterline.

Logistics and Parking

Cape Kiwanda is located in Pacific City, roughly two hours from Portland and just a short drive from Lincoln City. Parking is available in the lot near the beach – it can up quickly on summer weekends but is very manageable in the shoulder seasons. There is no permit required for photography sessions on the beach itself, though as always I recommend checking current Oregon State Parks guidelines ahead of your date as regulations can change.

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Ready to Plan Your Oregon Coast Engagement Session?

I’m Jackie, an elopement and wedding photographer based on the Oregon Coast, and Cape Kiwanda is practically in my backyard. If you are drawn to dramatic coastal scenery, moody light, and sessions that feel more like an adventure than a photoshoot, I would love to connect and start planning your day. Book your session HERE.

A Beach Day in Lincoln City, OR Family Photos 

Who would have guessed that three years after I photographed their wedding two states away, we’d be doing family photos on the beach in Oregon, where we both live now??? A foggy morning turned into a misty, magical day on the coast in Lincoln City and the most perfect full-circle moment for a photoshoot. 

Lo + Coop live in Portland, and since I’m now a Lincoln City local, they took an easy two-hour drive west for some laid-back family photos to celebrate the first birthday of their girl, Romee. They didn’t have a specific location in mind, so I got to choose and I knew the perfect spot—close to me, dog-friendly so they could bring their pup along, and full of gorgeous, underrated little gems that don’t get nearly as much love as they should.

Why Lincoln City is a Hidden Gem for Oregon Coast Family Photos

When people think about Oregon Coast photos, they usually picture Cannon Beach. And I get it, she’s iconic!! But Oregon has plenty of gorgeous beaches that are way less traveled by tourists and locals alike, making them perfect for a chill photo session with enough privacy to roam around however you please. 

And Lincoln City is one of them! I might be biased as I can literally see the ocean from my house, but it’s got so much to offer. First of all, it’s the longest beach city in Oregon, which means there’s plenty of space to run and explore, so you can let your kids be kids without any stress. And that goes for your dog, too! 

Yep, it’s also one of the Oregon beaches where dogs can be off-leash, as long as they’re well-mannered enough to come when you call them. So naturally, Lo + Coop brought their very cute (and very excited) pup, and it made the whole session feel like a little family beach day.

Family Photos with a Baby on the Beach? Yes Please.

We started out by the water, just letting Romee do her thing (aka squeal, toddle around, and do whatever she pleases, which is key to sessions like these). The light was super soft and glowy in that weird, coastal-weather way where you never really know what you’re going to get. Earlier that morning, there was a full-on marine layer that made the weather feel so gloomy. By the time we started shooting? That glorious sun popped out a bit, but with a misty coastal vibe. 

That’s the beauty of shooting family photos on the Oregon Coast! You kind of get every mood in one day, but the light somehow always works. Usually, shooting mid-day is a big no-no for photographer lighting wise, but the coastal weather never gives too harsh of light. And as a bonus it means you don’t have to rearrange your whole day around golden hour or worry if your baby’s nap schedule doesn’t line up! 

After playing by the shoreline, Lo + Coop did a quick outfit change and we walked a few steps over to a grassy bluff that looked like a totally different location. Still just two minutes from where we started, but suddenly it felt like late summer in the Pacific Northwest. That’s another thing I loooove about Lincoln City family photos, it gives you plenty of scenery to work with! One short shoot can give you two completely different vibes. 

We had already done a dreamy engagement session in a field at golden hour and some epic lake house wedding photos together (linked here if you’re a creeper like me), so adding in this whole new coastal vibe felt full-circle, like a new era for the sweetest fam. It felt like fate that we all ended up out here in Oregon!!! So it was just as special for them as it was for me! 

Looking for a Lincoln City photographer for your family photos or couples session?? 

Whether you’ve got a home nearby or you’re planning a trip to the coast with your crew, Lincoln City is one of my favorite locations for beach photos in Oregon. I’ve scoured every little nook and cranny for the perfect spots, so just show up with your favorite people and be ready for a laid-back day on the Oregon Coast, making some memories and documenting everything along the way!!! 

→ Reach out and we’ll get to planning!!!

While the western coast might get all of the hype, I’ve got a soft spot for forest engagement photos in Portland, Oregon! Especially if you want classic, timeless photos with your pup roaming around like Marissa + Cameron. No crowded city streets, no traveling to the beach. Just simple, sentimental photos in a place that means something. And that’s exactly what we got! 

Keep reading for more on their story, some great classic Portland engagement photo locations in the forest, and some inspo for your own engagement photoshoot! 

Marissa + Cameron’s Portland Forest Engagement Session

First, a little backstory:

I actually photographed Marissa over a decade ago for her senior portraits in Missoula, MT. (Wild how time flies.) We’d stayed connected over the years, and when she saw I’d moved to Oregon, she reached out right away about engagement photos.

She and Cameron are both med students (my couples are always cool, but these two?? Clearly brilliant humans). Marissa had just finished her residency in NYC right before this session. Cameron was getting ready to leave for a fellowship in Minnesota. They’ve basically been living the “long-distance, two-med-school-schedules, how-do-we-even-make-this-work” life for years, but Portland has always been their home base.

So it was important to Marissa that their engagement session happen in Portland. She wanted forest photos that were classic, simple, and timeless enough to print, share with family, and use for save-the-dates. Beyond that, she gave me free reign to wander until it felt right (my favorite kind of engagement photoshoot plan)! 

We ended up exploring trails at the Hoyt Arboretum, surrounded by massive trees of Oregon redwoods. (Yes, Oregon has redwoods, not just California!)

The day itself was a total mood swing. Portland had been weirdly warm all week, then dropped into cool temps with soft, even cloud cover. Perfect for photos.

Marissa and Cameron brought along their 13-year-old dog, Lacy, who was the perfect third wheel. She wandered in and out of shots, occasionally photobombing in the best way. If you’re considering a dog-friendly engagement session in Portland, highly recommend it (I’m obsessed with dogs in engagement sessions, here’s proof). They always bring out those unscripted moments that make photos feel laid-back and natural (and really damn cute)!  

Other Great Portland Engagement Photo Locations in the Forest 

If you’re considering your own forest engagement photos in Portland, there are so many beautiful places that give you that same peaceful, timeless vibe. Here are a few I love:

→ Forest Park — one of the largest forest reserves in the US with miles of trails, massive trees, and easy access from downtown if you want a mix of city and nature!
→ Tryon Creek State Natural Area — super cute bridges and boardwalks over wetlands with that fairy garden-like feel and trails accessible for any adventure level!
→ Mt. Tabor Park — love Portland? This spot gives amazing views of the city skyline and smaller forest pockets, the best of both worlds! Plus, they have an off leash dog area for your pup. 

Looking for a Portland wedding photographer for your engagement session? 

I’m your girl! Whether you’re obsessed with the forest vibes like Marissa + Cameron or want help choosing some sentimental engagement photo ideas specifically for you + your partner, I’m happy to help! 

The best photos happen when you’re somewhere that feels like you. So let’s chat about locations, timing, outfits, dogs tagging along… all of it. Ready when you are, bb!! 

Reach out to me to plan your engagement session! 

This wasn’t my first surprise proposal and it definitely won’t be my last, but let me tell ya—they get better every single time. As a wedding + elopement photographer, I’m constantly trying to learn something new or take away a lesson from every shoot. Over the years, surprise proposals have gone from something that truly terrified me to being one of the most exciting inquiries that pop into my inbox! Caitlin + Cade’s photoshoot in Glacier National Park is the perfect example of how insanely good photos can come from the most spontaneous moments. 

Behind-the-Scenes of Another Successful Surprise Proposal 

Cayde filled out my contact form nearly 5 months before the two would make their way from Louisiana to Montana for a little getaway. This trip was his way of saying ‘thank you’—a sweet gesture to make up for cutting her family national park road trip short when Cayde had a serious car accident the year before. He had no real plan, which truthfully made my photographer brain a liiiittle worried, but we agreed we’d go with the flow and surely enough, it was just the right amount of trickery to pull it off! 

For Caitlin, she thought Cayde *might* pop the question during their vacation to Glacier. But that morning, everything seemed normal. It was March in the Rocky Mountains, so there was plenty of fresh snow, and they were off to explore the park before dinner reservations later that night! When Cayde put on a nice shirt for freezing temperatures, he almost pinged those girlfriend-spidey senses (you know the ones). But when she asked about his outfit, he quickly brushed it off with the, “so I don’t have to change for dinner!” excuse. Classic. Following his lead, Caitlin thought, “oh duh, let me change!” And that might have been the smoothest move I’ve seen in my 15+ years of photography. Suddenly, they both were photo-ready without a hiccup in the plan. 

They headed into the park before I did, wandering around, and discovering just how magical GNP can be (even when the wind is sending shivers to your core). Cayde and I were ready. He had sneakily sent photos from their morning, so I knew exactly what they looked like. I had chosen a spot with cell phone reception, a rare commodity in GNP, and shared my location. With Bill, my precious Frenchie and my professional decoy, I casually strolled along Lake McDonald while the lovebirds headed out onto a snow-covered dock. I sat back, ready to capture it all, as I saw a bend of the knee starting to come when… Cailitin asked for selfies. HA! He happily obliged, I chuckled, and she turned around to take more photos of the stunning views. 

And then, he did it! 

Another surprise proposal photoshoot pulled off. Perfection!

She was so excited to have a photographer there to document it all. So now that Cayde and I had entered the sweet relief stage and our trickery was perfectly executed, all there was left to do was wander and take some spontaneous winter engagement photos in GNP! 

We headed back to a spot they had explored earlier in the day for a bit of sentimental documentation of their day when the winds started furiously whipping around freshly fallen snow. It was along the road, not some epic spot with the mountain range as our background, but we stopped for photos right as the sun was beaming down and it was STUNNING. The snow flying, the unexpected lighting, the spontaneous location—they were easily some of their favorites from the day (and mine, too).   

If you’re looking for surprise proposal ideas, let this be your sign! 

What makes it truly special isn’t the meticulously planned details, but the fun of just going for it and seeing what comes. Don’t be afraid of imperfection. Some of the most stunning photographs come from moments that weren’t carefully staged or overly planned. Embrace the spontaneity, trust your photographer, and just have a damn good time! 

Tthe best shots always happen when you least expect them. 

If you don’t believe me, just scroll through Caitlin + Cayde’s winter engagement photos! And there’s more where that came from. When you’re done, take a peek at Elizabeth + Chad’s surprise proposal for more proof! 

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Looking for an engagement, elopement, or wedding photographer? I’d looooove to be a part of your plans. And SURPRISE! I’ve moved. So while I still photograph in Glacier National Park and beyond, I’m now your local Oregon Coast photographer! From Montana to Oregon to Washington and beyond, count me in for your big plans. Check out my pricing here!

When these sweet newlyweds Caroline + Connor reached out about a photoshoot for their honeymoon in Belize at an eco-lodge just minutes from the Guatemala border, I was already obsessed. Chasing golden hour light through the jungle! But this became about so much more than just pretty pictures (though trust me, they’re damn goooood). It’s a reminder that your love deserves to be captured exactly as it is—not forced into someone else’s idea of what romance should look like. 

So are you looking for inspo for your Belize honeymoon? Thinking about eloping or planning a destination wedding in Belize?  Nervous about booking a couples photoshoot in general? Whether you raised your hand for one or all, you’ll find all of the golden nuggets of info you need right here. 

Honeymoon photos are for everyone (Even if PDA isn’t your thing!) 

If you meet Caroline + Connor, it might surprise you that they wanted to bring along a wedding photographer to capture their romantic honeymoon getaway.  They’re not about over-the-top PDA moments, being loud on adventures, or running through fields making out. Their love is subtle, quiet, sincere in the most loving-each-other-is-natural way. So why did they invite me along to capture a time that is usually known to be extra lovey dovey?

If you’re thinking, “THAT’S US TOO” then keep reading, I’ve got an important message for you! 

Unfortunately, they didn’t have a stellar experience with another photographer on their wedding day. So they took to Google, carefully searched for someone who might be able to give them what they were looking for, and they found me. (Mostly likely from another honeymoon photoshoot in San Pedro Belize I posted to my blog!) 

After hearing their experience, I was DETERMINED to make this most magical, stunning, incredible honeymoon photoshoot ever for them.  But most of all, I wanted their images to feel real. Like a true representation of who they are and how they love.  

Luckily with 15+ years of experience photographing couples, I knew the best way to do that. It’s simple really—get to know them. I start before I even meet my clients, by getting on a call to chat and sending a “Get to Know You” questionnaire so they can spill bits about who they are, what they like, what they’re comfy (and not comfy) with in front of the camera. 

Then I show up to shoot day of as MYSELF—an extroverted, always enthusiastic photographer who knows exactly how to get movement and pose in front of the camera that feels natural, never stiff. It’s something nearly every single one of my couples worries about, yet is never *actually* a problem because I got you!! Here’s part of Caroline’s own google review to prove it: 

“After an unfortunate experience with our wedding photos working with another photographer, we learned our lesson and looked into finding a photographer that truly cared about their work and clients. We found Jackie through a Google search and after reading her website decided to work with her – the best decision we could have made! She is an AMAZING photographer and provides nostalgic, beautiful photos I have always wanted with my husband.” 

See!!! I GOT YOU! 

Okay, now that Caroline + Connor have aided in my pep talk HAHA and hopefully convinced you to just book the damn photos, I have to tell you about their honeymoon shoot at this eco-resort in Belize. 

Honeymooning in Belize? Vanilla Hills Lodge San Ignacio is the spot! 

And while we’re talking about it, it’s a dreamy little wedding venue in Belize as well! You’re surrounded by rolling hills of lush jungle, staying in these adorable eco-friendly cabins that make you feel like you’re in your own private treehouse village. There’s this massive lawn that’s literally perfect for everything from intimate ceremonies to sunset dances (even if dancing isn’t usually your thing, that’s a-okay too!)

Caroline + Connor split their honeymoon between the beach vibes of San Pedro island (where I also photographed a Belize destination wedding at Ambergris Caye) and this jungle paradise. And let me tell you—choosing Vanilla Hills Lodge for their photos was the BEST decision! 

We had those deep-in-the-jungle feelings that’ll make you forget the rest of the world exists but rested in luxury resort-style the whole time. We explored every inch of this property for their session. They lounged by the infinity pool. We snuck down secret pathways through gardens that felt like a private paradise. Checked out the field that is a dream at golden hour. Even went on a little adventure walk down to the river (though maybe skip that part when it’s 102 degrees like it was for us, HAHA!)

There are a million reasons to book a stay here for your honeymoon, elopement, or wedding: 

It’s All Yours, Baby! With just a few cabins on the property, you can literally rent out the WHOLE place. Think about it—for a honeymoon, it’s the ultimate private escape. And for a wedding? Your entire guest list can stay on-site, turning your celebration into a full-on retreat!

Those Views!!! Every. Single. Corner. Is. Perfect. Plus they offer an incredible mix of photoshoot locations we could explore for your shoot. If you love a laid-back luxury, barefoot in a bridal gown vibe, ooooh this could be SO cool. 

Location, Location, Location! You’re literally minutes from the Guatemala border, a short flight away from the islands, and surrounded by adventure opportunities. Want to mix some Mayan ruins or cave exploring into your wedding weekend or honeymoon? Done! But also? You’ve got a gorgeous property waiting for you when you want to just chill. 

A Reminder for You: Book the honeymoon shoot! Even if you’re nervous—do it anyway! 

In a time as exciting and full of love as when you’re getting married, you should have every moment captured in a way that feels true to you. Whether you’re naturally affectionate or more reserved, loud and adventurous, or simply quietly in love—you deserve photos that showcase your love exactly as it is.

These two proved that sometimes the most beautiful photos come from just being yourself in a place that feels magical. And trust me, between the location, the eco-resort touches, and endless hidden spots at Vanilla Hills Lodge, magic just happens naturally there.Planning your own Belize adventure? I will whip out my Delta SkyMiles so fast for you, babe! Tell me all about you, your partner, your story, and your plans right here and I pinky promise we’ll plan something super epic all around who you are.

Wanna know the great thing about Montana mountain engagement photos? You’ll come for the mountains, but you always get so much more. Hidden lakes, rocky shorelines, trails in lush forests – they’re all waiting for you when you go exploring in a mountain range. Madisen + David knew the magic of the mountains all too well, after taking one trip to visit Montana they fell in love with the wild beauty of it all. Flash forward a few years and they were planning a trip back, but this time scouting for a place they might call home! 

So while their trip wasn’t just to get some mountain engagement photos, the session made it all the more special as they explored these new areas. I’m a sucker for all things sentimental, so commemorating their search for a potential new place to call home puts me in my feelers. Madisen + David are from a small town in New York and were driving in and out of small towns all over Montana, checking the vibes and views. As a Montana local, I had to show them around some of my favorite spots for beautiful views away from the hustle and bustle of the summer time crowds. We talked about what they wanted and I sent them over some galleries of photoshoots I’d done in different spots with mountain views (including this stunner engagement shoot). We landed on a special little spot outside of Missoula. 

This location, of course, has everything you’d want to find when itching for a little adventure in the mountains. Though the lake is too full in the summer for much of a beach, the huge boulders jutting out of its water provide perfect perches to cuddle your lover + soak in the view. And they sure did! Then we skipped over to a trail in the trees before cruising around the shore for a different view. All the while we made hilarious inappropriate jokes and cracked up at Bill (my assistant aka my Frenchie) when he got a crazy case of the zoomies through nasty fishy mud. The coolest part? We didn’t have to hike hours into the backcountry to get pretty scenes + privacy! We were just a short walk from the car. 

I think Madisen + David are going to like their new home in Montana, wherever they choose. No doubt about it, most people do (*cough* Justin Timberlake + Jessica Biel *cough*) And now they have some mountain engagement photos to remember their find-a-new-home roadtrip. 

Do the anniversary photoshoot. You’ll love it. Don’t ever stop photography your love story. Amanda + Shayne started the tradition of coming back to the place where they got married last year, which just so happens to be the same place they vacationed to celebrate their engagement the year before. The rugged mountainscape and fresh air of big sky country bring these two Texans right back to moments of so much love and how lucky am I to have gotten to capture those moments for them?! 

Springtime in Glacier National Park is always an interesting time for an anniversary shoot or any couples photoshoot for that matter. The weather is still unpredictable, thawing from our long cold winters. The Going to the Sun Road isn’t open just yet, eliminating some of the most infamous corners of the park. To add to it, in recent years construction has even caused havoc near Lake McDonald. 

But there’s calmness that comes in the shoulder season. The tourists haven’t arrived yet and a cool chill sting lingers in the air. The light is softer for longer, not quite as harsh as the summer sun. The lake is larger and the shoreline smaller because of runoff from the snowy mountains above. Each season brings its own type of magic and there are always beautiful places to explore. Amanda + Shayne’s anniversary session is perfect proof of that! 

Without access to the Going to the Sun Road, we were limited on where we could venture to on the west side. But that didn’t stop us from exploring every bit of forest and shoreline we could find. We were weaving through the trees, chasing that soft sunlight, winding along the creek trail, and eventually landed on the docks of the lake in Apgar Village. When I tell you I hadn’t seen light like that in this region forever, I mean it. It was a Montana photographer’s dream land. 

It’s crazy to think that these two lovers met over four years ago at jury duty. Freakin’ civic duty brought to life a sweet story of love between two people which led to an intentional wedding in a place they love most, and now year after year, they’ll come back to this place to relive it all. I’d photograph these babes and their anniversary photos until the end of time if they’d let me! 

So if you don’t take anything else from this blog post, remember these two things! 

1. DO THE ANNIVERSARY PHOTOSHOOT! Or the engagement photos. Or the couples photos. Or the vacation photos. Just do ‘em! You’ll share these moments with each other for the rest of forever and that’s seriously something special. Preserve it.
2. Don’t let shoulder season scare you. Glacier National Park is full of stunning spots, not just the ones with a million Tripadvisor reviews! Especially when you hire a local Montana photographer (oh hey, hi, hello,  let’s chat about your photos!). I can lead you to secret spots and unknown corners so that we can always capture something special. 

If you’re a big mountain person or a national park lover or just someone crazy in love that wants photos in some otherworldly beauty – let’s do it bb! The world is waiting. Where do you wanna go?! 

What’s better than splashing around in the creek for some outdoor family photos with your bff’s family? As a Missoula photographer, I get to spend my days hanging with my crazy-in-love couples, honeys saying ‘I Do’ and nature lovers visiting for their annual dose of the mountain magic, but some of my favorite shoots are when I get to hang right around the corner from my house and capture some of the people I love most in this world.  

Truth be told, I take family photos of my best friend, Amanda, her partner Ryan all of the time. Add their twin girls (who are somehow now TEENAGERS?) to the mix and it’s bound to be the best day ever. So when Amanda + I were throwing around some family photo ideas for summer, we were like why not full send our fun day and go play in the river??? 

Oftentimes my clients, especially when I am shooting a destination wedding or adventure elopement, want those big beautiful mountain views that Montana has to offer. I loveeee the mountains and they definitely make for some awe-worthy photos, but sometimes it’s so nice to ditch the tourists, hang out in a quiet spot you love, and soak in the fact that we live in a freakin’ stunning place! No big views or wild adventure needed. So if you’re looking for some secret spots and hidden gems for a photoshoot in Missoula, I’ve got you! 

Now that I’ve convinced you there is beauty to be found everywhere, let’s get back to my bestie’s outdoor family photos. She brought along her husband, Ryan, and her twin daughters for our biannual photo sesh. It was boiling hot that day and we had already planned a little dip into the river to cool off, but the heat made us dive immediately into a water fight. 

As the afternoon went by and sun dipped lower into the sky, rays scattered through the trees and into the shaded river below, lighting up the clearing with glowy rays of magic you couldn’t plan if you tried!!! Don’t believe me? Take a peek at some behind the scenes video snippets in this Instagram reel from their shoot! Dreaaaaamy stuff, am I right?!? 

So don’t sleep on Missoula my local babes! Who wants to plan outdoor family photos in a field somewhere or maybe even take a dip for a couples photoshoot this summer? Hit me up cause I am SO ready!

When you go searching for the best engagement photo ideas, you’ll likely find endless big views and epic scenery and curated spaces. But what if I told you that it can be more simple than that? This session with Marissa + John was at a quiet spot alongside a river behind their property and it was just as dreamy as any engagement photo inspiration I’ve seen out there. 

It’s true that I shoot a lot of adventure sessions. And typically, I don’t even get to take engagement photos for my wedding photography clients because most of them are from out of town! They come to Montana for the landscapes of Glacier National Park or stunning resort towns like Big Sky. And as a destination lover myself, I am all about it! 

But when I get to take engagement photos for a local couple in Missoula, I geek out over the possibilities of quiet locations, sentimental spots, and laid-back shoots that showcase their love just the way it is. And when it was time to think up some engagement photo ideas, that’s exactly what Marissa + John wanted! 

While the spot was definitely pretty, there wasn’t anything famous or epic about it. But it was woven into their everyday life, a little oasis to walk their pup, spend some time by the river soaking in the sun, to retreat to and unwind after all life throws your way. It was a view they knew all too well, every twig we passed and twist in the trail was so familiar to them. 

This is your permission slip to throw away all of the engagement photo ideas on Pinterest of places that mean nothing to you and replace them with sentimental places you spend time with the one you love most. The pub where you play trivia every Thursday. The couch where you snuggle while watching your favorite show. The river where you walk your dog. 

When Marissa + John look back on these photos, they’ll always remember the moments spent together in this spot. Their home by the river in Missoula. The way the leaves turn quickly in the fall and bloom slowly in the spring. All of the good, real life moments that fill their relationship. What a freakin’ sweet tribute to their love!

So where are my Missoula babes? Let’s comb through your favorite engagement photo ideas and capture your love just the way it is. I’m ready when you are! In the meantime, here is another piece of inspo for you + your partner! Check out this in-home engagement session!