What if I told you that these engagement photos in Seattle with sunshine and cherry blossoms were originally planned for a time and place where the high temperature for the day was -16 degrees?? HA! It’s true. The unplanned swap in locations for this engagement session was the absolute best decision—all thanks to the enchanted forest, feels-like-summer vibes from the Washington Park Arboretum in early March. So if you need some engagement photo location in Seattle inspo, keep reading this one! 

When Life Gives You Blizzards, Head to Seattle! 

Usually, I tell my clients not to worry about the weather. Stormy clouds? They make for the most epic moody lighting. A little wind? Messy hair is my favorite. But blizzards with highs of -16 degrees? It’s uncomfortable. Like really uncomfortable. And it shows in the photos. 

I’ve been there, done that and I promise even when you want to stick it out, you end up running back and forth to the car for warm-ups every 4-5 minutes, wiping up snotty noses, and wishing you would have just waited for a warmer day. 

Steph + Kyle are Montana natives who swapped mountain life for the West Coast (just like me! Kyle is actually my BFF’s brother-in-law!), so they *know* cold. And even though they originally wanted to capture their engagement photos in the snowy landscape where they grew up AND where they’d be getting married, when I told them about the weather, they said, “Give us a Plan B, Jackie!!” 

As luck would have it, I was already SEA-bound (heading out for this Belize honeymoon photoshoot with Caroline + Connor), and these two lovers now call Seattle home. So we traded in our snow boots for a sunny spring day at the Washington Park Arboretum, a place that holds special meaning for Kyle + Steph—it’s their go-to spot for dog walks and weekend hangs.

And can we talk about that weather?! 74 degrees in March, camellias in bloom, cherry blossoms just starting to pop, and we basically had entire sections of the park to ourselves. Including their pups in the session made it even more personal—capturing not just them and their love, but their whole life in Seattle together.

Why the Washington Park Arboretum is Seattle’s Best-Kept Secret for Engagement Photos

If you’re hunting for the perfect engagement photo location in Seattle, let me spill some tea about why the Arboretum should be at the top of your list!

★ It’s got year-round beauty! 

The Washington Park Arboretum is one hell of a park. It’s got something like 230 acres,  beautifully managed by the University of Washington Botanic Gardens. Every season brings something magical :

• Spring: Cherry blossoms, camellias, azaleas, and rhododendrons create a pink and purple wonderland if color is your thing 
• Summer: Hydrangeas are in full swing and the Woodland Garden section of the park turns into every cottage-core-obsessed gal’s dream
• Fall: Japanese maples turn the whole place into a fiery display, so if you want that quintessential fall engagement photo vibe—it’s perf
• Winter: Nothing is growing but witch hazel which is giving moody and mysterious in the best way if you ask me 

★ There are tons of hidden gems (with more privacy). 

When we were exploring the park, we found a hidden camellia garden with ZERO people around. The Arboretum is full of secret spots like this! With 20,000+ plants from around the world, you’ve got endless backdrops/vibes for your photos. There’s the Japanese Garden, Azalea Way, Woodland Garden and SO many more. Think of the variety you could get in just one engagement photoshoot!!

★ The park is dog-friendly—bring your furchildren! 

I’m a sucker for including pets in engagement or wedding photography. I mean, just look at these lovers with their pups, can you blame me?! The Arboretum is perfect for this. Your furbabe can explore all the gardens with us—just keep ’em leashed! And honestly? Having the dogs there helps everyone relax and just be themselves. Kyle + Steph’s dogs were living their BEST lives during this session, and it shows in every single photo! 

★ You don’t have to leave the city for a green, outdoor, forest vibe. 

The Arboretum is literally minutes from downtown Seattle, but step inside and suddenly you’re in this lil’ oasis wonderland that feels miles away from city life. Perfect for my couples who want nature-inspired engagement shoot photos without having to head to the wilderness or hop on a plane. Though I’m down for that too! If you can’t tell by this and this and this HAHA! 

So… wanna hang with me for your engagement photos? 

Remember how I said I too was a Montana → West Coast transplant? After over a decade of photographing love in my home state, I now call myself an Oregon wedding photographer! This means Seattle is only a hop, skip, and a jump away for me and my camera. 

So whether you’re planning your engagement photos at the Washington Park Arboretum, want to head off into Olympic National Park for an adventure session, or are thinking of heading south for a couples session on the Oregon Coast—you’d better be counting me in! Fill out my inquiry form and tell me about you and your lover so we can get to dreaming + planning something fun, true to you, and STUNNING of course!