Choosing the Perfect Spot
Most of my couples choose to showcase the natural beauty of the outdoors. Local parks, farms, community gardens, and walking trails are great ideas. I love exploring new places, so I’m always down to discover a new spot together. Try to think seasonal as well - are there special wildflowers blooming now that would make for a beautiful backdrop? Let’s work together to plan out the perfect session! My favorites are outdoor, open-air environments. I love shooting in wide-open natural spaces because the light is divine, especially during golden hour. There are great options all around, so even if you’ve never seen me photograph in a specific spot before, I’m always up for exploring a new spot together!
Note that I am currently only booking engagement sessions with locations within Washington County / NW Portland area. There are many amazing locations listed below - please reach out if you have a certain vision in mind that isn’t coming across in any of the locations listed.
Timing is Everything
Natural light creates photographs that feel fresh, timeless and true to you as a couple. I like to schedule my sessions during the morning time or two hours before the scheduled sunset during “the golden hour,” when the light is the dreamiest. I use a sunrise/sunset calculator to determine the scheduled golden hour time for the date and location of your session. Remember, the sun sets much earlier during the colder months and much later during the warmer months, so make sure to factor that in when choosing your session date, especially if you’re taking off work. To get the most out of your session, please plan a buffer when getting ready so you can arrive a few minutes early to your session and be ready to start on time. We’re only able to shoot when natural light is still in the sky, so we’ll want to take advantage of every minute we have together.
It’s important to also note that this golden hour time may not always prove true depending on the location you choose. If your location is heavily covered with trees, for example, then the area likely doesn’t get enough sunlight in to catch a strong golden hour and in that case the time of day we shoot there won’t matter too much. Shooting too late in the evening can also mean the sun appears to set faster than if we were in a wide open area and we wouldn’t have enough sunlight to shoot if we waited til the typical golden hour time. I always try and avoid shooting mid day (~11-2pm) at peak sun time. Too much sun can be harsh on your photos creating heavy shadowing, squinty eyes, and sweating.
A Few Locations I Love
& some more…
Cooper Mountain Nature Park - Beaverton
Jackson Bottom Wetlands - Hillsboro
Portland Rose Garden - Portland
Commonwealth Lake - Beaverton
West Union Gardens sunflower fields - Hillsboro (August) $5 entry fee
Peonies at Glencoe Farm (in season in June) - Hillsboro
Horning’s Hideout (lake, grass fields, lots of trees and greenery) - North Plains ($5 parking fee)
Oregon Heritage Farms - October time for fun apple picking photos!
A little about some of my fav locations…
Orchard Park: this is a loop trail along wooden bridges with tree coverings, grass fields, and the most magical cherry blossoms when in season (around April-May)
Hoyt Arboretum: The best spot to walk around and get that classic PNW vibe in your photos. Lots of walking paths through the trees, ferns, and extra beautiful lighting through the trees if we get great weather! The tree coverage helps out a ton during the rainy season as well.
Helvetia Lavender & Tree Farm: the lavender is in bloom from late June to August typically, and it’s a Christmas tree farm as well. We can rent out the entire property for an hour of shooting for $30 during these months and wander through for a variety of photos in the fields and near their pond. I love how private that option let’s us be, which makes it the perfect spot if you’re a little camera shy and not wanting anyone else looking at you during your session.
Dawson Creeks there’s a few different spots in this area to wander and shoot at. I love how quiet it is there in the evening time making it the perfect spot if you’re a little nervous being photographed in front of people around you and truly to just keep it intimate and less pressure. There’s some pretty shaded spots and lots of trees and open grass areas also making it a good option no matter what the lighting may be.
