Deception Pass Engagement Session
Deception Pass Engagement Session
Courtney and Drew’s engagement session at Deception Pass State Park was one of my favorite things I’ve shot in soooooooo long. When I lived in the pacific northwest before I moved to San Diego, Deception Pass was probably my favorite location for an engagement shoot, and it felt so good to shoot here again for my first time in years (I think 6!). It’s so fun to compare old sessions I shot here early in my career and see how much my style and work has evolved since then - I see the location so differently now. Courtney and I were going back and forth about their location quite a bit - and we were going between a mountain view, something beachy, some open meadows, and some epic pacific northwest cliff landscape. It was hard to imagine that one location could hit all those points, but I was confident this combination of locations would check the most boxes and give us a ton of variety. Courtney and Drew made a weekend of it and stayed at the close-by Swinomish Casino, so they could let loose and not have to worry about driving home after. Conveniently the next day their venue in Snohomish was having an open house, so they could stop there on their way back to Seattle and make a whole weekend of it. I always encourage couples to make an experience of their engagement shoot like an epic date night or weekend, rather than just another quick thing they’re checking off the wedding to-do list. Engagement sessions are always a little chaotic and stressful and hectic (especially the day of), but any opportunity you can relax and take your time and make it a fun experience will only make your photos that much better. These two met me at my husbands restaurant in Anacortes before we got started - and we started our time with some wine and food and time to chat and settle in!!! Then they hopped in my car and we started the shoot at Little North Beach, which I knew would check the boxes of some beach access and cliffy viewpoints (and the far corner off to the left has amazing light a few hours before sunset!). Next we headed to Deception Pass Bridge - an absolutely iconic pacific northwest view and one of my all time favorite places to shoot. That location provides some seriously epic views, a gorgeous cliffside, and the bridge is beyond photogenic (and the bridge acts as an amazing light diffuser so you have amazing light a bit before sunset!). Then our final location was Rosario Head, which is just another pacific northwest view you can’t beat. Dramatic cliffside landscape, island views behind, open tall grass meadows… it just has it all and is the perfect location to catch the sunset. I feel so lucky that after moving back to Washington, I have this incredible set of locations basically in my backyard. These two are SO fun and their energy is right up my alley - I can’t wait to celebrate with them at their wedding next year!
