One of my favorite things about being a wedding photographer is getting to know my couples during their engagement session.  This is an excellent opportunity to meet one another, gain confidence and familiarity in front of the camera, learn which poses or prompts or angles you like best before your wedding day, and most of all - to have fun being yourselves without any pressure!  Your engagement session should be a truly unforgettable experience.  You can choose a location or two that holds meaning or significance, or I am always happy to help suggest a location based on your interests.  Portland, the Oregon Coast, and all of the Pacific Northwest offers an abundance of beautiful environments for couple photos.  The best part about this session is that you can choose anywhere you'd like (or two locations near one another).  During our consultations and planning, I will help to find the ideal spot where you two feel comfortable and excited to celebrate your love through beautiful, unique photos!  

My two main wedding packages include an engagement session because I value it so much, and I know that you will too.

Here are just a few of my favorite incredible locations for engagement sessions in the area.  I'm looking forward to finding many new spots this season, and will update this list as my time here grows! 

*An important note for any and all locations outdoors - I am a firm advocate of Leave No Trace and will always be respectful of the environment we're in, stay on designated trails, be mindful of other folks and animals sharing the space, and follow all rules and laws or necessary permits designated in outdoor spaces.  We are incredibly fortunate to share this Earth with mother nature and the very least we can do is take excellent care of her.  It is a privilege to take portraits at these breathtaking natural locations, but we must remember that we do not own them or have any special rights to take advantage of them for the sake of pretty pictures.  :) XOXO

Cannon Beach

Cannon Beach is an iconic Oregon coastal spot that attracts many tourists and locals - and it's an amazing beach location for engagement sessions.  Year around, this is the quintessential coastal town that has become very popular for photography sessions, with a variety of gorgeous natural beauty that makes for stunning portraits, including: the iconic Haystack Rock, The Needles (smaller sea stack rocks nearby), sunset reflections as the tide recedes, birds flying overhead, beautiful beachgrass blowing in the breeze along the dunes, and of course, a vast, soft, sandy beach for playing, running, dancing, walking, and carefree frolicking together as the waves crash into the shore, so that you may simply forget I'm even there (my goal!).  I love the variety of photos we can take here too, especially if we start a bit before sunset to get different lighting throughout your session.  And if it's a cloudy or foggy day, we'll get a super dreamy & true PNW vibe for your photos!  

If you love the ocean, wind swept hair, the peaceful sounds of waves crashing and birds singing, let's plan a magical engagement session at Cannon Beach!

Here are a few more beautiful spots near Cannon Beach to consider:

Ecola State Park (more trails, and breathtaking cliffs & bluff views)

Indian Beach (a smaller, quieter beach nearby)

Elk Flats Trail (short hike to incredible cliff views, just 15 minutes from Cannon Beach)

Hug Point

I love this spot.  It's close to Cannon Beach, but not quite as popular (though it can still be busy).  But most of all, it has many unique features, such as: gorgeous basalt and sandstone rock formations, a small waterfall, caves, tide pools, and the most interesting of all - a road you can walk on, that was once used for stagecoach travel along the coast.  It's flat enough and very safe to walk along, providing a higher angle to view the coast and creates really cool photos.  At very low tide, this is all accessible and you can cross the ledge to another beach around the point.  Low tide is the key here, so we do have to plan your session accordingly.

Hug Point has a parking lot and restrooms, and a short flight of stairs to access the beach.  If you want your engagement session at a beautiful beach location with history and several unique features, Hug Point is a great option.

You can check out more information here!

McPhillips Beach (Cape Kiwanda area)

McPhillips Beach is a stretch of beach adjacent to the popular Cape Kiwanda.  This spot is far less crowded than Cape Kiwanda, but after a flat one mile walk down the sand, you reach a really cool area with rocks on the sand and huge rock formations in the water.  The session shown here was on a foggy day, which offered a super soft and dreamy look.  On a sunny day, the orange striations in the rocks really pop and your photos will have a different contrast and depth to them with the clear air.  Either way, you can't go wrong with gorgeous photos at this more private coastal location! 

There is a small parking lot with a port-a-potty available.  Dogs (and cars!) are also allowed on this beach.  If you're feeling more adventurous, there is also a huge sand dune right next to this rocky area.

Dog Mountain

The Columbia River Gorge has so many amazing locations wrapped in the magical beauty of nature.  Many spots are quite easy to access, though some require more hiking.  Dog Mountain is one of those spots, but the strenuous hike is well worth the views at the summit.  This hike takes some time and effort, but it's an excellent option for experienced hikers and outdoor enthusiasts who want to add some adventure into their session.  The best part about Dog Mountain is the seasonal wildflowers - they are stunning.  If you want to make sure your session includes these beautiful springtime flowers, we will need to plan your session based on the weather and status of the wildflower bloom, but usually sometime in May is the peak.  Flexibility is key though, so it's best to have a backup date in mind and be prepared to change plans at the last minute if conditions change.  The trail (and parking lot) gets much busier during the wildflower bloom too, though planning a weekday session can help tremendously.

All the planning, hiking, and careful weather watching lead to an incredible payoff for portraits at the summit.   

If you're thinking of turning your engagement session into a really epic experience that highlights your love of hiking and nature with breathtaking views of the Gorge and a beautiful PNW escape, Dog Mountain is a really great option.

Mitchell Point Tunnel

Mitchell Point reopened in 2025 with the addition of a beautiful pedestrian tunnel that offers many unique photo opportunities - playing with light and dark and creating more moody and artistic couple portraits.  This location has a paved flat trail that is very accessible.  The walk from the parking lot to the tunnel is quite short, as well.  There is a stone wall that provides a lookout spot to see the Columbia River below.  After a bit more walking you'll reach the tunnel.  The tunnel has really interesting open windows that are so much fun for photos.  After the tunnel ends, the paved trail continues and provides more natural beauty that allows us to create a variety of photos for your gallery.  In addition, the opposite side of the parking lot is a steep hike to Mitchell Point, or you can skip the hike and stay at the beginning of the trail for photos in the forest.

Here are a few photos from the forest side, just steps from the parking lot (but not far at all from the tunnel):

Mitchell Point is a wonderful choice that offers accessibility, beautiful Gorge views and a variety of unique backdrops for your photos.

Marshall Park

Marshall Park is a great spot right in Portland, if you're looking for a true Pacific Northwest forest backdrop without leaving the city.  This location has a small parking area and well maintained trails that don't require much hiking or elevation gain.  With a unique stone bridge that crosses Tyron Creek, a small waterfall, and lush green ferns and foliage throughout, I love the moody forest vibes of this place!  Plus it's fully shaded for warmer days.

Marshall Park offers a good amount of variety for your engagement photos too - the light and shadows can be really interesting here on a sunny day, so it's a great place for getting creative and adding in some more artistic/dramatic photos!

But even on cloudy (or rainy) days, if you're hoping for an authentic Portland session that reflects the natural wild beauty of this area, Marshall Park is a great option.

Laurelhurst Park

Laurelhurst Park is a beautiful and accessible park in SE Portland, complete with a scenic pond and sweeping trees that offer incredible colorful leaves in the fall.  This park provides a variety of backdrops depending on the season - but it's a guarantee that your engagement photos here will just *feel* like the essence of Portland's top notch city park scenery - trees, benches, pond, birds, ducks, winding paths, and even vintage style street lamps that add a bit of nostalgic flair to your photos.  What's not to love?!

Another perk is that you can bring your dog along, too!  It's always so much fun including dogs in engagement sessions.  I love the big brick staircase here too, it's a really unique and fun spot to change up your backdrop.

Jenkins Estate

Jenkins Estate is technically nestled in the Tualatin Valley (Beaverton), but not far from Portland, and a real gem for engagement sessions!  With ample parking and accessibility, this historical site has several paved paths and trails, a really pretty pond and wooden bridge, forested areas, a variety of trees and flowers, a peaceful garden area, and beautiful houses that you can actually rent out.  Parking and walking the grounds is free though, and this unique spot is typically not overly crowded.

Champoeg State Heritage Area

Champoeg State Heritage Area is an Oregon State Park in the Willamette Valley.  Located just outside Newberg, this is a really beautiful historical spot, complete with a barn, pioneer farmstead, visitor center, and a cute wooden bridge and paved walkway that leads to an open meadow.  The landscape here varies greatly season to season, but it's a really interesting location for gorgeous photos with a more rural rustic vibe.  I love the meadow for playful running, dancing, jumping, and cuddling shots.  The historical barn and farmstead area offer really cool backdrops highlighting Oregon's significant history, just steps from the parking lot.  There is a clean restroom here, as well.

Being engaged is a really special time that deserves it's own photos to celebrate and remember.  Portland, the Oregon Coast, and the Pacific Northwest in general have SO MANY amazing locations for beautiful engagement session backdrops.  These are some that my couples and I have really enjoyed, but the most important part about your session is choosing a location that feels right and meaningful to you.  Let's meet over a phone or video call to discuss your vision and how we can plan an unforgettable engagement session with photos that reflect your unique connection and love!