Choosing a beautiful location for an engagement session in the Pacific Northwest is one of the easiest parts of a session, but preparing for it can be unexpectedly challenging. Many couples find themselves wondering what to wear or how to plan for an outfit change. Luckily, you have a friendly photographer who can help you prepare for your adventure engagement session!
Consider Your Destination
One of the perks of living in the Pacific Northwest is the abundance of drop-dead gorgeous landscapes. From the Paradise region of Mt. Rainier National Park to Artist Point in the North Cascades to the Hoh Rainforest in Olympic National Park, there are so many amazing options for an adventure engagement session. While there are plenty of choices, your final decision has a huge influence on how best to prepare. So take your time when deciding.
Consider what excites you about this type of engagement session. Maybe you find the idea of getting lost in an old growth forest appealing or maybe you love the idea of a dramatic backdrop like Mt. Rainier at sunset. Make a list of your favorite locations and talk with your photographer about your goals for the session.
Once you’ve made your selection, start thinking about how this might impact your session.
Consider Time & Weather
What time of day will your shoot take place? For all of my couples, I highly recommend shooting at Golden Hour, which occurs just after sunrise and just before sunset. If you’re hiking to your shoot location, this means you’re either going to be hiking in the dark on the way there or on the way back. This makes flashlights or headlamps essential.
While you don’t have to worry about stumbling around in the dark for midday shoots, you do need to consider sun exposure. If the forecast shows clear skies, sunscreen is a smart idea, especially for longer shoots.
Choose Your Footwear
You might find it counterintuitive to choose your footwear before choosing your outfit, but it’s something I recommend. For example, a sunrise hike to Mount Freemont Lookout would be nothing short of stunning, but it’s going to require approximately 5.7 miles of hiking roundtrip. That means you’re going to need a sturdy pair of tennis shoes or, better yet, a pair of hiking boots.
This also means you either need to bring a bag with a change of clothes or an outfit that can cover your boots in your photos (unless you’re going for the athletic-gear look, which can be awesome too!).
Another scenario worth considering is whether you’ll be walking or standing in the water for any part of your session. For these sessions, I recommend that my couples bring water shoes or sandals. While some people opt to go barefoot, water shoes/sandals add an extra layer of safety to your session and help prevent slipping and falling.
Choose Your Outfit
Before jumping into choosing the perfect outfit for your engagement photos, consider taking a practical approach first. What can you comfortably carry with you? How much time will you have to change? Have you considered the season (high/low temperatures)? These questions should be among the first you ask yourself when making your decision.
Once you have a good idea of what you need from your outfit, you can start thinking about what you want. Your engagement photos are a special occasion, and I highly recommend dressing like it. You’ll have these portraits forever and you want them to be distinguishable from the everyday photos you take.
I provide a style guide for all of my clients. Each guide is filled with recommendations including color schemes and styles based on the location and season. It also covers how to coordinate with your partner. However, you and your partner should choose outfits that are both comfortable and make you feel like the best version of yourselves.
Gather the Extras
An adventure engagement session can take anywhere from 15 minutes to 2 hours based on your desired location and aesthetic. After weighing in all of the above details, gather all the essentials for the duration of your session. Even for short session, I recommend at least a bottle of water, but snacks and a first-aid kit are also beneficial.
Talk to Your Photographer
While it’s a good idea to start compiling a list of your own, one of the easiest ways to prepare for your adventure engagement session is to talk to your photographer. If there are supplies I think my couples will need, I include these details prior to their session. I don’t want you to feel unprepared or go without the things you’ll need!
For longer sessions and elopements, I provide my clients with a detailed list of recommended supplies to maximize both their experience and their safety. Plus, they can count on me to take care of some of these essentials for them such as a satellite communicator, first-aid kit, snacks, and more! My job is to give you the best experience possible.
Start Planning Your Adventure Engagement Session
Now that you know how to prepare for your adventure engagement session, all you have to do is get started! Still not sure what you need? Book your session and we can start planning together!
