When I get couples wanting water and mountains in the background of their engagement photos, so often my first suggestion is Rattlesnake Lake. I love this location because it is the perfect Pacific Northwest wilderness setting, without being too far outside of Seattle.
Most of the time, we just hang out at the bottom, getting those must-have shots by the tree growing out of another tree stump in the water, or in front of the giant cliff backdrop. But Cassie and Matt were up for the challenge of adding in a hike to get those iconic shots on top of the cliff. It takes a special kind of couple to hear me say, “Just so you know, the hike is about two miles, and it will take about an hour each way,” and still respond back with a resounding LET’S DO IT.
We meandered around the lake bed on a cloudy afternoon before making our way up the trail and on to our ultimate destination. They were nervous, as all couples tend to be, but you wouldn’t know it because every time I made an awkward joke to make them laugh, their faces lit up and you could truly see the love that they share.
At the top, the wind was blowing so hard I almost felt like I could be swept away, but Cassie and Matt were troopers. They WORKED it. Sometimes, when the weather isn’t exactly on your side, you’ve just gotta embrace it, and in the end, it can make for even better portraits. There’s nothing like some hard wind to give you some movement to your images and make for some perfect candid laughter. My favorite thing.
Oh, and the views up there sure don’t hurt either.
Before we headed back down, we made friends with a bird and I swear the shock of watching it fly into our hands will never leave me.
Our last stop was near the bottom of the trail, at a spot where a smaller trail led off through some overgrown bushes. It was a spot I had never noticed before, but Cassie knew it was the perfect tree setting she had imagined. We took the little trail over a log and past the overgrowth and it led us to a view I swear only exists in storybooks. The perfect ending to the perfect outdoorsy session.
Cassie and Matt, if your engagement session says anything about you two, you’re going to have one heck of a life together!
When I get couples wanting water and mountains in the background of their engagement photos, so often my first suggestion is Rattlesnake Lake. I love this location because it is the perfect Pacific Northwest wilderness setting, without being too far outside of Seattle.
Most of the time, we just hang out at the bottom, getting those must-have shots by the tree growing out of another tree stump in the water, or in front of the giant cliff backdrop. But Cassie and Matt were up for the challenge of adding in a hike to get those iconic shots on top of the cliff. It takes a special kind of couple to hear me say, “Just so you know, the hike is about two miles, and it will take about an hour each way,” and still respond back with a resounding LET’S DO IT.
We meandered around the lake bed on a cloudy afternoon before making our way up the trail and on to our ultimate destination. They were nervous, as all couples tend to be, but you wouldn’t know it because every time I made an awkward joke to make them laugh, their faces lit up and you could truly see the love that they share.
At the top, the wind was blowing so hard I almost felt like I could be swept away, but Cassie and Matt were troopers. They WORKED it. Sometimes, when the weather isn’t exactly on your side, you’ve just gotta embrace it, and in the end, it can make for even better portraits. There’s nothing like some hard wind to give you some movement to your images and make for some perfect candid laughter. My favorite thing.
Oh, and the views up there sure don’t hurt either.
Before we headed back down, we made friends with a bird and I swear the shock of watching it fly into our hands will never leave me.
Our last stop was near the bottom of the trail, at a spot where a smaller trail led off through some overgrown bushes. It was a spot I had never noticed before, but Cassie knew it was the perfect tree setting she had imagined. We took the little trail over a log and past the overgrowth and it led us to a view I swear only exists in storybooks. The perfect ending to the perfect outdoorsy session.
Cassie and Matt, if your engagement session says anything about you two, you’re going to have one heck of a life together!