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Washington State is home of some of the BEST engagement locations in the country. No joke, the natural beauty that surrounds us every day is simply stunning and is perfect for photography! So pick out some awesome outfits, find a great photographer, grab the hand of the one you love and head to the mountains.
I’ve been photographing weddings since 2006 and Adventure engagements are still something I love and look forward to! It’s an amazing chance to go somewhere new and walk away with great photography.
Plan your Adventure as just that, an adventure! The less you think about it as a photo shoot the better. It is simply an adventure in a rad location with your best friend and love. Instead of a shoot, I will take a few relaxed photos of you two along the way. Imagine how that experience will feel! Every sunset we can spend in the mountains is time well spent.
1. Ebey Landing on Whidbey Island
The good
Ebey Landing is like Ireland!
Beautiful cliffs and coastline
Epic Pacific Northwest trees and mystical feeling
Numerous great locations within a short hike of the parking lot
Beautiful in all four seasons
The not so good
It can take some time to get there from Seattle
It’s busy on sunny weekends
What I love
The first time I arrived at Ebey Landing, I was blown away! The billowing fog and green hillsides reminded my of the Scottish Highlands. This is a gem of the Pacific Northwest that is underutilized due to the driving time to get here. But if you make a day of it, it works well. Take the ferry over, then stop for lunch in Langley. A perfect weekend getaway!
2. Mt Baker National Forest
The good
You are IN the mountains!
In spring, the wildflowers are amazing
Summer can feel a bit like winter up here
Numerous great locations to stop close to the highway
Not many people journey this far for epic photos
You don’t find too much cell phone service up here
The not so good
Summer can feel a bit like winter up here
Not much cell phone service
It’s best to go in evening around sunset.
What I love
Mt. Baker is a drive from the city for sure, but it is epic! You might as well be in Patagonia; I mean the mountains are for real at Mt. Baker. One summer ago, before an Adventure engagement I spent the night camped by a river with only my sleeping bag and pad. It was summer, so I was plenty warm. The stars were so bright that I could hardly sleep because I wanted to take pictures of them all night. That is Mt. Baker.
3. Snoqualmie Pass in Mt. Baker Snoqualmie National Forest
The good
Close to Seattle
Beautiful mountain scenery
Epic Pacific Northwest vibe in the right spots
Numerous great locations to stop close to the highway.
Beautiful in all four seasons.
The not so good
Can be very busy on weekends
You need to know exactly where to go
It’s best to go in the early morning or evening around sunset
What I love
Snoqualmie Pass is a rare city gateway into the mountains. There are so many places that allow access to epic natural beauty that are so close Seattle by car! Also, there are some hidden gems tucked away just a few hundred yards from I-90. Once you know where those spots are, you never see that highway the same way again.
4. Rialto Beach
The good
An other worldly driftwood forest that will haunt your dreams in the best possible way
Sunset is amazing
Twilight is even better
I would spend weeks here photographing couples if I could
Not many people make it out this way
The not so good
It’s a long, long drive and ferry ride from Seattle. Plan on taking most of a day.
It can be quite stormy
What I love
All of it! This is one of my favorite places in the world and there is not much else like it. It has to be the most epic driftwood forest on the West Coast! If you want unique and jaw dropping Adventure engagement photos, this is your spot. Well, one of them… Washington is pretty rad.
Tip- Book a room at an Airbnb or bed and breakfast and make a little get away out of it!
5. Rattlesnake Lake
•The good
The fresh mountain air
So close to the city and yet mountains!
Fall color here is epic
Many great spots that are easy to get to
•The not so good
It gets buuuusy!
You need to know exactly where to go or it can be hard to find picturesque spots in the chaos
• What I love
Rattlesnake is the spot if your schedule is a bit busy. We can still get some great views and enjoy the mountain air but it will take a fraction of the drive time.
6. Diablo Lake
The good
Awesomeness all around, on every side
Epic elopement location also
Fall color here is beyond great
Many great spots that are easy to get to
Not nearly as busy as locations closer to Seattle
The not so good
It’s a long drive from Seattle
You need to know exactly where to go
It’s hard to get to in winter
What I love
Diablo Lake is fed from a glacier so its water is often emerald colored. If you have not been, spending a couple nights in the North Cascades National Park is well worth your time!
7. Big Four Ice Caves
•The good
It’s like Alaska but in Washington
The hike in is just under a mile
Twilight here is like magic
Many great spots that are easy to get to
Not nearly as busy as locations closer to Seattle
•The not so good
It’s a long drive from Seattle
Exercise common sense and do not go into the caves. Someone dies almost every year
Cell service? What is that?
It’s hard to get to in winter
• What I love
The first time I went here my jaw dropped. It is literally just like a tiny glacier in Alaska. This is another place I could photograph again and again happily.
8. Lake Wenatchee
The good
The fresh mountain air
Sunset is amazing
Fall color here is epic
Many great spots that are easy to get to
Not nearly as busy as locations closer to Seattle
The not so good
It’s a long drive from Seattle
You need to know exactly where to go
It can be quite stormy
It’s hard to get to in winter
What I love
My first trip with my VanRV was in the fall at Lake Wenatchee. It’s a special place to me. It really is a beautiful mountain gem!
9. Franklin Falls
The good
So good and so close to the city!
Shortcut the trail and walk 1/4 mile to the falls
Many great spots that are easy to get to
Not nearly as busy as locations closer to Seattle
The not so good
It can take a bit to get back to Seattle in traffic.
It’s hard to get to in winter
What I love
I love Franklin Falls. I’ve shot here dozens of times and the falls looks different every time! Wear something rad and it will be epic!
10. Mt. Rainier
•The good
It’s a giant mountain with wildflowers in the spring!
Sunset is amazing
Fall color here is epic
Many great spots that are easy to get to if you have been before
Not nearly as busy as locations closer to Seattle
•The not so good
It’s a long drive from Seattle
You need to know exactly where to go or you could wander for awhile
It can be quite stormy
It’s hard to get to in winter
• What I love
Mt. Rainier is wonderful but it has many faces. There are so many places to go that it can be overwhelming! Ask for guidance when finalizing plans. The best locations will depend on your willingness to spend time and the time of day.
