Courtney and Stephen had a breathtaking engagement session in the Columbia Gorge!
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Gallery: Engagement session in the Columbia Gorge
The couple: Courtney and Stephen
I met Courtney in High school. We shared a lot of friends and she was a sweet friend of mine, but we lost touch after we graduated. Recently, we discovered that both of us had moved to the Pacific Northwest and we reconnected over coffee in Portland. It was incredibly special to see how far both of us had come, and I am so glad that we can build a friendship up here.
Courtney and Stephen met while living in Hawaii. They dated for a few years and eventually landed in Portland for a new job and found a connection through swing dancing together. Later, they decided to keep the sparks flying by traveling the world together. There is so much romance in travel, and they soak up all of it. You can tell by their connection that they are building a lasting bond, and traveling is surely a huge part of that. In between romantic dinners and walks in exotic areas, travel offers moments of connection that a lot of people vastly underrate.
Traveling can show you many beautiful locations in the world, but when you live in the Pacific Northwest some of the most magical spots are right in your backyard. The magic in the PNW makes these shoots amazing and I am always so excited for my photoshoots and my couples. This engagement session in the Columbia Gorge is no exception to that rule. Courtney and Stephen’s session was a dream.
Latourell Falls: A dreamy and magical photoshoot location
Located in the Columbia Gorge, Latourell Falls has multiple landscape views including scaled rock cliffs, bridges, plenty of moss, ferns, and greenery along with an incredible waterfall. Before Coming here with Courtney and Stephen, I walked the short trail to the falls with my little family. We dreamed about all of the photoshoots that could happen in this spot while taking in the natural beauty all around us.
A few days later, I was back at the falls, doing this magical engagement session, and I got to see my dreams come to life. Shooting in a magical nature scape with so much lush greenery and a waterfall has always been a dream of mine, and I cannot wait to photograph another engagement session in the Columbia Gorge.
What makes a good engagement Session?
Good photography always requires skillful artistry as far as composition, lighting, and direction, and a quality engagement session gets even better when you focus on the couple’s story while bringing out their candid personalities and showcasing elements of their love. I do this by leading my couples into the location that I find intriguing, guiding them into a pose, and then prompting engaging or silly conversation.
Where is Sun and Sparrow Photography based?
Sun and Sparrow Photography photographs Weddings, Engagements, Families, Maternity, and Newborns in Southern California and the Pacific Northwest. We are based out of the South Bay in Los Angeles, and Vancouver Washington, near Portland. We are happy to talk to you about your photography needs.
Mapping an Engagement session in the Columbia Gorge
Occasionally, there are so many wonderful places to take pictures at a location that you have to plan your photoshoot out beforehand. Luckily, in the case of Latourell Falls, there is a trail that you can follow. We went to multiple stops along the Latourell Falls trail, starting with the nearest lookout, where the happy couple popped a bottle of their favorite champagne. I gave them a moment to connect, allowing their intimate moment to set the tone for the rest of the shoot. As I backed away, I encouraged them to remind each other what they love about the other. it was such a sweet way to start the session.
Next, we brought the session back to each of their roots with books titled after their hometowns. Courtney also chose outfits that called to their time in Hawaii with the flowers and orange, symbolizing the beautiful Hawaiian sunsets. Another fun element of their shoot was that they wore their dancing shoes. We were even able to include some of their swing dance movements in their shoot.
Looking to book your engagement session in the Columbia Gorge? We would love to find out more about your specific needs!
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Hi, I’m Ellie, a dreamer, and lover of romantic moments and unrelenting connections. As someone who has been photographing weddings for more than 15 years, my interest in photography has grown from simply making pretty pictures -to creating the most wonderful and powerful moments for kind and loving people, all the while capturing those permanent memories. Creating awe-inspiring imagery to match those unforgettable moments is my dream come true and I hope that by creating your wedding imagery together, we can make your wedding dreams come true too.
