Oregon Coast Engagement Session
This engagement session happened in the chilly spring season on the Oregon Coast. While most photographers love golden hour and are always chasing sunsets (guilty!), sometimes it’s nice to sit in the foggy clouds and let the love of the couple warm up the session. For this session we headed down to Pacific City where the famous Cape Kiwanda stands.
Maggie and Kevin actually drove all the way down from the Seattle area for their engagement photos! Interestingly enough, this made me feel super nervous for some reason. Maybe it was the added pressure knowing that they drove five hours so these pictures had to be *chef’s kiss*, or just because I’m a nervous nelly and want all my sessions to be perfect. Either way, my nerves subsided immediately upon meeting them as Maggie greeted me with a hug and we started our little adventure.
Engagement Sessions at the Oregon Coast
The thing that makes Cape Kiwanda stand out among other Oregon Coast locations is the mass of sandstone that goes out into the surf. As the tide goes out, little caves and rock formations appear that you can only get to during lowtide, making each visit an adventure if you go at different times of day (check out tide tables to see when the best time for low tide is! I use Tideschart.)! It’s one of those things that makes the coast unique and it’s an extremely popular place. You can often find people sand boarding down the steep dune that sits atop the headland, and fisherman actually launch their boats right off the beach here. However, if you do an early morning session like these two, you’ll end up having a much more private experience. If you really want the beach to yourselves, go on a weekday morning–chances are you’ll be all alone! For Maggie and Kevin’s engagement session, I don’t think we saw another person besides a few lonesome fisherman waiting to send their boats out.
This session was relaxed, playful, and the best way to spend an April morning. We laughed, chatted, and the time honestly flew by because we were just having fun. This is the vibe I try to get out of every engagement session: friends just hanging out and having a good time. I know how awkward (and intimidating!) it can be to meet up with a complete stranger and then stand in front of their lens. I did it for my own Oregon coast engagement session a few years back and it wasn’t the best feeling. However, having a photographer that is lowkey, relaxed and just wanting to capture your love without stiff awkwardness is the key to making the best out of the experience. That’s where I come in!
A Variety in Locations
Cape Kiwanda is located right by Pelican Brewing and there’s a few different landscapes you can get with just a couple short walks. There’s the obvious: an ocean backdrop with the famous seastack, Kiwanda Haystack Rock, off in the distance. But if you go up into the sand, there’s driftwood, forest, beach grass, and a totally different vibe. If your knees are up for a little hike, head up the dune where you can get panoramic views of the beach and the ocean from above. The sandstone is beautiful and adds such a unique aspect that makes your Oregon coast engagement session stand out from all the rest in other locations.
Want to know my other favorite engagement session locations? Check out my blog post here where I dive into the different landscapes we have in the Pacific Northwest (Washington included!) and offer some recomendations on where to go depending on the vibe you’re looking for. Looking for tips on planning a surprise proposal? I took part in an epic one this summer, read all about it here and catch my pro tips for planning your own! Wanting to schedule a session of your own? Contact me via my inquiry form and let’s get this planning started!
