In the past few years, elopements, destination elopements, and intimate weddings have become popular ways to get married. Oftentimes, these days take place out in nature or in an epic location halfway around the world. Whether you are planning an adventure elopement of your own, or simply dream of taking professional couple photos in the great outdoors, adventure engagement photos are a great way to celebrate this monumental milestone in your relationship. Keep reading for my top tips on planning an outdoor engagement session.
How to Plan Adventure Engagement Photos
Engagement photos in the mountains, on the coast, or anywhere else outdoors can be a great way to celebrate your recent engagement. As an Oregon elopement photographer, I absolutely love getting out in nature with my couples and exploring all the outdoors have to offer.
If you are planning on taking adventure engagement photos, here are 4 steps to take to prepare for your session.
Choose Your Location
The first thing you’ll need to do is decide on a location. Your photographer will no doubt have a list of recommended locations based on the vibe you are going for. If your location is somewhere they’ve been before, they’ll also be able to share some specific tips and advice that can help you prepare.
Choose the Proper Footwear
This step is so important as selecting the proper footwear will help ensure you are both safe and comfortable throughout the shoot. If your location is rocky, or you plan to do a lot of walking or hiking, it’s best to wear a pair of closed-toed shoes or hiking boots. You can always bring an extra set of shoes with you to change into once you arrive at your destination.
Decide What You Want to Wear
I have an entire blog post on what to wear for your engagement session, but when it comes to planning your adventure engagement photos, my best tip is to expect the unexpected. Weather can be extremely unpredictable so you’re always better off being prepared. Bring extra layers to keep you warm in cool weather, or a change of clothes and sunscreen if it’s going to be hot. This way you’ll be prepared for anything and ready to rock your engagement photo session!
Don’t Forget the Snacks
Anytime you are going out in nature, you want to be prepared with all the necessary supplies you may need for your adventure. Some important things to consider bringing are:
- Water
- Snacks
- First Aid Kit
- Sunscreen
- Bug Spray
- Toiletries for freshening up
- Change of clothes/shoes
Playful Summertime Adventure Engagement Photos in The Canadian Mountains
For Ariana and Taylor’s mountain engagement photos, I met up with the couple at Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada. Established in 1885, this park was Canada’s first national park and has seen over 4 million visitors in the 100+ years since it opened. The park has some of the most stunning mountain scenery in North America and also boasts a hot springs reserve as well as numerous other lakes, meadows, and hiking trails.
Ariana and Taylor kept things fun and lively with their playful personalities. We wandered around Quarry Lake, taking in the stunning scenery all around us.
While Banff National Park is an incredible place for adventure engagement photos or destination elopements, it can be especially difficult for American photographers to gain the proper permits to photograph here. If you’re looking for engagement photos in the mountains, don’t worry! I have a list of locations perfect for planning mountain engagement photos in the PNW!
This trip to Canada was the highlight of my summer and I had the best time exploring Banff with this fun-loving couple.
Keep scrolling to see more from their summertime mountain engagement photos.
Ready to book your own adventure engagement photos? Click on the link below to inquire!