details

location : snoqualmie river, north bend, washington
session : engagement session
season : early fall

Along the banks of the Snoqualmie River

The Snoqualmie Valley feels different depending on the season. Early in the year, the light is soft, and the rivers run clear and cold. Rain keeps everything green, from the moss on the rocks to fields and the ferns along the trails. As the months open up, the sun stays out longer, bringing warmth to everything and the water is refreshing to wade into. Hillsides brighten, and the current picks up a lighter sound over the smooth stones. Later in the year, the colors deepen into rust and amber throughout the ridge lines. The air sharpens, and the rivers run colder again, their sound growing heavier under gray skies. By the year’s final stretch, mist settles over the water most mornings, thick and unmoving. Light shifts constantly through it all and underneath every change, the river keeps its own rhythm.

A walk down memory lane

F+K are long-time sweethearts and residents of the Snoqualmie Valley. They wanted their engagement session by the Snoqualmie River. This spot holds special meaning — they used to spend so much time here, and he proposed at this very location. Shooting an engagement session in such a meaningful area adds real depth to the emotions we capture. Plus, the rivers throughout Snoqualmie and North Bend are simply breathtaking. Mount Si stands prominently as a backdrop, making the scene even more stunning.

This was their first time taking professional photos together. So, I focused the posing on each other and gave them plenty of ideas for their hands, lol. Honestly, you couldn’t really tell — total naturals. I loved watching their love and laughter unfold in front of the camera. We wandered through some of the nearby trails together. There, we captured intimate and silly moments by a spot where they used to sit on logs. They’d spend long evenings there together. Finally, we ended down by the river, being playful and dancing in the water.

I absolutely love shooting locally and showing off the beauty of the valley. You never get tired of these views. I feel so lucky to call this area home for so long.