Engagement Shoot Winners!
A Day In The Skagit Valley
If you were at the Mukilteo Wedding Show back in March, you might remember dropping your name into the entry jar at my booth — and James and Natalie are the lucky couple who got drawn to win a free engagement session! From the moment I met them, I knew this was going to be something special. So when it came time to plan their shoot, I didn’t want to do anything ordinary. Inspired by a post I came across on Instagram, I decided to give this session a real theme — going beyond the usual “cute couple in a pretty location” formula — while also experimenting with blending traditional posed shots alongside genuine, in-the-moment candids. James and Natalie were absolute troopers for letting me try something new, and the results speak for themselves.
Fir Island Wildlife Preserve
Our first stop was Fir Island Wildlife Preserve — a favorite of mine that I keep coming back to for couples, seniors, and everything in between. It’s a well-known haven for birders, but it also makes for a stunning photography backdrop, especially on an overcast day like this one. The cloud cover gave us beautiful, even lighting, and the low tide pulled back to reveal gorgeous texture across the landscape. The short, flat trail made it an easy, low-pressure walk to kick off the shoot — a perfect spot for James and Natalie to get comfortable in front of the camera before we hit our stride together.
Snowgoose Produce
Just a mile down the road, our second stop was Snowgoose Produce — a beloved roadside stand known for its local food, fresh produce, and, most famously, their ice cream. It’s been named one of the best roadside stands by Martha Stewart’s magazine, and it’s easy to see why. It’s the kind of place that draws locals and tourists alike, bursting with color and life, and I thought it would be the perfect backdrop for something a little more playful. I had James and Natalie browse the stand and grab some ice cream, as if they were just a couple casually making a stop on their way through the Skagit Valley — and that laid-back, real-life energy is exactly what made it so fun to shoot.
Tulip Fields
Since our shoot was during high tulip season we had to include some tulip fields to our itinerary. And given, our timing and the additional cost we opted to check out some open tulip fields along side of the road. As luck would have it, a minute after we parked the owner of the property said we couldn’t park there. He shook his finger in a chastising way so off we went, but nothing without firing off a few quick shots.
Craft Island
This small island is one of my favorite spots for couples and senior portraits, and because it is so close to Snowgoose Produce I thought I’d surprise them and take them to this idyllic location. Craft Island is seen in the distance on the left—a short hike from the end of the road. The little bridge over one of the smaller waterways is perfect for couples as a prop, and structural element within the landscape. It was special to share this part of the Skagit Valley with James and Natalie. Most people would totally miss this detour in favor of more well known haunts, but, rest assured, locals know this spot well.
La Conner
Our final stop was the charming town of La Conner — a historic fishing village dating back to the 1860s that has since become one of the Pacific Northwest’s most cherished tourist destinations, beloved for its colorful storefronts, art galleries, and waterfront views. James and Natalie walked the boardwalk hand in hand, pausing to blow bubbles — I had tucked two bottles into my bag hoping to add a little whimsy to the session. What I didn’t know was that blowing bubbles is actually something the two of them do together to unwind. At one point they shared a knowing laugh and let me in on the secret, and I couldn’t have scripted a sweeter moment. It was the perfect ending to a beautifully romantic day.
Epilogue
Somewhere along our six-stop tour James and Natalie said they wanted to book me as their wedding photographer! I was thinking, “Don’t they even want to see the finished photos before they commit?” Hey! I’ll take the win. How cool is that? And their decision speaks volumes for the fact that we definitely had rapport—one of the most important factors in choosing a wedding photographer.
Flash forward a month later to the Seattle Bridal and Wedding Expo in May, James and Natalie walked down the aisle where I was exhibiting, and we had a great meeting—and I got to meet their mom too!
