Cape Kiwanda Engagement Session // Pacific City, Oregon

November 5, 2019

Cape Kiwanda is easily one of my favorite places in the entire world. My family and I have been going there for over 14 years now, basically, before it was all popular and stuff. When Arianna and Cameron asked to go there for their engagement session and I was super stoked!

I always start off my engagement sessions at the Pelican Pub, so that way we can chat a little bit about their relationship + lives, and get to know each other without any pressure of a camera directly going in front of their face especially if it’s the first time we’re meeting. Then we make our way over to a little secret spot — one that other photographers haven’t made so “known.” I mean it just gives you a very like Thailand, Caribbean sort of feel with a little bit of fog drifting in, right?!

When you shoot in the same locations over and over again, it’s so important to look at it with a new perspective, and refresh your mind to make sure that their session looks different than everybody else’s. Because I’ve shot there over five times now, I try to make each session look unique, while still pulling in the elements that the couple was attracted to in the first place! The beauty of visiting it every single summer with my family is that I get to do a little bit of adventuring, and find some spaces that haven’t been shot at before. I’m so thankful that Arianna and Cameron trusted my experience with space so that we could make their session look different.

Are you struggling to make a location that you’ve shot at over and over again look different? Well, we’ve all been there, especially with the up-and-coming Cape Kawanda and Pacific City. Here’s how I freshened things up.

Get there early and scout new spots.
Visit just for the heck of it and see where your heart wanders to.
Stop on the side of the road and just SHOOT!
Be an expert! Use google earth and scout it out from a different view so you know EXACTLY where you want to take your couple that day!