A Sunset Engagement Session at Deception Pass
Deception Pass State Park is one of my favorite go to locations when my couple tells me they’d like a beach location for either their engagement session or elopement. It’s well worth the drive even if you’re coming as far as Seattle. And it doesn’t hurt that after coming back year after year, I’ve found a few secret nooks and crannies to find some. The combination of open views of the Salish Sea, interior passages and bays, deep forests, rocky beaches, and green cliffside bluffs make this a really special and unique location in the Pacific Northwest. Not to mention the sunsets here are truly spectacular. One of the best places I can think of in Washington. Another added bonus is that, while popular and heavily visited during summer weekends, it’s easy to escape down a less trafficked trail and find some seclusion.
I met up with Hailey and Rey at one of my favorite trailheads a few hours before sunset. Normally couples and I will ride together to our destination, but with all things COVID-19 this year we weren’t able to do so unfortunately. This is usually a good time for couples and I to hang out and get to know each other before jumping right into taking photos. Fortunately I’ve known Hailey since high school and actually did a session in the mountains with her and Rey last year before they were even engaged. So this time around they were pros in front of the camera, knowing exactly what to expect.
We wandered down onto a beach I hadn’t visited before inside one of the bays and had the whole stretch of rocky shoreline to ourselves. We shot around there before heading up to the grassy section of the bluff and taking in a view of the harbor. Being near the ocean often brings some gusty winds, but the weather this evening was literally perfect. There was no wind, not too hot or cold, the water was still and the scene just felt peaceful. Before the grand finale of sunset we jogged back to the car so Hailey and Rey could change into formal attire. The dress Hailey found looked a lot like a wedding dress and was super badass paired with her vans shoes. We enjoyed an amazing sunset atop the cliffs and waited to see the crescent moon rising over the bay before departing. It was another amazing session which I’d be remiss if I didn’t thank Hailey and Rey again for. I can’t wait to photograph their mountain wedding next summer.
Hey, I’m Warren and this is my why behind everything I do!
I believe this is where it all starts and is at the heart of everything, so let me tell you. I have a soft spot for sentimentality and I think love is awesome. I’m so grateful that I discovered photography early in life because I’ve been able to document my own journey in a creative fashion. For that reason, I have a strong passion for giving that same experience to others and take great pride in getting the responsibility of documenting their stories. Each picture has a story or feeling behind it and I love to capture that novelty. Arresting those moments in time allows us to remember and feel more intensely. I know how much I value that and enjoy passing that along to others through photography. I would love to be a part of telling your story.