Summertime Couples Adventure Session in Granite Falls, WA
There is NOTHING more that a photographer could ask for than the chance to spend an afternoon in the middle of a gorgeous Washington summer, enjoying the sunshine with a wildly-in-love couple. And not only that – a couple who is passionate about the outdoors; who is ready to take a chance with you and get creative; who is all in on each other and allows their love to radiate through your camera lens.
That, my friends, is the dream summer day for a gal like me, and I got to do just that with Katie + Stephen for their summertime couples session! We frolicked around a few different spots in Granite Falls, WA, enjoying everything that this scrumptious, sun-filled day had to offer, and my goodness was it pure perfection. If you and your partner love everything outdoorsy, then be prepared to fall in love with this gallery – I’ll give you a hint at what you can look forward to: a cozy cabin in the woods, a canoe, a pickup truck, and a tent 😉
Katie + Stephen’s Summertime Adventure Session
The beginning of a new adventure
The timing of this session was extra special for Katie and Stephen; not only were they ready to capture their love and freeze this lovely time in their relationship, they were also about to start a cross-country camping adventure back to Tennessee. Nothing says commitment to exploring a new destination along a road trip like booking a couples photoshoot while you’re there to commemorate the memories, am I right? I just adored that these two wanted to take full advantage of the beauty of the Pacific Northwest during their limited time here, especially since they’re huge adventure-lovers & we live in the heart of some of the most beautiful places in the country.
A sunny day in Granite Falls, Washington
Because summer in Washington can still be a little unpredictable (albeit much more predictable than summer, fall, or spring), we considered ourselves lucky to get such a gorgeous, gorgeous day out in Granite Falls for Katie and Stephen’s session! I could tell that this sweet, nature-loving duo would have made the dang best out of any weather scenario, but whew did they look damn good exploring beneath blue skies and strolling through the trees as the sunlight shone through the branches.
All the cozy, in-home couples photo inspiration
We began our session at Canyon Creek Cabins, a set of three gorgeous cabins in Granite Falls, just an hour’s drive from Seattle. It’s a dream come true for the couple who’s envisioning a cozy in-home session vibe, away from their actual house, but still with that intimate atmosphere & decor that makes you feel right at home. These cabins are also spectacular for elopements and intimate weddings – take a moment to scroll through Fai & Jon’s Chic Cabin Elopement to see more of the Canyon Creek Cabins in action!
And when I say a couples session with all the in-home vibes, this session is what I mean. Katie and Stephen are what I mean. They showed up in their cutest casual outfits that you’d catch them wearing on a normal day, Katie in an effortless black top + black skinny jean combo with strappy sandals, and Stephen in a light-colored tee, ripped jeans, Airforces, and an outdoorsy hat. I cannot sing enough praises about how absolutely okay it is to keep your outfits simple during a couples session, if that’s what feels most true to you! While I love me a good high-fashion look with some chic accessories to match, that type of style doesn’t fit every couple – and nor should it. If you’re going for an intimate, casual, & homey look for your photos, then wear outfits you’d normally wear, and just coordinate your colors + add a few simple accessories.
We wandered around the cabin endlessly, taking full advantage of the lush forest, the dappled sunlight, and the rustic log cabin vibes (literally – they snuggled up against a collection of firewood bundles, and it was adorable). But some of my personal favorite shots were taken inside the cabin when Katie and Stephen interacted as they naturally would; holding hands and sitting cross-legged on the rug by the fireplace, holding hot cups of coffee, hugging in the kitchen. . . these are the moments that are easy to overlook in our daily lives, but are oh-so-deserving of being documented🤍
Outdoorsy couples photos in a canoe – “a day on the water”
Once we felt like we had more than enough photos at the cabin, we transitioned into a bit more of an outdoorsy theme at a nearby park; I like to think of this portion of the session as simply showcasing a day on the water that this couple loves to enjoy in their regular lives! Katie and Stephen pitched their tent under the trees (it was a camping trip, after all), rolled out their sleeping bags, and made their way to the lake in their comfiest summertime clothing, stopping to grab oars from their truck along the way. What fun it was to watch them head out on the water, paddling and laughing away like a couple out of a small-town summer romance novel! After spending some time with these two, I could not have pictured a better session to represent them and their relationship; it really showcased the fun they have together, be it inside of a log cabin in the trees or out on a boat dock.
So grateful that I got to tell a tiny piece of Katie and Stephen’s story through these photos before they went back to Tennessee – I’d say it was an incredibly successful summertime couples adventure session!☀️
Want even more gorgeous couples photoshoot & adventure session inspiration like this? Here are a few more one-of-a-kind sessions that I know you’ll adore as much as I do!
