There is just something about the Pacific Northwest that makes me want to photograph everything.
The trees are huge. The landscapes are dramatic. Everything is green. And even when you’re photographing something as simple as a couple walking through the woods, the landscape can make the entire image feel epic.
So when Sam and Gab booked a Rattlesnake Lake photoshoot in Washington while I was already going to be in the Seattle area for a wedding, I was so excited.
They wanted a mix of romantic, intentional photos and the kind of little people, big landscape photography that I love so much.
And Rattlesnake Lake gave us plenty of both.
A Washington Couple Session at Rattlesnake Lake
One of my favorite things about traveling for weddings is that I can often build sessions into my trips while I’m already in the area.
I’m based in Arizona, but I travel frequently for weddings, elopements, and engagement sessions throughout the Pacific Northwest. Washington in particular has become one of my favorite places to photograph because it feels so different from Arizona.
The PNW is genuinely my happy place.
I love the massive trees, the mountains, the water, the greenery, and the way the landscape can make a couple look so small in the frame. If you’ve followed my work for a while, you’ve probably seen some of my little people, big landscape images before.
You can see some of my favorite little people, big landscape photography on Instagram here.
That style was definitely on my mind for this session.
Why I Love Rattlesnake Lake for Photos
Rattlesnake Lake is such a great option for couples who want that quintessential Washington landscape without needing to commit to a huge hike.
The lake is located near North Bend and is accessed from I-90 via Exit 32, making it a relatively straightforward location to get to from the Seattle area. The parking area is right by the lake, and from there you can access the surrounding trails and scenery.
For a Washington engagement and wedding photographer, that combination is pretty ideal.
You can get water, forest, mountains, giant trees, and plenty of variety without spending the entire session hiking to one viewpoint.
However, the one negative? The sun disappears behind the mountain earlier than you might expect.
That means you lose direct light pretty quickly once the sun gets lower, especially compared with an open location where you can keep the sun longer into the evening.
Because of that, I like to be intentional about the timeline and make sure we get the most important photos while we still have plenty of light. For a Seattle engagement and wedding photographer, this is one of those little timeline details that can make a big difference in your final gallery.
Film Photography at Rattlesnake Lake
For this session, I photographed a mix of digital and film photography.
Sam and Gab actually added film onto their package because they loved that part of my work, and I was so excited to incorporate it into their gallery.
For a landscape like Rattlesnake Lake, film felt especially fitting. The greens, the water, the trees, and the muted PNW colors all photograph beautifully on film.
Here are some of my favorite film shots from Sam & Gab’s couple session:
Getting Creative Means Get in the Water
One thing Sam and Gab really wanted was to get into the water.
The only problem? There wasn’t a dock where we wanted to photograph them.
So we had to improvise. And this is one of my favorite parts of being a photographer.
Instead of deciding we couldn’t get the photo they wanted, we looked around and started brainstorming. Eventually, I had them climb onto one of the giant tree stumps sitting in the water and jump off.
And it worked.
Sometimes the best photos come from being willing to look at the environment differently. Instead of needing a perfect dock or a perfectly built photo location, we found something already there and turned it into part of the shoot.
That is one of the things I love about photographing in the Pacific Northwest. There is so much natural texture and scenery that you can constantly find new ways to interact with the environment.
Queer Inclusive Wedding & Couples Photography
I want every couple I photograph to feel completely comfortable being themselves in front of my camera. I’m proud to be a queer-inclusive wedding and couples photographer, and I love photographing couples exactly as they are.
Whether you’re planning a wedding, elopement, engagement session, or couples photoshoot, you don’t have to fit into a “traditional” wedding mold to work with me. Your relationship, your story, your outfits, your location, and the way you want to experience your day are all yours.
For me, being inclusive means more than just saying you’re welcome. It’s about creating an environment where you can actually relax, have fun, be affectionate, and trust that I’ll photograph your relationship in a way that feels authentic to you.
If you’re looking for a queer-inclusive Washington wedding photographer, engagement photographer, or couples photographer, I’d love to photograph your story.
Why Washington Is One of My Favorite Places to Photograph
I travel all over for my work, but the Pacific Northwest will always have a special place in my heart.
There is just something about Washington.
The green.
The mountains.
The moss.
The giant trees.
The water.
The way everything feels a little bit wild.
I love photographing couples in places where the landscape can become part of the story instead of just acting as a backdrop.
Traveling From Arizona to Washington for Your Session
I’m based in Arizona, but I travel frequently for weddings and sessions throughout Washington and the Pacific Northwest.
And honestly, getting from Phoenix to Seattle is incredibly easy.
It’s such a short flight compared with a lot of the destinations I travel to, which makes Washington one of those places I can return to again and again.
So if you’re searching for a Washington engagement photographer, Seattle engagement photographer, or Washington wedding photographer, you don’t have to find someone who is based locally just because your session or wedding is in Washington.
I would much rather travel somewhere I genuinely love photographing.
And Washington is absolutely one of those places.
More Washington Wedding Photography
I’ve photographed weddings throughout Washington and the Pacific Northwest, so if you’re interested in working with me for your wedding rather than just an engagement session, you can see more examples of that work too.
One of my favorite Washington weddings ever was at Bozarth Mansion in Spokane.
See the full Spokane wedding gallery here.
I love that my Washington work isn’t limited to one specific city or type of landscape. I’ve photographed weddings and sessions throughout the PNW, and I love traveling wherever my couples want to take me.
Planning a Washington Engagement Session?
If you’re planning a Washington engagement session, I would love to help you find a location that actually feels like you.
And if you’re planning a wedding in Washington, the same goes for you.
I’m a traveling wedding photographer based in Arizona, and I frequently travel to Washington and throughout the Pacific Northwest for weddings, elopements, and engagement sessions.
If you love colorful, vibrant, romantic photography and want your photos to feel like an experience rather than just a series of poses, I’d love to hear what you’re planning.
Inquire about your wedding or session here, explore my wedding and photography services, or browse more galleries and shoots on my blog.
You can also follow me on Instagram @torielisabethphoto to see more Washington wedding photography, engagement sessions, film photography, destination weddings, and little people, big landscape photos.
And if you want to see more of what I’m photographing while I’m traveling, follow along on Instagram here.
I can’t wait to photograph your adventure.
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