I can’t think of a better way to end my time in the amazing Pacific Northwest than by spending the evening with this lovely couple exploring the shores of the Pacific Ocean. And okay, here’s the crazy thing – Cannon Beach, where we decided to shoot this gorgeous session, is one of the most frequented beaches in Oregon. It’s shores see hundreds of visitors every day and it’s usually a pretty crowded area. But for whatever reason, when we showed up as the sun was dipping into the haze that lined the horizon, the beach was ghostly. A few beachgoers were visible off in the distance, but for the entirety of our time out there – we had the place to ourselves. And oh what fun this Cannon Beach engagement session was…
One of the things that always amazes me about the Pacific coast is how FAR the waves roll in. Like, the waves will break on the beach and then wash up for hundreds of feet before they finally turn around and return to the ocean. Now, that can breed chaos if, like me, you don’t pay attention to when the waves are actually rolling up (yes, I definitely DRENCHED my Timberland hiking boots the evening before this session). But if you watch the waves carefully, it can lead to some amazing moments – standing in the wash of the last wave as the water ripples back out to sea and leaves the tiniest glaze of seawater still standing before the next wave hits.
It was for this grand scene that Abby & Jake drove from Portland to meet me – and it absolutely did not disappoint. We spent an hour or two together chasing waves, breathing in the crisp ocean breeze, and simply admiring the beauty of the surroundings, all while capturing the fun, playful, and did I mention a-freaking-dorable love that these two share. Seriously y’all, I’ve always said my goal is to capture adventurous and in-love couples simply being themselves – whatever that looks like – and Abby & Jake were perfect. Their playful dances, gleeful smiles, and carefree laughter matched the splashing of the waves before morphing into some beautifully quiet moment and close cuddles as the sun dropped below the water and our time together came to an end. I’ll forever be grateful for this couple and their willingness to drive out from Portland to meet me – and I’m already counting the days until I get to go back to this lovely location and capture amazing moments like these all over again.
