As a photographer who has worked in the Pacific Northwest for many years (and lived here for many more), I've definitely seen my share of gorgeous outdoor locations that can be used as photography sets! I would even say that I've become a bit of an expert when it comes to scouting out great locations.

Here's what I've learned...

If you're looking for a mountain view, a lush forest, or a sandy beach for your session... you can easily find it in Washington or Oregon! I've shot countless weddings, engagement sessions, and family portraits outdoors... and it's never too difficult to find a setting that meets the needs and vision of my clients. Usually, the only hard part about choosing a location is having to decide between too many gorgeous options!

When it comes to a boudoir session, though, it can be a bit more challenging to find an outdoor location...

On top of finding a location that matches my boudoir client's vision, we have to scout out a location that also offers privacy and safety! In the past, I've had a lot of luck setting up outdoor sessions on the properties of owners I personally know, OR I've been able to book a private location (intended for photography!) from a trusted owner.

For this boudoir session, my client requested an outdoor session with some water! This time, I had to get creative with finding a location that would offer enough privacy while matching the vision she had in mind. I scouted out a couple different locations that didn't meet the mark, but finally... thanks to some intel from a fellow photographer, I found Lewisville Regional Park in Battle Ground, Washington! This location met and exceeded all of our requirements, so we planned to have the session there.

When the day of the shoot finally came, my client first stopped at my studio. Haley Alverson was also there to do her hair and makeup! Her styled hair looked perfect for an outdoor session... It was long, gorgeous, and free-flowing! Her makeup featured a dark lip color with bold eyeliner and thick lashes. Haley created a look that completely matched my client's vision and complemented the natural setting we ended up shooting in!

Before we knew it, it was time to caravan over to Lewisville Regional Park! It was only a quick 20-minute ride from my studio in Vancouver, Washington. Then, we jumped right into the session! My client first wore grayish lingerie with a dark blue flannel, and this outfit choice looked amazing on camera with the natural, woodsy background! In these photos, I love how the light and shadows are visible on her. The contrast adds a ton of depth and drama to the final photos!

Looking back on this session, I'm also remembering that we had QUITE the time navigating the rocky beach area! My client was wearing wedge heels, and I had a medical boot on at the time... so I'm sure you can imagine how well we were walking on the uneven ground! It was a bit of a struggle, but we got through it with smiles and laughter. It helps that we made friends with a frog who decided that her hair (wet and floating in the water!) was the perfect spot to hide and hang out. This kept us laughing between shots, and we had a TON of fun during the "beach" portion of the session.

If you're interested in booking a similar type of outdoor session, I'd love to chat with you and see what type of setting you have in mind! I'm dedicated to bringing your vision to life, and I also love to scout out new photography locations for my clients... So if you have a session idea for me, I'm all ears!

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