Portland Oregon Wedding Photographer: McKenna Rachelle Photography

Hi! I'm McKenna of McKenna Rachelle Photography! My husband and I are blessed to work together as an Oregon wedding photographer team in the stunning Pacific Northwest. This place is seriously gorgeous! As creatives, we thrive on telling stories in an honest and genuine way through photography with a fine art approach. Our goal is that when our clients look back on the photographs we make together, that they can see their life in a beautiful light- filled with love, infinite worth, and possibility.

Oregon Wedding Photographer takes candid outdoor engagement photos.

While we shoot side by side on wedding days, I'm typically the one photographing engagement and portrait sessions. I also collaborate with our brides and grooms in preparation for their wedding day. We strive to make the wedding planning process as easy as possible, and take all the time we need to ensure we all have a clear idea of what is most important to them on their day. When all is said and done, we've formed a pretty great friendship!

Below you'll find some of my favorite images from a recent engagement session, as well as some tips that can help you prepare for your own engagement photos!

Portland and the surrounding areas offer so much in terms of locations for engagement sessions. To embrace the love Jessica and Alex have for the outdoors, we ventured out to Powell Butte Nature Park in east Portland. The tall dry grasses and orchard trees provided the perfect backdrop for capturing the sweet and tender interactions between these two!

Classic and candid Portland Oregon wedding photography Autumn engagement photos in Oregon and Washington

I absolutely love engagement sessions because it is a time for couples to take a break from the to-do list of wedding planning. They get to spend a relaxing evening just loving each other, and I get to capture it! I take a 'guided direction' approach when it comes to helping our couples fall into natural poses. Rather than telling them exactly what to do, I find it's more comfortable to lead them into some type of action. Walking hand in hand, whispering into each other's ears, and practicing their first dance are some of my favorite prompts! This also allows for individual interpretation, which leads to photos that reflect their unique personalities.

Oregon bride and groom take engagement photos in Portland

Timeless wedding and engagement photography in Portland Oregon

Preparing for an Engagement Session

Before I wrap up, I'd love to share a few tips that I share with my brides and grooms as we prepare for their photo sessions!

1. Treat your engagement session as a date. Make a day of it, and enjoy some time off from wedding planning! You're already dressed up- go out to a fancy lunch before (this can help calm the nerves), or dinner after.

2. Don't be afraid to let me in. This one is tough, since most of us express our love privately- not in front of a camera. We want these photos to reflect who you truly are as a couple, and that can only happen with a little bit of trust and venerability. Luckily, you have the love of your life with you! Focus on your connection with each other, and the magic will happen!

3. Brides- this one is for you! Are you're getting your hair and makeup done professionally for your wedding? This is the perfect time for your trial run, since we treat the engagement session with the same level of importance as the wedding day. A little extra pampering can help you feel comfortable, confident, and beautiful!

Powell Butte in Portland, Oregon is a perfect engagement session location Outdoor fall engagement session Candid moments between Portland couple during their engagement photo session Portland couple kisses during their engagement session in an open field.

Although Oregon is our home, we love to travel! If you're looking for a photographer in the Pacific Northwest or elsewhere, hop on over to our website to see more of our work, and give us a shout out- we'd love to chat!

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