Marmots Galore! Mount Rainier Summer Engagement Session | Melissa + Cory

Melissa, Cory & I met last summer outside of Mount Rainier park for their engagement session. It had been a rough start to my morning; I’d locked my keys in my car and couldn’t track down the spare. As someone who is early to everything, I was panicking, tearing apart my apartment as I watched my eta growing and growing. I had a two and half hour drive ahead of me, and when I finally got to the point where I knew even my California driving couldn’t make up the time, I gave them a call to let them know my predicament. They couldn’t have been sweeter or more laid back about the whole thing. We met just outside of the park entrance, where I hopped in the car with them to head to our shoot location. The drive was beautiful, and our conversations were fun and easy. They felt like two old friends right from the start.

Cory had proposed to Melissa at sunset in Joshua Tree National Park, and it was important to them to spend their engagement session in nature - Mt Rainier is an easy enough decision when you have an outdoorsy couple who are up for an adventure. We hoped for some beautiful golden hour light, but by the time we got up the mountain, thick fog had rolled in and obscured the peaks. This might have bummed out some couples, but Cory and Melissa didn’t skip a beat and we had a blast hiking all around the Paradise Visitor Center. The wildflowers were blooming, the marmots were shrieking (lol), and the light was dramatic. After spending hours wandering around the hills and meadows, popping celebratory champagne (they even brought a cup for me 🥲), and even managing a mid-trail outfit change, we made our way back to the car as the sky grew dark. When I think of a dream shoot, it usually looks something like this. I cannot wait to shoot the wedding this summer - Melissa and Cory - you were a dream!