Getting to photograph the sweetest maternity session with these two was such a dream! We had a blast exploring this mountaintop together, taking in the sights and saying our thank-yous to Tahoma for gracing us with her presence. It was a perfect evening with the most amazing sunset we could’ve asked for, and the best way to celebrate their incoming bundle of joy!
Ella + Hunter’s Adventure Maternity Session
The perfect pre-wedding celebration
This session was not only meaningful because Ella and Hunter would soon be welcoming a new little one into their family—it was extra special because they were actually getting married the next day! So this session sort of ended up blending into both a maternity, engagement, and elopement shoot all in one, celebrating many many exciting milestones in their relationship that were all happening at once. I honestly don’t know how these two were getting ANYTHING done, let alone climbing to a summit for their maternity shoot and planning their elopement, because they had also just moved to Seattle. Despite the really crazy season they were in, they seemed so relaxed and happy the entire time, just focused on their love and their incoming babe—what a gift to be so present, and to really be able to embrace the moment during this rollercoaster of a time. Their joy was evident and beyond easy for me to capture throughout our evening together!
A glorious evening running around the mountaintop
Fun fact about Ella and Hunter: they met hiking the PCT! How freaking cute is that? Two outdoor-lovers and avid hikers having a meet-cute in the middle of one of the most beautiful and iconic trails in the Pacific Northwest—sure sounds like the plot of Hallmark’s next rom-com to me. Ever since they started dating they’ve spent a ton of time backpacking together, so it only made sense to turn their maternity session into an adventure of their own, running around the mountaintop together to catch the best views and drink in the warm glow of the sunset lighting.
Magical golden hour portraits at Suntop Lookout
Suntop Lookout was our destination for the evening, a fire lookout located on Suntop Mountain in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. At an elevation of just over 5,000 feet, this lookout offers the most spectacular views of Mount Rainier, accessible by an easy mile-long walk from the parking area when the gates to the summit are open. Ella had actually been up on this mountain several times as a trail runner, so we all spent time laughing and reflecting on how different of an experience it is to drive up the mountain instead of running it.
As we enjoyed the quiet and beautiful atmosphere, and the incredible views of Rainier amidst the fresh mountain air, crews just so happened to be putting the finishing touches on the lookout to make it wheelchair-accessible—I’m so impressed with how many spots in Washington are becoming accessible for people of all abilities! What an amazing place for everyone to be able to experience thanks to the new accessible ramp and deck that are now complete at the lookout.
Want to see another lookout with marvelous views of Mt. Rainier? Take a peek at Liz & Matt’s Cloudy Elopement at Tolmie Peak Lookout.
Surprising + spectacular views of Mt. Rainier
Would you believe that we actually had very little hope of seeing mountain views heading into this session?! With rain and clouds in the forecast for the day, we weren’t super optimistic that we’d get to see Rainier at all—so you can imagine our shock when we saw how clearly she was on display for us when we arrived. We snapped some photos in front of the view right away out of fear that the clouds would descend, but by some sort of miracle they held off the entire time we were there, giving us those perfect postcard views while we talked, laughed, and took photos!
Despite all of the delicious golden hour photos we got as the sun set over the picturesque alpine landscapes, I think the last few shots we took ended up being some of my favorites. After deciding we were done and ready to head back down the mountain, Ella and Hunter layered on some jackets to stay warm, and I got to capture another version of the real them—one that was a little cozier, and maybe more true to what the day-to-day looks like when you get to live with your person. Couldn’t have imagined a more authentic, beautiful way to wrap up this shoot, documenting those final few moments before Ella and Hunter became both husband and wife, and mom and dad!
PNW Adventure Maternity Photographer
I may photograph elopements the majority of the time, but this shoot was such a great reminder of what an honor it is to capture couples in their last moments before welcoming a new baby into their life. If you’re craving a one-of-a-kind, adventure-focused maternity session in the Pacific Northwest just like Ella and Hunter were, reach out to me and let’s make it happen!
Interested in planning your own mountain elopement or adventure session? I’ve got two guides I know you’re going to love below:
