A Dreamy Grouse Mountain Engagement Session: Winter Wonderland

Shelby and Louise’s winter engagement session at Grouse Mountain was one of those days that felt straight out of a winter fairytale. From the moment we stepped onto the gondola and began the ascent up the mountain, I knew this session was going to be something special. There’s just something magical about Grouse Mountain — the snow-dusted trees, the sweeping views, the way the light hits the peaks — and pairing all of that beauty with these two made for an absolutely unforgettable experience.

I’ve always believed that the best engagement sessions happen when couples choose a place that feels like an adventure, and this Grouse Mountain engagement session fit that perfectly. As the gondola climbed higher and higher, the city slowly disappeared below us, replaced by layers of evergreen trees and shimmering snow. Shelby and Louise huddled close during the ride, full of excited energy and those sweet, nervous smiles couples get right before they’re about to be photographed somewhere epic.

When we reached the top, everything felt quiet in the most peaceful way — the kind of quiet you only find in the mountains. It had just started to snow as we reached the top. It was perfect for this winter engagement session.

Snow crunched under our feet as we walked, and the air was crisp, cool, and refreshing. Shelby wore the cutest winter outfit that popped beautifully against the snowy landscape, while Louise looked effortlessly sharp and stylish. Together, they were the perfect contrast to the soft mountain light around them. They might have been a little cold, but this  didn’t stop them from having some fun at their Grouse Mountain engagement session.

One of the things I loved most about this Grouse Mountain engagement was how natural they were with one another. They met in college and had plenty of fun meories to share with me, which they wanted to include in their winter engagement session. They laughed constantly — real, joyful laughter that warmed up the cold afternoon and made each image feel alive. Even when the wind picked up or the snowflakes drifted across their faces, they leaned into each other, held hands tighter, and just kept smiling. You can’t pose that kind of warmth — it’s just who they are together.

We explored several little pockets of  Grouse Mountain: open snowy hillsides, clusters of tall evergreens, and lookouts where the view stretched as far as the eye could see. At one point, we stopped near a clearing where the sun broke through just long enough to create the most beautiful halo around them. They held each other close, took a deep breath, and the world felt completely still. Those are the moments I live for.

As we continued wandering the trails, the temperature dropped even more, and snow flurries continued to fall on and off for this snowy engagement session. It felt like nature was giving them the sweetest cinematic moments for their winter engagement. I snapped as quickly as I could because it felt like a scene from a movie, and they looked absolutely stunning wrapped up in the moment, even if we were all freezing.

What I loved most about photographing Shelby and Louise was how present they were together. They weren’t worried about posing perfectly, even if they did feel it at the beginning of the engagement session. They weren’t trying to be anything other than themselves. They simply let their love take up space in one of the most beautiful places in the Pacific Northwest. And honestly? That’s why their images feel so real and so alive.

By the end of this winter engagement session, we were all freezing and wet from being outside in the snow. It didn’t stop us from having some fun though. After grabbing a small bite to eat at the top of Grouse Mountain, we made our way back to the gondola, laughing about our frozen fingers. We ended the day the same way it started — wrapped up together, riding down the mountainside with views that felt too beautiful to be real. A truly perfect winter mountain engagement session.

Looking back on Shelby and Louise’s Grouse Mountain engagement session, I’m just so grateful. Grateful for couples who are up for an adventure, grateful for love stories like theirs that radiate warmth even in the snow, and grateful that photography lets me freeze (literally and figuratively!) these moments in time.

Shelby and Louise — thank you for trusting me with such a magical day. Your love lit up the mountain, and I cannot wait to see where your journey takes you next.