Adventure Session Guide
THIS GUIDE WILL TELL YOU EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT NOT ONLY PLANNING AN AMAZING ADVENTURE SESSION BUT HOW TO HAVE A FUN-ASS TIME DOING IT!
It’s no secret that I think adventure sessions are the absolute best! Whether you’re documenting your engagement, celebrating your anniversary, or just getting out and adventuring with your babe, adventure sessions are a-fucking-mazing! And here’s why!
What is an Adventure Session?
An adventure session is exactly what it sounds like—a photography session centered around an adventure. It’s perfect for couples who love the outdoors and want photos that reflect their relationship in a real, immersive way. Instead of just standing in a field and posing, you could be hiking to a scenic overlook, exploring a hidden beach, or even canoeing on an alpine lake.
Unlike a traditional photoshoot, adventure sessions are more about experiencing something together while a photographer captures the magic along the way.
How Long is an Adventure Session?
This depends on what you want to do! If you’ve got your heart set on a spot that requires some hiking, you may need a full day for your adventure session. Most adventure sessions are around 2-4 hours long. When you’re booking a session, make sure to consider that anything you’re doing will take longer than usual – because we’ll be taking photos, and you’ll need time for outfit changes!
Adding some extra time to your adventure session also allows you to be spontaneous. Whether we’re driving and there’s a pretty overlook on the way, or we want to spend some extra time relaxing at the summit of the mountain before trekking back down, your adventure session will be much more fun if you’re not in a rush.
Activities for Your Adventure Session
Your adventure session should be a reflection of your relationship and the things you love to do. Your adventure could take you on a picnic, a hike, a helicopter ride, or anything else you can imagine! Here are a few fun ideas:
- Rent a cute airbnb for an in-home lifestyle session – choose somewhere with easy access to a nature trail or overlook for the best of both worlds!
- Go camping for the night, or the weekend
- Kayaking
- Snowboarding
- Snow shoeing
- Hiking
- Paddle Boarding
- Brewery hopping
- Taking a dip in a hot spring
- Helicopter ride
- Knock off a bucket list activity
When you’re planning your adventure session, think of it like a date. Where would you go if you were planning a fun date for the two of you? What activities do you normally do? What’s something you’ve been dying to try?
How to Choose the Perfect Adventure Session Location
Choosing the right location is key to making your adventure session unforgettable. Here’s what to consider:
- Scenery & Vibes – Do you envision epic mountains, a coastal landscape, or a desert sunset?
- Accessibility – Do you want an easy-to-reach spot or a challenging hike?
- Weather & Season – Some places look their best during certain times of the year.
- Permit Requirements – Some national parks and protected areas require permits for photography.
- Personal Meaning – Consider places that hold significance in your relationship!
📍 Check out these location guides for more ideas:
Picking a location
When picking a location for your adventure session, consider how far you want to travel and how adventurous you want to be. Try to pick a location with multiple options for scenery – somewhere where you can walk around and get some variety! My sweet spot is 4ish mile hikes that are easy to moderate that I can adventure on with my couples!
Not sure where you want to go? Don’t worry – I’ve got lots of recommendations! Here are a few of my favorite locations for adventure sessions in the Pacific Northwest.
MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK
This national park is a Washington staple. It’s perfect for an adventure session because you can customize your adventure. Mount Rainier has everything from drive-up overlooks to long backpacking trails.
DIABLO LAKE
Diablo Lake is located in North Cascades National park, and has some of the bluest water you’ve ever seen! You can drive right up to the overlook, making it the perfect location for a laid back adventure session.
GOLD CREEK POND
Gold Creek Pond is a gorgeous man made pond nestled in Snoqualmie Pass. It features a short, ADA accessible trail around the pond, where you can get stunning views of the surrounding mountains.
FRANKLIN FALLS
Franklin Falls is one of Washington’s most popular attractions – and for good reason! The trail is one mile long, and rated easy. After a short hike through the woodsy wilderness, you’ll be greeted by a stunning waterfall. In the winter, the waterfall freezes and you’ll feel like you stepped into a winter wonderland.
BEND, OREGON
Bend is a small town a few hours southeast of Portland that offers tons of hiking trails and parks to explore! In the unique desert landscape, you’ll find everything from short strolls to long hikes – and everything in between!
What to Wear for Your Adventure Session
Your outfit plays a huge role in your adventure session. Here are some key tips:
Dress for the Environment
- Cold locations? Layer up with stylish jackets, scarves, and gloves.
- Warm climates? Flowy outfits, breathable fabrics, and sun protection.
- Windy spots? Dresses that flow beautifully in the wind can add drama to photos!
SOMETHING YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE IN
The most important thing to remember when choosing an outfit for your adventure session is that you should feel comfortable! If those jeans that make your butt look really good feel super stiff, you’ll be super stiff. If you’re uncomfortable or don’t feel confident in what you’re wearing, it’ll show in your photos! Not only that, but your whole experience will be less than pleasant.
SOMETHING THAT REFLECTS WHO YOU ARE
Because you two are what this is all about, don’t ever feel Pinterest-pressured to wear something fancy that’s just not something you would normally wear. I’m a true PNW girl, so hiking boots, jeans, and a patagonia fleece with a boho hat is totally my style – if you’re feeling casual, rock it!! Some couple like to choose one casual outfit and one fancier one, so feel free to bring options!
AVOID PATTERNS
Consider the scenery of the location you choose for your adventure session. We’re going to have varying landscapes to work with, and sometimes patterns can compete with nature’s backgrounds. That’s why I always say it’s better to go for a solid color, rather than prints and patterns. If you do want to rock a flannel or a fun print, stick to neutral colors, and make sure your partner doesn’t wear a clashing print!
NEUTRAL COLORS
When in doubt, lean toward those more natural, earthy colors that are going to set the tone for your adventurous images. Colors such as beige, black, forest green, and navy blue will complement most outdoor scenes.
MAKE SURE YOU CAN MOVE!
Make sure you can move in whatever you’re wearing – especially if we’re doing a little hiking during your adventure session. I like to get a little playful with my couples, so if you want to take a little piggy back ride on your babe’s back, wearing something non-constrictive is going to be essential. Depending on the time of year, cute knit sweaters and cardigans are also great for adding some extra movement and depth in your images.
Flowy dresses and skirts that naturally move in the wind or move with you really set a mood in your images, so when choosing your fabrics think about these small things that will really capture in your images beautifully.
What to Bring for Your Adventure Session
There’s lots of fun things you can bring along for your adventure session. Like a bottle of champagne to pop, some cold IPA’s, maybe a picnic or pizza to snuggle and enjoy with each other. Some other great things that couples have brought to their session include smoke bombs, sparklers, and snuggly blankets. Have a car, Jeep, truck or motorcycle you want to incorporate into your session too? I’m all for it!! If you have fun props you want included, bring them along! Here are some essentials:
- Water & Snacks – Stay hydrated and energized.
- Extra Layers – Weather can change quickly in outdoor locations.
- Comfortable Shoes – Even for non-hiking locations, good footwear is key.
- Props That Reflect You – Blankets, backpacks, lanterns, or even your dog!
- Bug Spray & Sunscreen – Protect yourself from the elements.
- Headlamp or Flashlight – If we’re shooting during sunrise or sunset.
How to Prepare for Your Adventure Photography Session
Here’s how to set yourself up for an epic experience:
- Know the Location & Plan Ahead – If we’re hiking or traveling, I’ll send all the details so you know exactly what to expect.
- Time Your Session for the Best Light – Golden hour (sunrise or sunset) offers the most stunning lighting.
- Be Flexible & Embrace the Adventure – Weather changes, unexpected trail closures, or spontaneous moments are all part of the magic!
- Trust Your Photographer – I’ll guide you every step of the way to make sure you’re comfortable and looking amazing in every shot.
What to Expect During Your Adventure Session
I don’t like to pose my couples. Instead, I prefer to facilitate real moments that are going to reflect authenticity throughout our session. Forget about the camera! Don’t be afraid to be yourselves during your adventure session. That’s the whole point – the two of you and your love! Don’t worry – I’ll guide you through it and tell you where to put your hands if you’re struggling, but I don’t do cheesy, posed shit.
PDA ENCOURAGED
Don’t be afraid to get up close and personal. You two know how and where you like to kiss. You two know the way you like to hug, how your bodies fit just right into each other. Let’s focus on that!
RUN, JUMP AROUND, AND HAVE SOME FUN
The best photos happen when you just let loose! When you look back at your photos, you should remember having fun and enjoying the adventure session, not standing there and smiling for the camera. Just be yourselves, and if an IPA or two before the adventure session helps you relax, more power to ya!
REMEMBER TO LAUGH TOGETHER
No one knows better than you what to say to make your partner laugh. Don’t take the adventure session too seriously – we’re here to have fun!
ENJOY THE ADVENTURE
Adventure sessions are all about the adventure! So enjoy the scenery, take in the views, and have a good time! Be spontaneous, and if you see a view you want to check out, let’s go!
DON’T WORRY ABOUT ANYTHING BUT HAVING FUN
All you have to do is be in love and show up to the adventure session. I’ll handle the rest – so relax, get stoked, and let’s do this thing!
Adventure sessions are about the experience, not just the photos. Instead of stiff poses, expect lots of movement, candid moments, and having fun together.
Here’s what a typical adventure session looks like:
- We meet at the trailhead or location.
- We explore and shoot along the way.
- You’ll get prompts instead of stiff poses—think laughing, running, twirling, snuggling.
- Sunset or sunrise magic happens.
- We wrap up with some final epic shots and soak it all in.
Ready to Plan Your Adventure Session?
Whether you’re planning an engagement, anniversary, or just want to capture this season of your relationship—let’s make it an experience you’ll never forget.
Contact me here to start planning your dream adventure session!
