Tori and Jamie’s Engagement Session at Cape Kiwanda | Pacific City, Oregon Engagement Photographer

Tori and Jamie are getting married at Timberline Lodge next month, so for engagement photos we went the other way, all the way to the sand at Cape Kiwanda in Pacific City. Mountain wedding, coast engagement. Their own personal Hood to Coast, and I love that theme more than I can say. My Brian came along for this one, and the four of us earned the view by hiking the giant dune together.

Where is Cape Kiwanda?

Cape Kiwanda is a golden sandstone headland at Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area in Pacific City, Oregon, just under two hours from Portland. It anchors the Three Capes Scenic Route and packs an absurd amount of scenery into one beach. A giant sand dune climbs roughly 250 feet from the shoreline, and Haystack Rock, also called Chief Kiawanda Rock, stands 327 feet tall just offshore. Every direction you point a camera looks like a postcard.

What is an engagement session at Cape Kiwanda like?

An engagement session at Cape Kiwanda is equal parts photo shoot and beach adventure. We start on the sand, wander toward the sculpted sandstone cliffs, and if you are game, climb the giant dune for sweeping views of the Pacific. Plan on wind, sandy toes, and the kind of golden evening light that makes everything glow. Bring shoes you can kick off and a jacket you can throw on. The coast rewards couples who come ready to play.

What was Tori and Jamie’s coast engagement session like?

It was one of my favorite sessions of the year. We started at the base of the cape while the sun still sparkled on the water, then took our time climbing the dune, stopping for photos the whole way up. At the top, the wind restyled everyone’s hair and nobody cared. The view of Haystack Rock from up there is unreal. Back on the beach we slowed down for quiet moments at the waterline, and Tori’s sapphire ring caught the evening light so beautifully. A coast session before a Timberline Lodge wedding is the full Oregon experience, and I am here for every bit of it.

Why choose the Oregon Coast for engagement photos?

The Oregon Coast gives your engagement photos drama that no backdrop in town can match. Sea stacks, cliffs, dunes, and soft coastal light that flatters everyone. It also gives you a real experience together, which matters more than people expect. Couples relax when they are exploring instead of posing, and relaxed couples make the best photos. If your wedding is in the mountains, a coast session rounds out your gallery with a completely different feel.

Looking for a Cape Kiwanda engagement photographer?

I am Becky Chambers, owner of Studio 623 Photography in Sandy, Oregon. I have photographed Oregon couples for more than 20 years, from the coast to the top of Mt. Hood, and sessions like this one are some of my favorite days of the year. If you are thinking about waves, dunes, and a ring that sparkles in the sea air, I would love to hear your plans. Take a peek at my wedding photography, and if a mountain elopement is calling you too, my Mt. Hood elopement guide is a fun place to wander.

Becky Chambers

Sandy, Oregon Portrait Photographer, Wedding Photographer, Newborn Photographer, and scenic landscape photographer.

https://www.studio623photography.com
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