Engagement Session at Point Defiance


I recently did an engagement photoshoot for a couple based in Tacoma, WA. They wanted to do something with a woodsy vibe, and they wanted their dog involved. Both of those are things I was able to accommodate! Point Defiance Park in Tacoma is one of my favorite spots for woodsy photoshoots. It's very accessible, but you still don't have to travel far from your parking spot to be in the middle of the forest.


Shoot type - engagement/couple

Location - Point Defiance Park, Tacoma, Washington

Client - Amee (she/her) & Gayle (she/her)


First, some photos with the dog

Amee and Gayle's dog, a chiweenie named Whiskey, was quite a trouper for the photoshoot. He was very nervous, but he kept his cool and posed for the camera.

Two women smiling on a forest trail with their small dog wearing a bandana on a leash.
Two women laughing together on a forest path with their small dog wearing a bandana.
Two women walking a small dog on a gravel path through a lush green forest.
Two women crouching down to pet their small dog wearing a bandana in a forest setting.
Two women kneeling on a forest trail to interact with their small dog on a leash.
Two women crouching in a sunlit forest, smiling at their small dog wearing a bandana.
Two women sitting outdoors holding a small dog wearing a bandana, laughing together in a forest.
A person in a blue jacket kisses a small dog wearing a floral bandana in a lush green forest.
A curly-haired woman with purple glasses receives a lick from an adorable small dog in a forest setting.
A person holds a small dog on their shoulder while walking along a wooded forest trail.
A couple walks hand-in-hand along a sunlit forest path surrounded by tall green trees.
A couple holds hands and looks up at tall trees on a scenic forest trail in dappled sunlight.
A couple shares a sweet moment kissing their small dog wearing a colorful bandana outdoors.

...and some photos without the dog

We also took some photos of the couple without their dog. Luckily, they brought a friend along with them, which I highly recommend for anyone bringing a pet to a photoshoot, who was able to keep him busy and happy with treats while I took photos of his moms. Gayle is also a huge Mariner's fan, so we made sure to get some shots with the jerseys on.

A couple walks hand-in-hand away from the camera along a dirt path through a tall forest.
Two people hold hands while walking along a winding trail through a lush, moss-covered forest.
A smiling couple holds hands and walks along a sunlit forest trail surrounded by tall evergreen trees.
A couple embraces face-to-face on a peaceful forest trail surrounded by lush green ferns and trees.
Couple sharing an intimate embrace in a forest, woman wearing an engagement ring resting her hand on man's shoulder.
Happy couple laughing and embracing face-to-face outdoors surrounded by lush green trees.
Smiling woman with curly hair and glasses hugging her partner in a sunlit forest setting.
Joyful woman embracing her partner warmly among ferns and tall trees in a forest.
Couple posing playfully on a forest trail, making fun gestures in dappled sunlight.
Excited couple raising their arms in celebration on a scenic forest path.
Couple posing in Seattle Mariners jerseys in a forest, woman flexing and man crouching.
Couple wearing Seattle Mariners Rodriguez 44 and Ichiro 51 jerseys pointing in a forest.
Couple in Seattle Mariners Rodriguez 44 and Ichiro 51 jerseys standing together in forest.
Couple smiling face-to-face in Seattle Mariners jerseys, woman gently cupping man's face.
Two women in Seattle Mariners jerseys share a tender moment laughing together in a lush forest setting.

"My moms are getting married"

One of the things the couple had mentioned in our consultation call was that they had gotten a bandana for their dog that said "my moms are getting married", and so we had to make sure to set aside some time to capture it too. It was a little hard to read on his little body, but I'm still so happy with how it turned out. We went over to a bench next to the Rhododendron Garden, and though the rhododendrons weren't blooming, we found some perfect daffodils to pose with.

Two women sit on a bench with their small dog wearing a My Moms Are Getting Married bandana.
Two women laugh as their small dog in a Getting Married bandana licks one of their faces outdoors.
Two women kiss their small dog wearing a Getting Married rainbow bandana in a forest setting.
Two women cuddle their small dog wearing a Moms Are Getting Married bandana on a park bench.
Two women smile at their small dog wearing a My Moms Are Getting Married bandana in the forest.
Two women smile as a small puppy playfully licks between their faces in an outdoor forest setting.
Couple smiling with small dog amid yellow daffodils on a log in a lush forest setting.
Two people sharing a tender moment with their small dog surrounded by spring daffodils in a forest.
Couple sharing an intimate moment on a mossy log surrounded by blooming yellow daffodils in the woods.
Couple cuddling on a log in soft focus behind vibrant yellow daffodils in a forested garden.
Couple smiling at each other while seated on a log with yellow daffodils in the foreground.