Looking for the best local photographer to take your engagement pictures?
You’ve come to the right place!
I’m Jenn — a local Bellingham photographer specializing in outdoor weddings, elopements, and engagement photos for couples who want images that are uniquely Bellingham!
I know the best spots in town for authentic, comfortable, and fun photos you’ll be excited to share with loved ones, use for wedding invitations, and print to hang on your wall.
When I’m not photographing couples having epic adventures, I’m hiking with my dogs in the Chuckanuts, biking the Interurban, or reading whichever Stephen King I found on the secondhand shelf at Village Books.
I think I have the best job in the best town, and I’d love the opportunity to work with you!
The first step is filing out the inquiry form (linked below) or keep reading to learn more about why I think engagement photo sessions are the key to a stress-free wedding experience, and why you should consider booking Wild Coast Photography for your special day!
Best Spots in Bellingham for Engagement Photos
I definitely have my favorite spots in Bellingham for engagement photos—whether you’re looking to hang out at one of our many beaches, take a stroll through a forested park, or enjoy a local brew at your favorite brewery! The below locations are all places I know and love, but this list could go on and on for how many beautiful places this town offers as a background for your images.
Whatcom Falls: This park has two beautiful waterfalls, a pond, and miles of picturesque trails meandering throughout mossy forest. It connects via the Whatcom Creek Trail and Railroad Trail to the rest of Bellingham’s Greenways Trail system. I prefer it in the darker months because the water is flowing over the waterfalls with more intensity, the park is much quieter in the winter, and the overcast light is perfect for cozy PNW vibes.
The Waterfront: This area includes Trackside and the container village, which is a very picturesque outdoor space with food and beer and live music in the summer. It’s also a quick ride or walk over to Waypoint Park or Zuanich. I love this place in the summer, but weekends tend to get almost too busy. Unless you’re aiming for a full crowd of folks in the background, I recommend avoiding holidays and peak summer weekends.
Locust Beach: This north Bellingham beach is amazing at low tide. The water recedes quite a ways to reveal mud flats all the way from the Bellingham waterfront to the Lummi Peninsula. It’s a playful space where people will go kite boarding, hang out on the rocky beach to watch the sunset, and don’t mind getting muddy hiking out into the mud flats to witness downtown Bellingham light up in the setting sun. This is one of my favorite dog-friendly areas too!
Teddy Bear Cove: Head south along Chuckanut Drive and you’ll find this beautiful rocky beach after a short steep hike down from the trailhead. Two separate coves offer a sunset view of the ocean and a forested backdrop. Hike up above the beaches for a hillside covered in native madrone trees.
Clayton Beach: The one-mile trail to the beach is ADA-accessible after a recent renovation. Getting onto the beach itself isn’t wheelchair-accessible (yet), so keep that in mind if you require that level of accessibility. This beach is one of my favorites because it tends to be quieter than areas closer to town, the rocky shoreline is beautifully dramatic, and the west-facing angle offers a stunning sunset view.
Downtown: Interested in iconic Bellingham views? The Mount Baker Theater, old City Hall, and other historic buildings are a great background for images. We can also find murals, vine-covered brick walls, and hidden gems that are recognizable to those who know and love this unique city.
Fairhaven: Bellingham’s “second downtown” has it’s own unique shops, backdrops, and energy. A historic shopping district, I especially love Fairhaven during the holidays when the tree-lined streets are lit with lights and the windows of local shops embrace the season.
Larrabee State Park: Nearly endless trails end at multiple beaches, parks, lakes, and views that make this the perfect area for any kind of outdoor adventure. Campgrounds are both drive-up accessible or hike-in only. There are places here which are consistently busy and easy access, but there are also areas you can hike out to and find privacy no matter the time of year.
See images from past engagement sessions!
You Should Book Engagement Photos Before Your Wedding
Your engagement photo session is an opportunity to have professional quality images taken before you hire a wedding photographer to document one of the biggest days of your life thus far. It’s a chance to test out a photographer you’re considering for the wedding to see if you work well together, but even more importantly it’s an opportunity to get comfortable being photographed.
Do you know how many couples I work with who have never had their photo taken professionally before their wedding? Too many! The couples who have had images taken previously—whether it be an engagement session, the proposal, or whatever—are clearly more relaxed and familiar with the process of being photographed. That previous experience can be the difference between feeling confident on your wedding day, or feeling a little self conscious. I’m a planner, so I prefer to know how something goes before I just commit to it. Think of the engagement session as a mini trial run of wedding photos. No two couples want exactly the same thing, so as your photographer it’s immensely helpful to know what you like, what you don’t like, and how to communicate those preferences.
Why Choose Wild Coast To Be Your Engagement Photographer?
There’s plenty of photographers in this town, and I’m sure you’d get some great photos from many of them! Why should you book me?
I know this area like my own backyard. I moved to Bellingham in 2012 to pursue a Journalism degree at Western. I love this town deeply and always find myself back here no matter how far I’ve traveled since first putting down roots. I can actually remember my very first visit—it had to be 2002, I was in third grade, and my dad wanted to take me and my brother out to see the San Juan Islands because it was a place that mattered to him when he first met my mom. I remember stopping at Cornwall Park to go for a walk before heading down to the marina to get on a boat, and I remember years later walking the boardwalk at Boulevard Park when we drove up for another family vacation. It was that later trip when my dad said to me, “you know there’s a college here? You could move to Bellingham if you want in a few years.” So, I did. And I’ve considered it home ever since.
My journalism background offered me a unique hands-off introduction to photography. Instead of a traditional studio photographer who poses their subjects, I was taught to look for stories through the lens, to document authentic moments, and to interfere as little as possible. While I’m not purely a photojournalist, I consider my approach to be halfway between documentary and artistry. Powerful images come from honest subjects, and it’s equally important to me that you’re having a good time as it is that your images are stunning. I believe photos of people can check all the boxes of a good images while also being an authentic representation of those pictured.
What is the cost of engagement photos in Bellingham, WA?
My standard engagement package is a two-hour photography session—I call it the Best Date Ever because that’s exactly what it’s meant to be! An opportunity to get authentic, candid, fun images that are a representative of your relationship. Do things you’d normally do, like getting a drink at your favorite brewery or go for a walk around your favorite park.
The Best Date Ever session is $1500. You’ll get 150+ edited images delivered within four weeks via an online high-resolution gallery. You can download images, order prints, and send the gallery directly to friends and family. I do offer a 50% discount on this two-hour session for couples who book their wedding or elopement with Wild Coast Photography. If you’re not sure who you want to hire for your wedding yet, no worries! If you end up coming back later and book a wedding or elopement after your engagement session, I’ll still honor the 50% engagement benefit with a discount on your wedding package.
Looking for something a little smaller? The Mini Engagement is a one-hour session at a single location in Bellingham. Just enough time to get some portraits, a few candid images, and get familiar with a professional photography experience if you’ve never had one before. I always recommend getting a few professional photos done before big events (like a wedding) because it helps calm the nerves. If you’re not interested in the full Best Date Ever, the one-hour Mini Engagement is $750.
What if the weather isn’t cooperating?
We have this saying in the Pacific Northwest—if you don’t like the weather, wait 15 min. What that means is simply that things change here very quickly. Sure, it rains most days of the year, but it doesn’t rain most of the day. If you’re looking to get photos during the wetter months (November-May) and don’t wait to risk getting your hair wet, we can always schedule a studio session at one of the many amazing photography studios in Bellingham. Or, we can do at at-home session at your place, or a rental you’re staying at in town (if permitted).
Keep scrolling to see more example images from engagement sessions in and around Bellingham, Washington!
