beacon rock state park family photos

Columbia River Gorge Photographer

The Columbia River Gorge is one of the most beautiful places in Oregon, in my opinion. It makes a gorgeous backdrop for family or couples photos and you don’t have to drive too far from Portland. Bring your loved one(s) on a fun adventure to The Gorge and we will explore, dance, and laugh while I come along as your photographer to document this time in your lives.

Mom laughing hard while kids hug and dad leans close
Mom laughing hard while kids hug and dad leans close

Where should we take our Columbia River Gorge photos?

There are such beautiful places in The Gorge on both the Oregon and the Washington sides. Once you book your session with me, I will send over a location guide with all of my favorite spots that get amazing light and have gorgeous backdrops. Anywhere from Portland to Rowena is included in the price, but let me know if you want to go farther east and we can make it happen. My favorite places are in Cascade Locks, North Bonneville, Hood River, and Mosier.

Mom laughing hard while kids hug and dad leans close
Mom laughing hard while kids hug and dad leans close

When should we book our photo session in The Gorge?

Most of the year, I book sessions about 1.5 hours before sunset. This is to give you the best lighting possible! If it ends up really cloudy, we may move the session up a little earlier, but I will be in touch if that looks like a possibility. In the fall, I also offer a few sunrise sessions. Not all Gorge locations work for sunrise but I will help you figure out the best location.

Another thing you want to consider is what day of the week to book your photos. The Columbia River Gorge can get busy at certain times of the year depending on the location you choose. If you can schedule your photos for a weekday, that would be ideal for fewer crowds. Especially if you are booking in late April/Early May and planning to go to the wildflowers. But luckily all the locations are pretty large so we can make it work no matter what.

All times of the year are beautiful here but it can get pretty cold, especially when it’s windy. Make sure to dress appropriately for the weather and have warm layers available if needed.

How can we have a relaxed, non-stressful session in the Columbia River Gorge?

If you are choosing a location that requires a long car ride, consider making a trip out of it and getting a hotel room or AirBnb. This way you can drive out, get ready in your room, and only have to drive a few minutes to get to the photo session. This is especially useful if you have young kids. Sometimes a long car ride right before your photo session just isn’t the best for them, so this will keep your kids much happier.

Another thing you can do to keep your session more relaxed is to be prepared for a later bedtime, especially in the spring and summer when sunset is later. You can also read a blog post I wrote about how to keep your kids happy during your photo session.

Mom laughing hard while kids hug and dad leans close

Ready to book your family or couples Columbia River Gorge photographer?

Please send me a message to book your family, maternity, newborn or couples session so we can discuss location and available dates. You also have the option to add on a film like the one above. I’m so excited to be your Columbia River Gorge photographer!

“Becca is the absolute best! She has taken photos of my family for the last couple years and she always captures the magical moments. She is fun with the kids and gets them to show off their real smiles. She helps with every step of the ‘family picture day’ process–from outfits to locations she gets in and helps with as much or little as you want. She will literally bring outfits from her client closet for the whole family if you need. She fun and makes the whole event really comfortable.” Ashley T.