Epic Wildflower Photography Sessions in the Columbia River Gorge

Now Booking Wildflower Photography Sessions in The Gorge for Families and Couples

I know it’s still winter, but planning now for wildflower season in the Columbia River Gorge is essential. Spring is just around the corner (or so I like to tell myself)! The end of April/beginning of May is the best time for beautiful wildflower photography sessions there. I only schedule one session each morning or evening, so you’ll get my full attention and have the best light possible. Read on for more details about the location options, what is included, and how to prepare.

What location will the wildflower sessions be at?

I’ve found a few gorgeous and unique locations for wildflowers in the Gorge! They are near or in Mosier, Oregon which is only about an hour and 20 minutes from Portland, and it’s probably the closest place to Portland to see the wildflowers in The Gorge. What I love about it is not only all the yellow and purple wildflowers, but also the awesome trees, the view of the mountains, and the river that can be seen in the background. There also can be little walking involved, as some spots are very close to parking. But if you’re willing to walk a bit, you can get to some other incredible spots. Yes, there are cliffs here, but we can also stay a bit farther back and still get beautiful flowers without being close to the cliff.

You have the option to drive to two different locations during your session if you can’t miss out on all the amazing views. They are all within 8 minutes of each other or less. We can discuss your preference once you’ve booked and you receive my location guide with my 4 favorite spots in Mosier for wildflowers.

When is the best time for wildflowers in the Columbia River Gorge?

The dates that these flowers are in bloom change slightly each year, but typically you can find the yellow and purple flowers (balsam root and lupine) in late April and early May. But if you want to go in late May or early June, you can find other types of wildflowers! I even know of a secret location with a huge field of purple wildflowers and grass at that time. But the main event usually starts to be in full bloom around April 20th-26th on a normal year.

What is included in the photography session?

Clothing and Styling: Anyone booking wildflower photography sessions with me will be getting full access to my client closet so you can borrow any of the hundreds of dresses and outfits I have for women and children. It makes everything easier when you don’t have to worry about buying clothing, waiting for something to ship to you only to find out it doesn’t fit, or driving to countless stores to find something that will look good during a photo session. I know what looks good and I will help you style everyone! And if you’d rather purchase your own outfits, I can help you find cohesive outfits for everyone, create style boards, and send links to items online that I think you’ll love.

Above is an example of a style board I put together using the dad’s existing outfit and items from my client closet

A Relaxed and Fun Experience: You and your loved one(s) will be given the space to relax and just be yourselves, while receiving gentle direction from me. Usually the session starts out with me being more involved, giving you fun games to play and things to do together to get you laughing and interacting. But as you get more comfortable, I’ll also be stepping back to let you do your thing. We can play music while you dance, run around, cuddle, and let the kids explore the area. I tailor each session depending on your energy, level of comfort, and ages of children if they are involved. I want it to be the best experience and authentic to you!

Beautiful Photographs: You’ll be receiving an online gallery filled with all the best images from your session. You don’t need to make any hard decisions, you’ll get the full gallery! There will be at least 60 images that you are free to download and share with friends and family. Your online gallery will also have a built-in store where you have the option to order high-quality, professional photo prints, canvases, photo albums, and more. The ordering process is easy and my hope is that you will get your photos printed and up on your walls. You will also be getting a print release if you choose to order prints elsewhere but I can only guarantee the quality if printed through my professional lab.

What are some tips for preparing for our session?

Make a fun trip out of it. Since it’s a bit of a drive, you may want to book an overnight stay somewhere close… maybe at an airbnb in Hood River or a hotel in The Dalles. Then enjoy a fun vacation of hiking and exploring the beautiful Columbia River Gorge scenery!

Let the kids be kids! If you’re booking a family session, the best way to get authentic interaction and happy kids is to just let them be themselves. If they are being silly, let them. If they want to explore, explore with them. Don’t get them in trouble for anything during the session, as we want happy kids, not sad ones. Everything will go more smoothly if you just follow their lead, and I’ll help direct them and introduce fun ideas to get them into the positions we want. You just get to focus on loving on them and leave everything else to me. To read more about this subject, check out this blog post.

Plan to go out for a treat afterwards. Not as a bribe, but as a way to keep the fun going! Tell the family that you’re having a day of fun, which includes family fun time during your photo session, and then surprise them with a trip to the ice cream shop after. How many times can I use fun in a sentence? 😆

Get there early. My last tip is to get to the location a little early. If you’re nice and prepared and ahead of schedule, you will be much calmer, and in turn, so will everyone else. So give yourselves more time than you think you’ll need to get ready. Trust me.

How do we book Wildflower Photography Sessions with you?

You can book a wildflower session with me in the Columbia River Gorge by filling out the contact form my website and I will get back to you ASAP. Remember that the best time for these sessions is the last week and a half of April and the first week or so of May (but we can find other wildflowers later if that timing doesn’t work for you).

These are only for immediate families and couples when booking with me. If you’d like an extended family session, my associate photographer does an amazing job! When you fill out the form on my contact page, you can specify who you’d like to work with.