My First Engagement Shoot – Molly & Graham at Lake Ingalls

Some photo opportunities are meticulously planned months in advance, while others fall right into your lap, like a gift you didn’t see coming. My first engagement shoot was one of those serendipitous, “meant to be” moments.

It all started in August 2021 at Deception Pass in Washington State. I was on a camping trip, spending my days hiking, kayaking, and photographing birds. At that point in my photography journey, I was open to almost anything—landscapes, wildlife, portraits, abstract—anything that caught my eye. One morning, as I glided across the water in my kayak with my camera in hand, I spotted a canoe drifting toward me.

Inside were two people—Molly and Graham—laughing as if they had no care in the world. We crossed paths slowly, as you do on the water, and I struck up a conversation. When I asked if they wanted a photo together, they told me that Graham had just proposed to Molly just minutes earlier.

I congratulated them on the spot and, without hesitation, offered to take their engagement photos if they were interested. They smiled and said it felt like everything about that day was meant to happen. I left the water buzzing with excitement at the prospect. I’ve always been drawn to capturing photos that hold meaning—images that will be part of someone’s story for years to come. However, life moved on, and I didn’t hear from them again.

The Call That Brought It Back

Almost a year later, in the summer of 2022, I received a message from Graham: “Does your offer still stand?” It did! We began planning, and they chose Lake Ingalls—a place that held special significance for them, as it was where they had their very first date.

Lake Ingalls isn’t an easy location to reach. It requires about a four-hour hike from the trailhead, winding through forests, open meadows, and rocky climbs. I knew I needed to pack carefully. I decided to bring my Fujifilm X-T4 and X-Pro2 along with three lenses: the 50mm f/1 for intimate portraits, the 35mm f/1.4 for versatility, and the 18mm f/1.4 for sweeping wide shots. My usual coffee-making kit—which I consider a hiking essential—stayed behind. (Though, as you’ll see, I still found a way to sneak in some coffee.)

We met at a parking lot in the north end, where I hopped into their Subaru Outback. Funny enough, we discovered we had matching Subarus. The drive to the trailhead was scenic, featuring towering evergreens, winding roads, and the kind of layered mountain views that make you fall in love with Washington all over again. Somewhere along the drive, I joked about how I always seem to cause couples to argue when I’m in the car—something that’s happened since my teenage years. Thankfully, my confession got a laugh and eased any tension.

The Hike Up/The Shoot

One of the things I miss most about living in Washington is the easy access to breathtaking parks—state, national, you name it. Lake Ingalls is the kind of place that reminds you why people move across the country for such landscapes.

The first half of the hike was a steady incline, surrounded by thick forest with occasional breaks in the trees revealing ridgelines in the distance. By the second half, the rocky climb tested my endurance. I was a bit out of shape at the time, and the thin air at higher elevations didn’t help. A couple of caffeine gummies kept me going. Molly and Graham carried their outfits and lunch in their packs, chatting easily as we made our way up.

The weather was overcast—ideal for outdoor photography. The diffused light created soft shadows and natural tones, something I didn’t fully appreciate at the time but have since grown to love. Harsh sunlight can complicate a shoot, but a cloudy day feels like nature’s softbox.

We reached a spot just short of the lake where the trail opened up to a wide view of the surrounding mountains. The famous larches were still green—it was a bit early for their golden fall color—but the contrast of green against the gray peaks and the soft cloud cover was stunning.

Molly and Graham changed into outfits that felt ideally suited to them—nothing too formal, just authentic and comfortable. Their chemistry was effortless. I had never photographed a couple before, but they made it easy. They laughed, whispered to each other, and wandered hand-in-hand. I mostly let them be themselves, stepping in occasionally to guide them into the right light or frame.

One of my favorite unplanned moments was when Graham’s hat flew off mid-laugh. I captured it on camera, and it still makes me smile every time I see it.

I alternated between my lenses—the 50mm for close, intimate shots where you could feel their connection; the 35mm for balanced portraits; and the 18mm to pull in the sweeping backdrop. The rhythm of shooting felt natural, like a conversation, with pauses to breathe in the scenery.

Post-Shoot Wrap-Up/Looking Back

After we finished, I pulled out a small, lightweight coffee kit that I had tucked into my bag at the last minute. We sat on the rocks overlooking the valley, sipping coffee and enjoying the PB&J sandwiches that Molly and Graham had packed. There's something incredibly special about that post-shoot moment—it's when the day truly sinks in.

Fortunately, the hike back was all downhill. My legs were exhausted, but my memory card was complete, and that's a trade-off I'll take any day. By the time I returned to my car, drove to an afternoon meetup in Renton, and finally made it home, I was utterly wiped out. It was the good kind of exhaustion—the kind that comes from doing something truly worthwhile.

At the time, Molly and Graham had only requested a small set of edited images with a focus on mood and landscape. Recently, I revisited the whole collection and re-edited most of the shots in my now "refined" minimal style—just in time for the fourth anniversary of the shoot.

Reflecting on it now, this session wasn't just my first engagement shoot; it was the moment I realized how much I value photographing meaningful milestones. What started with a chance meeting on the water turned into a full-day adventure and left me with a memory as vivid as the photos themselves. It reminded me that photography isn't just about pressing the shutter. It's about being present, embracing unexpected moments, and allowing the day to unfold its own story.

-Andrew