Whenever I am planning an engagement session, I always ask my couples if there is any activity we could incorporate into the shoot to make it more personal. I’ve shot some really fantastic stuff, like snowboarding or fishing but I have to say this was my first true hiking session. Julie wrote me with a beautiful story of their budding romance spent in the rockies, on lesser known hikes to avoid the crowds that made her foster dog nervous. It was so moving and of course, I love hiking, wish I did it more and so this was pretty perfect. I feel like this summer has spoiled us for great weather and this evening was filled with sparkling, glowing and golden light. We all took deep breaths as soon as we got out of the truck, and I have to say I was overwhelmed with the beauty. Julie and Doug were effortless in their connection and it was so easy to photograph, we were outside for hours, hiking a little, stopping here and there, combined with me turning in 360 degree circles, seeing opportunities for incredible shots all around me. I live in a stunning part of the world and I find I can busy myself with the unimportant, with technology, with just general “stuff” and forget to take those deep breaths. It truly is important to return to nature and reset yourself.