Rowena Crest is one of my absolute favorite portrait locations in the Columbia River Gorge. With its sweeping views, rocky terrain and seasonal wildflowers, it always makes an interesting backdrop, especially at golden hour. It wasn't the original plan for Virginia and Jordan's engagement session. We had planned on going to Government Cove (another popular spot in the Gorge), but it was closed for a private event. We had just enough time to...

Some highlights from Josh & Shayna's gorgeous forest wedding at Camp Colton this summer. It was so much fun to capture their joyful celebration. I loved every detail. Stunning florals by Flowers by Alana, delicious food by Crave Catering and a lively reception with...

Dora & Zach's dreamy winter engagement session at White River West Sno-Park near Government Camp, Oregon. This winter wonderland with stunning views of Mt. Hood made the perfect backdrop for their playful engagement session. Still obsessed with Dora's stylish winter coat and hat.

The look on Drew's face when he saw Monique in her wedding gown was priceless. They exchanged vows under a canopy of towering trees at CedarVale Events. Monique wore her mother's wedding veil and her grandmother's blue stone ring from Tiffany's as her "something borrowed." Their reception incorporated their love for board games with Scrabble pieces spelling out their names at the head table....

Caroline & Matt’s elegant summer wedding at Zenith Vineyards in the Willamette Valley. Their sweet dog, Maisy, was there for the first look and served as the ring bearer, stopping to greet guests as she made her way down the aisle. Cheers to the happy couple! ⁠

Sometimes it's worth getting up at the crack of dawn. This was one of those times. Loved capturing this stunning bridal session at Stansbury Island at Great Salt Lake in Utah.

Scroll to the bottom of this post to see all the talented vendors that made this shoot amazing.

Some highlights from Dora & Zach’s intimate riverfront wedding in Southern Oregon. They celebrated with family and their closest friends at River Mountain Lodge, a spacious home along the Applegate River with mountain views. It was a gorgeous weekend.⁠ Cheers to the newlyweds!

Caught in a downpour on their wedding day. Most brides would have run for cover, but Maiya didn't even flinch. "Let's keep taking pictures!,"⁠ she said. Maiya & Sam's spring wedding at the Portland LDS Temple was followed by a reception later that day at the Riverside Community Hall in Albany. They transformed the space with lots of greenery,...

This dog-friendly summer engagement session at Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood was magical. Khrystyne & Nick's dog, Darwin, was only supposed to be in a few of their engagement photos, but she was so sweet and didn't want to leave their side, so she ended up in more than half of them. I'm definitely not mad about it. I love it when clients bring their dogs. Congrats to Khrystyne & Nick! They're getting married this spring in New Orleans,...

In case you're not familiar with the term "first look," let's start there. It's when the bride & groom opt to see each other for the first time prior to the ceremony. Your wedding photographer will pick a private spot at your venue with a nice backdrop and lighting, and will likely shoot with a long lens to capture candid moments from a distance. The groom will have his back turned and eyes closed. The bride will walk up behind him and...

Gorgeous engagement session on a crisp fall day in the Columbia River Gorge at Government Cove near Cascade Locks. The Gorge is scenic in every season, but I especially love autumn. Alex & Daniel were so fun and they didn't mind the cold temps and windy conditions. We had a blast hiking around the cove as the sun was setting.

Want to see more of my work from Government Cove? Check out...

Smith Rock State Park is one of those locations that looks good in every season. Its rugged high desert beauty always makes an interesting backdrop. It's often sunny and you don't have to hike very far for epic views. I met Elaine & Douglas there earlier this year for an autumn engagement session. They have a passion for the outdoors and it shows. Their outfits for the second half of the session looked like they stepped straight out of...

Any wedding that involves an international love story, a snowcat ride, s’mores and happy tears, is my kind of wedding. I loved every minute of Bianca & Greg's Silcox Hut wedding on Mt. Hood. It was a crystal clear day on the mountain with stunning views from the hut.

Bianca is from Brazil. Her family wasn't able to attend the wedding so they watched the ceremony via livestream, but her best friend/maid of honor made the trip to...

You can't beat golden hour at Silcox Hut, especially on a clear day. Erin & Tim's intimate winter wedding took place on a crisp, sunny day atop Mt. Hood. Before boarding a snowcat bound for the hut, we carved out time to take some portraits with their beloved dogs (dressed in flower crowns) outside Timberline Lodge.

Surrounded by family and close friends, they tied the knot in front of a rustic fireplace in the hut with candles and...

Smoky skies didn't dampen the mood for Sam & Abby's Green Villa garden wedding in Independence, Oregon. Colorful flowers popped against the lush green backdrop. Their ceremony and celebration was full of joy. Guests mingled throughout the garden, playing lawn games, ping pong and dancing, lot of dancing. Cheers to the happy couple!

Kind words from the bride:...

Samantha & Keith's forest wedding at Down by the Pond in Battleground, Wash. was a fun one to capture. I love that they included their sweet pup, Maurice. He was even there for their first look and had a spot at the head table. I wanted to take him home, but he wouldn't fit in my camera bag.

Venue: Down by the Pond⁠

Florals: Quad's Garden

Dessert:...

Amy & Erik's spring wedding at Mount Pisgah Arboretum had so many lovely details. They got married beneath a massive oak tree wrapped in colorful floral garland. Glowing paper lanterns hung from the rafters in the covered reception area. Vintage glass jars served as flower vases atop rustic wood bases. Guests enjoyed wood-fired pizza, cocktails, lawn games and dancing.

Thank you, Amy & Erik, for this wonderful review:...

Can't think of a better place for a first look. Maiya & Sam wanted wedding portraits atop Marys Peak (the highest point in the Oregon Coast Range) prior to their church ceremony later that week. I always love adventuring to Marys Peak. It's one of my favorite spots for epic portraits, especially on a clear day when it's possible to see all the way to the Pacific Ocean. For their session, we were blessed with warm, sunny weather and just...

Rainy day elopement at Silver Falls State Park near Silverton, Oregon. Kelli & David got married in March beneath a canopy of moss covered fir trees, and it was just perfect. Lots of laughter, happy tears and plenty of raindrops. ⁠After they exchanged vows, we hiked around the park, stopping at North Falls for waterfalls portraits and then heading to the iconic South Falls area.

Chelsey & Samuel exchanged vows beneath a canopy of towering fir trees at Down by the Pond, a wedding venue in Battleground, Wash. Their guests watched from rustic wood benches, surrounded by ferns and moss-covered logs. Afternoon sunlight streamed through the forest highlighting a vibrant floral installation by Forest & Field. It was the ideal setting for a Lord of the Rings themed...

Meredith & Shaun moved from the East Coast last spring. They fell in love with Oregon’s lush landscapes, and dreamed of an elopement or tiny wedding with a Mountain View. On a lovely autumn day, they exchanged vows from a grassy ridge overlooking the Oregon Coast Range at Fitton Green Natural Area.

Florals: Flowers-N-More

Hair/Makeup:...

Planning a wedding during a pandemic isn't easy. Plans changed a few times for Ryan & Caleb. They ultimately chose to have an intimate, elegant farm wedding with just their family and close friends in attendance. They exchanged vows beneath towering oak trees at The Old Bates Berry Farm. The reception featured wood tables adorned with flower garland, crystal stemware and gold utensils.

...

Chris and Tasha's Mt. Hood forest elopement in October was so much fun. They rented a cozy cabin-style Airbnb nestled in a forested area along the creek. True to the Pacific Northwest, it turned out to be a foggy, rainy autumn day. Tasha didn't mind. She put on her rain boots and we set out to take portraits along the trails surrounding their cabin. They exchanged vows under towering fir trees, surrounded by immediate family and their...

Cheers to Teisha & Kent! After many years of friendship, followed by long-distance dating, the pair tied the knot in July in front of family and friends who traveled from 13 states across the nation to be there. So many beautiful moments and details from their day. Here are a few highlights.

...

Olivia and Becca travelled from California to do couple portraits at the iconic Smith Rock State Park. Central Oregon was really showing off that summer evening. The setting sun illuminated the park's rugged peaks and high desert terrain. Crowds can be an issue at the park since it's one of Oregon's most popular destinations, but there were only a handful of other photographers there that day. It felt like the whole park was ours.

My favorite family sessions usually involve some hiking or beach combing. Bonus points for windswept hair and sandy toes. I always prefer candid and naturally posed images over the classic everybody-look-at-the-camera-and-smile kind of shots. Of course, we'll get some of those during your session, but you'll get so much more than that. You'll get fun, meaningful images that are true to your family's personality and season of life.

There's no place like Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood, especially in winter. Sweeping views with mountain top snow flurries made for a romantic and playful portrait session.

I met Crystal & Scott a couple of years ago and had the honor of photographing their wedding. It was so fun reconnecting with them while we explored the mountain.

Fun fact: Timberline is where my husband proposed, so it will always have a special place in...

It was a chilly, autumn day in the Columbia River Gorge. The leaves had begun to fall and the days were shorter. Thankfully, the rain held off for Mackenzie & Will's waterfall elopement. They exchanged vows at the base of a cascading waterfall. The sound of the water was so strong, I couldn't hear what they were saying, but it didn't matter because their expressions said it all. Their simple ceremony included a Norse blessing and a...

Marys Peak is one of my favorite engagement session locations. On a clear day, you can't beat the view from the highest point in the Oregon Coast Range. It's often windy, adding extra drama to the images, and it's spectacular at golden hour. Ryan and Caleb's engagement session is definitely one of my favorites.

Josh & Natalie's wedding plans were scaled back from a 200-person guest list to an intimate gathering with immediate family only. Their celebration was smaller than originally planned but just as beautiful and meaningful. They got married on a rainy fall day in October, but the clouds parted briefly and we had the opportunity to capture portraits all around River Bell Farm in Jefferson.

Some favorite moments from their day:...

Cassandra & Andrew got married beneath the glow of Mt. Hood on a warm August evening at Timberline Lodge. They kept the guest list small, just family because of the pandemic. It was the perfect intimate outdoor wedding. After the ceremony, we snuck away to capture some golden hour portraits with the mountain as the backdrop.

Venue: https://www.timberlinelodge.com/weddings

Officiant: https://beandbeweddings.com/index.html

After 15 years together, Marguerite and Jeffrey eloped at Silver Falls this afternoon during an intimate ceremony under a canopy of towering fir trees. We snuck in some waterfall portraits before the ceremony. The couple, originally from the Pacific Northwest, drove up from Northern California to get married here after previous wedding plans fell through because of the pandemic. It was a beautiful day and I’m thankful to have been a part of...

It's hard to imagine a more scenic backdrop than that of the Wallowa Mountains, also known as one of the 7 Wonders of Oregon. Jamie and Nathan got married at Flathead Lake in Montana 8 years ago, so it's fitting that they chose Wallowa Lake as the location for their anniversary session.

We captured a mix of romantic and playful images. Scroll to the bottom of this post to find out who ended up in the lake at the end of the session....

Central Oregon never disappoints. Loved exploring the Tumalo Falls trail for Sophia & Cooper's engagement session. The snow was packed just enough that we didn't need snowshoes and the sun even made an appearance. Originally, we had planned to do the session at the falls, but the closest parking area to the falls is closed in the winter and it's a 5-mile roundtrip hike to get there. Instead of hustling to get to the falls before the light...

Barefoot with windswept hair. What’s not to love, right? If the beach is your happy place, consider doing an Oregon Coast adventure session for your senior portraits. Playful photos along the shoreline at golden hour, portraits with majestic sandstone cliffs in the distance or a foggy coastal forest with ivy wrapped trees as the backdrop.

After many years of photographing people and landscapes in Oregon, I have the perfect location...

This frost covered meadow at Silver Falls State Park made the perfect backdrop for this winter portrait shoot with Lauren and her horse, Sunday. Originally, we were hoping to find some snow for this session, but Oregon weather can be fickle.

Soft early morning light paired with this foggy, icy wonderland turned out to be better than our original plan. I loved Lauren's elegant, full-length gown and fur coat (which was her...

There's something really romantic about a winter elopement in the Pacific Northwest. I loved capturing this gorgeous styled shoot on Mt. Hood last weekend. It was totally worth the frozen toes and fingers. Vibrant florals provided the perfect pop of color against the cloudy, moody backdrop of the snow-capped mountain.

Does your dog feel like part of the family? Don’t leave them out when it comes time for family photos (or an engagement session). Check out this blog post with some of my favorite pet-friendly portraits and a few helpful tips.

A few things to consider:

Bring some treats and/or toys that can be used to get their attention, when the time comes.

If possible, bring along a friend/dog sitter who can keep them busy between...

Happy anniversary to Molly & Scott! They eloped 15 years ago (before eloping was the trendy thing to do) and the only photographs taken from that day were on a disposable camera. They decided it was time to get glammed up and have some real photos done. I'm so glad they did.

The weather kept us on our toes for this session. It nearly got postponed, but we took a risk and headed up to the Santiam Canyon just before sunrise, despite looming storm clouds overhead. The sun never made an appearance, but the rain held off long enough to make some stunning moody portraits with Detroit Lake in the background. And there was even a hint of fall color.

Congrats, Natalie & Josh! Can't wait for your wedding next...

What's that saying..."nature, cheaper than therapy." I'm not a hardcore hiker. I don't do overnight backcountry trips or have enough gear to set out on the Pacific Crest Trail like Reese Witherspoon's character in the movie "Wild," but I love hiking and camping. Always have, always will. I'm happiest when I'm out and about, exploring the Pacific Northwest.

This summer, we went to Mt. Rainier National Park. Now we know why they call it...

Kelli & Taylor’s hazelnut farm wedding was filled with so many sweet details. Paths lined with hazelnut shells linked the ceremony and reception sites at the family’s farm along the Willamette River in West Salem. Guests explored the hazelnut orchards and played lawn games before and after the ceremony that took place in a forested area with ivy wrapped trees and lush ferns. They capped the night with a sparkler sendoff and drove away in...

Sabrina & Dalton's lovely backyard wedding along the Willamette River in Salem was filled with so much joy.

Sabrina is from Argentina and met Dalton while he was traveling abroad. Long distance relationships are never easy, but these two managed to make it work, flying back and forth as often as possible. Now they're no longer separated by continents.

Congratulations!

June 1, 2019

College senior portraits are my new favorite, thanks to this lovely lady. This golden hour session in the Columbia River Gorge was so much fun. At first I was worried that the wind gusts were too strong that evening at Rowena Crest, but it ended up adding just the right amount of drama to the portraits. You can't go wrong with wind swept hair and wildflowers.

Congratulations, Olivia!

May 30, 2019

I'm not much of a morning person, so getting up before dawn wasn't an easy task. But once I got to the Newberry Lava Fields in Central Oregon and could see the sun beginning to peek over the Cascade Range, it was all worth it. Capturing this sunrise session at the Beyond Workshop was definitely a highlight of the weekend.

Engagement sessions are kind of like a warm up for your wedding day. It's a chance to...

Not all wedding trends are created equal. The industry has evolved so much, even in the last 10 years (yes, I've been photographing weddings that long). Saying "I do" on the top of a mountain or in a forest, is a trend worth embracing.

If you're considering a Central Oregon elopement, here's some inspiration for you. I captured these images at a recent styled shoot in Bend, featuring a truly talented group of vendors....

Spring flowers, pastels and an iconic Salem, Oregon, venue built in the 1800s made Alex and Audrey's wedding one of my favorites to date. This young couple said "I do" in a Victorian-era Woolen Mill at the Willamette Heritage Center.

Guests explored the museum and watched ducks lazily floating in the stream that runs through the grounds.

At the edge of the property, beneath a sprawling oak tree, Alex and Audrey saw each other...

April 24, 2019

The views from the Oregon Coast never get old. It's one of my favorite places for portrait sessions, but I love capturing landscape images like these, too.

April 5, 2019

Nothing says spring like cherry trees in bloom. When the 150 Akebono cherry blossom trees are in full bloom at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem, it's the perfect backdrop for spring portraits. It's my favorite time in this city.

March 6, 2019

Who wants to win a free adventure portrait session? This contest is for outdoorsy couples who love to hike. Winner will be chosen at random and announced on the first day of Spring, March 20th. Prize must be redeemed in 2019.

Here’s how to enter:

*Send an email to danielle@daniellepetersonphotography.com and tell me your favorite place to go hiking in Oregon.

*Like Danielle Peterson...

Feb. 3, 2019

The Columbia River Gorge always provides a stunning backdrop, even in the depth of winter. The weather is bit unpredictable though. Thankfully, we were blessed with a window of mostly dry weather. It was cold and foggy and beautiful in a Pacific Northwest kind of way. Brenda's vibrant red gown was striking against the wintry scenery.

Jan. 26, 2019

For Audrey & Alex's engagement session, we started by hiking around Silver Falls State Park, chasing afternoon light and dodging the spray of the falls. We made it back to Audrey's parents' property in time for an outfit change and sunset portraits with a view.

Audrey & Alex are getting married this spring and I can't wait to capture their day!

Jan. 7, 2019

It's the beginning of January and I'm already thinking about spring. I'm planning to offer mini sessions March 29-30 in Salem, when those iconic cherry trees are in bloom.

These are 20-minute sessions and are great for couples and families (single families, not large groups). Clients will receive an online proofing gallery with 10-12 print-ready images, digital download and printing rights. Prints...

Nov. 17, 2018

During a recent trip to LA to visit my dear friend and former college roommate, Shannon, I had the chance to explore and snap a few photos of the incredible Getty Museum. I highly recommend visiting, if you get the chance. I've never seen anything like it.

Oct. 8, 2018

The ocean stayed hidden behind a thick wall of fog and the constant drizzle never let up, but it didn't matter. Collin and Courtney were just happy to be together. Loved capturing this elopement at Cape Lookout State Park.

Sept. 24, 2018

Autumn is my favorite time of year, the vibrant colors and crisp weather. Loved everything about this fall family photo session in Wilsonville.

Aug. 26, 2018

Matt & Julia's elegant, yet laid back wedding, in the Columbia River Gorge was the perfect mix of Pacific Northwest beauty and Portland charm. They tied the knot on Thunder Island in Cascade Locks, near the iconic Bridge of the Gods (yup, that same one featured in the movie Wild, starring Reese Witherspoon).

Their celestial-themed reception featured lawn games, pies for dessert (instead of cake)...

July 11, 2018

Glacier National Park is simply amazing. The first time I visited, I was 8 years. Not quite old enough to truly appreciate it. The last trip was a different story. I found myself in awe the entire time, especially during a nail-biting drive along the famous "Going to the Sun Road."

July 5, 2018

You can't beat summers in Montana. In July, Scott & Lauren hiked through wildflower meadows in Big Sky Country for this portrait session. The scenery was stunning.

May 27, 2018

I photographed Jake & Charlotte's wedding five years ago and now I get to capture their growing family. Congrats you two! On a sunny, spring morning, we met at Minto-Brown Island Park in Salem for this maternity/family session.

May 21, 2018

Interior images of the Church Extension Plan in Salem, Ore, shot for Lenity Architecture.

Chasing waterfalls with Aaron & Sarah on a cold winter day. Adventurous, outdoorsy couples who are willing to do a little hiking to get a great shot are my kind of people.

Plus, if you live less than an hour from Silver Falls State Park, you should go there often, even in the cold winter months.

Oregon is such an incredible place to live. I grew up in the Pacific Northwest and I never tire of the scenery.