Sparks Lake engagement session turned surprise proposal

Shyanna and Lexi’s Sparks Lake engagement session last October was extra special. Shyanna had already proposed to Lexi, but before we started, Lexi shared her own plan with me. She wanted to surprise Shyanna by proposing during their photos, and Shyanna had no idea what was coming.

We had the best evening exploring Sparks Lake for their session. October had already brought some fresh snow to the mountains, giving us gorgeous views of the surrounding Cascade peaks, and we even found a little snow left along the lake shore. This spot was extra special for Shyanna and Lexi. They first met at Mt. Bachelor while skiing and snowboarding, so taking photos with Bachelor in the background made the setting feel just right for them.

Then Lexi’s surprise happened! She proposed by the lake, surrounded by mountains, and capturing Shyanna’s reaction as she realized what was going on was so sweet. We wrapped up their session with an amazing sunset and more portraits around the lake, which was the perfect way to end an already special evening.

Now, almost a year later, I had the chance to photograph their wedding here in Bend as well. I’ll be sharing more from that day soon!

Sparks Lake is one of my favorite spots for engagement sessions near Bend because there’s so much to see without traveling far. There’s the lake, forest, rocky shoreline, open views, and some of the best mountain backdrops along the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway. Sparks Lake is about a 40-minute drive from Bend along the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway, so it’s an easy mountain getaway for an engagement session or elopement. The last part of the drive is a bumpy dirt road, but once you get there, you’re surrounded by amazing views of South Sister, Broken top and Mount Bachelor. The landscape changes a lot with the seasons, depending on how much snow fell and melted over the winter. Early in the season, you might see higher water and leftover snow, while later in summer and fall, more shoreline and rocky areas are exposed.

Want to see more photos from Sparks Lake for your engagement session? Check this session out, here!