Sunriver engagement session along the Deschutes River

Rachel and Kolten’s Sunriver engagement session was a perfect golden hour moment! When they started planning their engagement photos, they knew they wanted to take advantage of a trip they already had planned to Sunriver, Oregon. Although they live out of state, they had visited Sunriver several times before and always enjoyed spending time there, making it an easy choice for their session location.

We met along the Deschutes River near the horse stables in Sunriver in late September, it was such a gorgeous evening. It was about as good as you can ask for in Central Oregon, with warm temperatures and a clear sky. One of my favorite things about doing an engagement session that is a destination for my couples is getting to photograph them in places that already hold memories for them. We spent the evening exploring the river trails, taking in the scenery, and capturing this season of their lives in a place they genuinely enjoy visiting together.

As the sun set, we were rewarded with some gorgeous light over the river, which was the perfect way to wrap up the session. We couldn’t have asked for a better backdrop for their engagement session in Sunriver. We laughed the entire time together, which made the session even more fun. We also had to deal with mosquitoes towards the end, but it was absolutely worse! Something to keep in mind when being near water in Oregon!

If you’re considering engagement photos in Central Oregon, Sunriver is a great option year-round. Between the couple of river access points, pine forests, mountain views, and open meadows, there are plenty of locations that have the perfect backdrop for it all within a short distance of one another. I always love being able to photograph couples in Sunriver, as this is where I’m located, it’s always fun to be so close to home! And if coming from Bend, it’s only a 20-30-minute drive from town!