Cannon Beach Engagement Photographer

The Oregon Coast is a place unlike any other. The rocks glisten in the sun. Mist covers the surface. Birds and wildlife thrive. Rock formations make for exploring.

I grew up visiting Cannon Beach with my family. It's our favorite beach. There is so much to do. I cannot visit without stopping at Cannon Beach Chocolate Cafe for a hot cocoa or grabbing a slice of pizza at Pizza A'Fetta Cannon Beach. I have many heartfelt memories growing up. It's so peaceful compared to busy Portland. I love breathing in the ocean breeze and relaxing on the beach. It is one of my favorite places in the world to photograph people.

On July 3, I captured engagement photos at Cannon Beach for Josh & Alissa. The two of them were visiting from the Seattle area where they reside. They also have a soft spot in their heart for Cannon Beach and asked to have engagement photos there. The only correct answer is an enthusiastic YES.

Along for the ride with me was my friend, Rae. She and I became friends through PSU's AXO sorority, which I was part of for less than a term before I graduated. She is a true and genuine friend who makes me laugh and always has something sincere to say. She and I had plans that day before the session was planned, but she was excited to join me in Cannon Beach for the afternoon, so we made a day of it! I asked Rae to capture behind-the-scenes videos for me so that I could make some TikToks to share. I don't have many videos of me working. With hot cocoa in hand, we arrived at the sand.

Cannon Beach can be pretty crowded on summer days, especially close to holidays. Oregon weather is also notoriously unpredictable. It could be rainy one minute and sunny the next. I am perfectly happy to shoot in either, but I know that not every couple wants to shoot in the rain.

At first glance, I had my doubts that it was going to be light enough to photograph. I planned the session to be in the evening around golden hour, hoping that there would be a break in the clouds. I could somewhat tell that there would be a break from looking at the horizon, but I wasn't entirely sure. I am not the weather woman after all, but I can do my best. When we arrived at the beach, it was grey and a little misty. Despite wearing two layers, I was also a bit chilly. Luckily, we ended up with the most perfect golden evening I could've asked for.

Rae and I scoped out where we wanted to take photos, and then it was time to meet Josh & Alissa.

Josh & Alissa are two of the sweetest people ever. Their bond is so adorable. Prior to the session, I had asked them to share a bit about their relationship so I could get to know them, and the response did not disappoint. I could tell from the beginning that this session was going to be a special one.

Cannon Beach is so special but so small. Parking was a bit of a doozy. We had to do a few circles before finding a spot. The spots are also very tiny, so don't be surprised if you leave with a dent in your door, as I did.

Rae and I met Josh & Alissa just outside the Wayfarer. It's a central entrance point that's great for meeting. We were met with joy and enthusiastic expressions. They were so excited for their session, as was I. Neither of them had ever had a professional photography session so they weren't exactly sure what to do. Lucky for them, I came prepared with tons of poses and prompts. I have a MagSafe phone holder connected to my camera so I can show the couple the poses I would like them to do. I know a lot of photographers and anti-Pinterest posing, but lots of couples have never posed before and need to see it as visual learners. I also can't show or explain everything with a camera in my hand by myself.

We hit the beach ready to get some stunning photos. We just didn't know how good they were going to be. I may have taken some of the best photos of my life.

We set the vibes early on with a Justin Bieber playlist shuffling on their portable speaker. It was clear that the vibes were easygoing. I had Josh and Alissa run around and chase each other. You would never know that they hadn't had photos taken before; they are absolute naturals. You can see the pure joy on their faces as they spin and twirl together. They made a game out of it and took chasing each other seriously. I had to run to keep up, hence the beautiful blurry photos.

You can't do a photography session at Cannon Beach without getting the iconic Haystack Rock in the back. It is so recognizable as an Oregon landmark. It is what makes Cannon Beach so special and amazing for photography. One of my favorite photos is having my couple put their hands up to show the engagement ring and look at each other. With Haystack Rock in the back, it makes for an iconic image. We could not have gotten better Oregon Coast weather. It wasn't cold at all when we got moving. The cloud and haze made for absolutely perfect lighting. Editing these photos was a breeze and a joy. I enjoyed every second of it.

Josh & Alissa left briefly to go get their dog Margo. As they did, the clouds opened up, revealing the most insane sunset I have ever seen.

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As soon as they returned, we got down to business and started taking as many photos as we could to use the golden-pink-orange-perfection sunset.

I genuinely feel like I won the lottery with this engagement photo session at Cannon Beach. The sunset was the most perfect I could've asked for. I cannot wait for the next chance I get to shoot at Cannon Beach.

Want to book a session with me? Well, you have found your Cannon Beach engagement photographer. Book Daphne Scott Photography here!