A Moody Cannon Beach Engagement Session + My Best Engagement Photography Tips

Cannon Beach on the Oregon coast is a popular destination for a reason. It’s often got that foggy, moody vibe that’s so often associated with pacific northwest beaches. Haystack Rock is iconic and adds such visual intrigue to photos, and of course, the Beach has some claim to fame as the backdrop for the movie, The Goonies. All that adds up to Cannon Beach engagement photos having all the ingredients needed for some truly stunning photographs. 

These engagement photos I took of Lilly and Brett (and their sweet pup, Bogie) were no exception. We got that aforementioned foggy, moody version of Cannon Beach that adds an extra layer of beauty to pictures that, let’s be honest, the perfectly sunny days just don’t give you. (Don’t get me wrong, though, the Oregon coast on a sunny summer day is truly undefeated in literally every other aspect!)

As an Oregon native who’s spent my professional photography career finding Oregon’s best spots to capture life’s biggest moments. I have some engagement photography tips for anyone looking to recreate some of the magic in these shots.

Why Cannon Beach is a dream for engagement photos

If the above wasn’t complimentary enough, consider this my love letter to Cannon Beach: the Pacific Ocean, miles of gorgeous beach, dramatic dunes with tall, flowing grass, cliffsides that look like they’ve come straight out of a painting, and the PNW’s signature moodiness to tie it all together. I really believe you can’t find a more stunning location, overcast or perfectly sunny, than this stretch of the pacific coast. 

On top of its inherent beauty, its geographical location also makes it pretty unbeatable. It’s less than a half an hour from the quaint Oregon town of Astoria, and just about 90 minutes from Portland. Its perfect location means it’s far enough from the hubbub of the big city to feel like you’re in a faraway place, but close enough that it’s an easy weekend getaway, a much-needed escape for a day trip, or feasible as a dreamy location for a quick engagement photoshoot. Wherever you travel from and however you make your way to the coast to take Cannon Beach engagement photos, the variety of backdrops you can get in a single session (from beach to dune to cliffs to forest) is guaranteed to make it worth the trip.

Tip #1: Embrace the weather

I don’t know if you’ve ever heard this before, but the Pacific Northwest can be a bit…soggy. (I’m kidding, I know you’ve heard this before.) And given the PNW’s weather reputation, many people don’t know just how perfect it can be in the summer. That goes for Cannon Beach, too, which sees its warmest months in July, August, and September, where the average temperature clocks in at a really comfortable 67-68 degrees. Even with the modest summer temps, the region still averages a handful of days with rain, even in its warmest months. 

That means you have to be ready to embrace the weather, whatever it might be. There aren’t many places that genuinely get more beautiful when it’s rainy and overcast out. But as I mentioned above, Cannon Beach is absolutely one of them. The mist and moodiness takes the dramatic scenery to new levels, and it really comes across beautifully in photographs. Overcast weather gives Cannon Beach engagement photo sessions. Like this one with Brett and Lilly, a very romantic feel and the images take on an almost editorial look.

Aside from just being ready for any potential type of weather, my other engagement photography tip would be to make sure the couple you’re shooting dresses warm. Encourage your clients to bring a jacket they genuinely love being photographed in, especially if the weather might call for an extra layer. Denim and cozy knits work beautifully here, as you see in this photoset with the couple’s denim, corduroy, and sweater layers. That leads me to my next suggestion.

Tip #2: Pick outfits that feel like you

This is where the ‘matchy without completely matching’ rule comes into play. You don’t need to look like you planned matching outfits for identical twins, but you should still look intentionally coordinated. Lilly and Brett really nailed this approach in their shoot with denim shirts, cream knits, white lace skirt, brown corduroy. 

They were clearly going for an earthy, neutral palette that worked really well with the beach landscape instead of clashing with it. Some suggestions to keep in mind as you plan your outfits for the big day: avoid loud logos, go with textures over patterns, and bring two outfits if you want variety (one cozy, one a little dressier). Basically, go by the rule of thumb that you should wear something that you’d actually wear on a real date. Because at the end of the day, comfort means confident body language, and confident body language always means better photos.

Tip #3: Trust your photographer’s locations

As I mentioned above, I’ve spent my professional career shooting photos all over Oregon. I’ve put many hours into researching, scouting, and photographing locations for everything from weddings and engagement shoots to maternity photos and milestone moments. I know the spots that work best, and the ones that don’t. And that’s certainly not to say you shouldn’t give your input or make requests for certain locations to your photographer, but at the end of the day, the photos will always turn out best when you defer to your photographer.

For this session, we moved from the dunes to the cliffside trail to the open beach with Haystack Rock in the background. All of these locations were within walking distance, and all gave totally different vibes. That’s the magic of working with someone who knows the area. That’s the big benefit when you book with a local Oregon Coast photographer (hint: me), you get someone who knows the light, the tides, and the spots that aren’t on every Pinterest board.

Ready for your own dreamy Cannon Beach engagement photos?

If you made it this far, you’re either freshly engaged (congrats, friend!) or knee-deep in Pinterest boards trying to figure out what your engagement session should look like. Either way, I hope these engagement photography tips made the whole thing feel a little less overwhelming and a lot more exciting.

Here’s the thing: the best engagement photos aren’t about perfect weather, perfect outfits, or perfect poses. They’re about you two. The way you laugh at each other’s jokes, the way he tucks her hair behind her ear without thinking, the way you can’t stop holding hands. My job is just to catch all of that while you do your thing.If you’re dreaming of your own Cannon Beach engagement photos (or anywhere along the Oregon Coast, up in Washington, or somewhere magical across the PNW), I would absolutely love to hear from you. Head over to my inquiry page and tell me all about your love story. I can’t wait to hear it!