A Lake Side Engagement | Spectacle Lake | Cowichan Valley, BC | May 20th 2025
Becca & Brandon
Some engagement sessions are about creating moments. Others are about noticing the ones already there.
This was the second kind.
We met along a forested trail that gently opened up to a peaceful lake—tall evergreens, gravel underfoot, soft overcast light filtering through the trees. No rush, no pressure. Just the two of them (and their very good dog 🐾) wandering, holding hands, and letting the afternoon unfold exactly as it wanted to.
A Slow Walk, A Familiar Place
One of my favourite ways to begin an engagement session is by simply walking. It gives everyone a chance to settle in, forget about the camera, and connect with each other instead. The trail wrapped around the lake, quiet and green, with that unmistakable Vancouver Island stillness—where the air feels damp in the best way and everything moves just a little slower.
They walked hand in hand, stopping occasionally to laugh, to look at the water, to check on their pup trotting proudly ahead on the leash. These in-between moments are always where the magic lives. The glances. The way their hands fit together. The ease that comes from being truly comfortable with one another.
Bare Feet & Soft Moments by the Water
As we reached the lake’s edge, shoes were kicked off and toes met cool rock and moss. The lake was calm, reflecting the trees like a mirror, and the whole scene felt intimate and grounding. They danced a little, laughed a lot, and leaned into each other without thinking twice.
Nothing was posed or forced—just gentle direction and lots of space to be themselves. Sitting together on the rocks, sharing quiet kisses, wrapping arms around one another while watching the water ripple—these are the moments that tell the real story of a relationship.
Documentary, Film-Inspired Storytelling
This session was photographed with a documentary approach—letting moments happen naturally while I quietly captured them as they unfolded. I love blending digital and film-inspired tones to keep colours soft, true-to-life, and timeless. Greens stay earthy, skin tones stay warm, and the emotion always comes first.
Some images were captured in black and white to strip things back even further—focusing on connection, movement, and feeling rather than distraction. Those frames always feel especially honest to me.
Engagement Sessions That Feel Like You
Engagement photos don’t need to feel stiff or overly styled. They don’t need grand gestures or elaborate setups. Sometimes, the most meaningful sessions happen in places that already matter to you—walking a trail you’ve walked before, sitting by a lake you love, bringing your dog along because they’re part of your story too.
This lakeside engagement session was exactly that: relaxed, intimate, and deeply personal. A quiet celebration of love, partnership, and the season of life they’re stepping into together.
If you’re dreaming of an engagement session on Vancouver Island—by the water, in the forest, or somewhere that feels like home—I’d love to help you tell your story in a way that feels real, grounded, and completely you.
Now booking engagement sessions across Vancouver Island, including Cowichan Valley, Victoria, and beyond.
