Oh man, this engagement session with Brad and Gillette was a LONG time coming and was 1,000% worth the wait!

From the very begenning, Gillette really wanted to have an adventurous engagement session at one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Oregon, Abiqua Falls. Gillette had been here once before with a friend and it quite literally took her breath away so her heart was just set on it for her e-session. Unfortunately with 2020 bringing both the pandemic closures and the fire damage, Abiqua Falls remained closed until spring 2021 and had us planning a backup location until the very last minute. Gillette wrote me excitedly in May saying that they opened the trail so we chose an early morning session to avoid the crowds and made a plan which included using my 4x4 jeep to get down the bumpy, washed out access road leading to the trailhead.

When we arrived, the weather was pretty overcast and spitting a bit of rain. Brad and Gillette are proper Oregonians however, so weren’t phased by a little drizzle and came prepared with warm jackets for the hike in.

The hike down to Abiqua Falls is STEEP. Luckily we’d had an extremely hot, dry week prior so the trail wasn’t muddy, but still we took ample advantage of the ropes tied off next to the “path” down to the river to prevent our boots from slipping on the loose soil.

Brad and Gillette were completely at home scrambling over the many downed logs that lay across the path to the falls and we chatted about their relationship and how much they were looking forward to their wedding.

Brad and Gillette met in high school, but got into different colleges which was initially quite a nerve-wracking concept to manage a long-distance relationship while also balancing an intense academic work load.

Brad attended an accounting program at George Fox University while Gillette enrolled in a highly-scientific research-based program at OSU that she jokingly refers to as a “Moss Major.” Spending 4 years in research labs was enough exposure to that type of career that once she graduated she ultimately decided to switch gears and now works in the medical field as a CNA.

Brad was in charge of commuting between the two schools every chance he got and was a stable influence as Gillette navigated the pressures of also being a student athlete and competing in Pole Vaulting in the still-developing track program at OSU.

After years of dating and seeing that they could get through anything life threw at them, Brad began planning his proposal with the help of one of his long-time friends. Both Brad and Gillette laughed about how it ended up being a “Hot Mess Proposal” as despite all of Brad’s carefully laid plans which included a hike to a little picnic spot set out with a romantic meal and a surprise appearance of several of their friends and family, things didn’t quite go to plan. Brad and Gillette’s family hid while he and Gillette arrived to the picnic area, throwing Brad off a bit, and leading him to walking around and searching for them, staring to kneel for the proposal, then repositioning himself and Gillette and then finally going for it. To me, this is just the sweetest version of a proposal story, and Gillette confirmed that she wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.

As we neared the bowl which surrounds the falls, Gillette allowed me to step to the front so I could get the full effect of the entirety of Abiqua coming into view all at once and it truly was stunning. I’ve been to almost every waterfall in the Gorge, and truthfully, I think Abiqua has them all beat!

The falls cascade down from a wall of moss and vegetation covered stone and falls into the most picturesque pool whose shade of water varies from a deep azure to a bright turquoise. There is even a little stone island which provided the perfect location to place Gillette and Brad and teach them a bit about posing to kick off the session.

Gillette brought along a gorgeous flowing salmon pink dress and Brad looked dashing in a light-blue button up and neutral slacks.

The rain drizzled down as we climbed from rock to rock to get different views of the falls and Gillette was an absolute trooper as it got quite cold for her in such a light summery dress in the chill of a rainy Oregon spring.

Brad brought along a special pair of Champaign flutes and popped a bottle of bubbly for them to enjoy which provided just the right amount of warmth with which to finish off the session curled up in a blanket they brought along.

As we packed up and Gillette and Brad changed into warmer clothes for the hike back to my Jeep, I snapped a few photos of Gillette’s gorgeous custom engagement ring set amid some wild rose petals.

The hike out was steep and quick and on the way out I was so happy we’d decided on a sunrise session as there were several groups of people who we met on the way out who were headed to the falls.

Having such a gorgeous place like Abiqua all to ourselves to take some epic portraits celebrating Gillette and Brad’s love was the perfect way to start the day!

Check out some of my favorites from our engagement session below and be sure to drop them some love in the comments!