Aaron Courter

November 15, 2021

columbia gorge high school senior portraits

Aaron Courter

November 15, 2021

Many high school teams have been killed by her volleyball. But in the meantime, we took a break from her volleyball rampages to adventure around the Columbia Gorge.

Blonde senior high school student walks toward basalt surrounded waterfall

Smiling blonde senior girl in black tank top and dress with slit laughing in oak tree grove

Tall blonde high school senior runs across old highway in Columbia Gorge

Classic blonde high school senior pictures in portland Columbia Gorge

Blonde in orange jumper laughs while leaning on mossy bridge

Blonde in white short dress stands in front of latourell falls while twirling hair

Senior portrait of girl by old highway in orange sundress

Tall high school senior leans against moss bridge in green foliage

Tall blonde high school student in white dress walks on wet stones away from large waterfall

Smiling blonde high school senior portrait in front of latourell falls

High school senior portrait of tall blonde girl leaning on hip in ferns in front of latourell falls

High school senior girl looks away down highway on tree lined bridge

Laughing blonde high school senior portrait sitting on rock in creek

Wind blows hair of blonde senior high school student with basalt rock and green foliage in background

Girl leaning on hip looks away from waterfall in Columbia Gorge

Outtake of senior girl holding her face in hands in embarrassment

Tall girl standing in front of latourell falls

Smiling happy blonde high school senior brushes hair away while standing in creek

Girl smiling with basalt waterfall cavern behind her

Windy waterfall blows blonde hair in front of girls face

Hazy sunny waterfall portrait of blond girl in white dress

Girl in black shirt and skirt smiling in sunshine and oak trees

Senior high school portrait of girl in black t shirt in front of Columbia river

Senior portrait of tall blonde student along Columbia Gorge fence line

Tall girl volleyball player walking down path smiling

Senior portrait of smiling blonde girl in oak trees

Black and white candid photo of blonde senior girl in Columbia Gorge

Smiling portraits of black and white senior girl

Laughing portrait of high school student with Columbia river in background

Sweet portrait of high school senior girl in black shirt and moon necklace

Smiling high school student by fence line and black and white skirt

Girl closing eyes in sunshine in front of Columbia river gorge

Aaron Courter

May 15, 2021

Elopements, Weddings

crystal springs rhododendron garden elopement

Aaron Courter

May 15, 2021

Elopements, Weddings

Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Crystal Springs is always a lovely place to visit, but I was so thrilled and honored to photograph an elopement in the middle of all the blooming rhododendrons and flowers. These two lovely people shared beautiful vows on the new Jane Martin site and then we wandered around the property taking it all in.

If you're interested in more intimate weddings, check out this small hillside Philomath wedding, another at Crystal Springs, or this proposal at Latourell Falls.

Masked wedding couple walks down path to Jane Martin ceremony site

Masked bride pins boutonniere to groom's jacket

Bride with short hair and hairpiece holds bouquet at crystal springs elopement

Wedding elopement at Jane Martin site at Crystal Springs Rhododendron garden

Groom looks at bride during masked elopement

Bride smiles at groom while she holds large white bouquet next to officiant with light blue floral mask

Bride in custom dress stands in front of waterfall at crystal springs elopement

Bride slides ring on grooms finger in front of red Rhododendrons and waterfall

Small elopement in front of blooming flowers and walking paths at crystal springs in portland

Bride with beaded crown smiles at groom during elopement

Bride and groom kiss during elopement at crystal springs in front of waterfall and red Rhododendrons

Bride and groom happy after just married in front of waterfall and ponds at rhododendron garden

Groom shows wedding guest his ring after ceremony

Bride and groom gaze at each other in front of waterfall and pond and rhododendrons

Couple walking together with large white bouquet down crystal springs path by pond and pink azaleas, photographed with fujifilm gfx 50r

crystal-springs-rhododendron-elopement-portland-018.JPG

Laughing couple stand in front of Jane Martin ceremony site at crystal springs with green and waterfall backdrop

Wedding couple portrait at crystal springs rhododendron garden on bridge, photographed with fujifilm gfx 50r

Wedding couple walks down path surrounded by lush gardens of pink azaleas, willow trees and purple flowers

Short haired bride and groom with grey hair embrace around flowers

Bride and groom embrace in front of lush stream and pink and purple flowers

Eloped bride and groom kiss surrounded by lush crystal springs gardens with lily bouquet

Groom in grey suit and brown shoes hold hands with bride with short white dress walking in gardens

Bride and groom walk together with authentic candid joyful smiles in gardens

Orange and yellow rhododendron flowers surround bride in white styled dress and groom

Bride and groom romantic gaze in front of swirly orange and yellow flowers

Classic wedding portrait in front of rhododendron flowers in black and white

Panorama wedding portrait in red and yellow Rhododendron flowers

Elopement among blooming rhododendron trees

Couple walks crystal springs rhododendron paths during elopement

Bride and groom laughing in front of pink azalea bushes

Romantic pose in front of pink azaleas at crystal springs

Bride and groom holding hands across crystal springs bridge laughing

Holding hands across crystal springs bridge, bride laughs while holding large white bouquet

Kiss during elopement on crystal springs bridge with red rhododendrons and lake behind them

Authentic portrait of groom next to pink azalea bush wearing grey suit with white flower boutonnière

Groom holds bride's arm as they share conversation while walking crystal springs pathways

Bride laughs while snuggled with groom in yellow and red rhododendrons

Groom kisses check of bride while she wears hair beads

Bride and groom surrounded by yellow, red and pink rhododendron bushes

Bride with hair beads kisses groom in old rhododendrons

Serene portrait of bride and groom standing in grove of rhododendrons in black and white

In grove of rhododendrons, groom and bride talk by logs and old bushes

Bride and groom share a kiss walking in rhododendron path

Candid moment of bride and groom walking through Rhododendron bushes in short white dress

Bride in modern white dress sits on bench with groom together

Solo portrait of bride in short white modern dress on pathway in rhododendron garden

Elopement in rhododendron grove on bench while bride and groom laugh

Blurry authentic black and white photo of wedding couple running

Bride and groom kiss under bridge reflection of pond at crystal springs garden

Bride and groom admire each other in front of pond and tall fir trees at crystal springs

Kiss under crystal springs bridge with wedding couple holding bouquet

Visit my clients proofing site to view slideshows & purchase prints!

Aaron Courter

May 6, 2021

Engagements, Oregon Coast

hug point oregon coast engagement

Aaron Courter

May 6, 2021

Engagements, Oregon Coast

One of my favorite spots on the Oregon Coast is Hug Point. It gets some attention for good reason: it's magical. Time the tide tables, run around the bend holding hands, accidentally stomping into a deeper-than-expected puddle and there you are in front of a waterfall, the Pacific Ocean, sea-stained rocks, and in some cases, rays of sunlight. These two brought their adventure spirit and put up with my goofiness as we explored. Thankfully we avoided sneaker waves (barely), Bigfoot (that we know of), and kept our socks mostly dry.

For more Oregon Coast adventures, check out an engagement session at Oswald West, a wedding at Surfsand Resort in Cannon Beach, a clifftop engagement in Manzanita, and a backyard Yachats wedding further south.

Man and woman silhouette in front of hug point recreation area with blue sky and ocean

Girl smiles while boy in jean jacket embraces her from behind

Boy with glasses and long hair smiles while wrapping arms around his fiancé

Engaged couple walks down to Oregon beach on pebbles

Morning sun shines through Oregon coastal forest while couple walks along beach in green jacket and jean jacket

Engaged couple stands on sand and rocks on Oregon coast while boy smiles

Engagement photo at Hug point in morning sunlight while woman smiles while snuggling with fiancé

Brown haired woman hugs fiancé arm under rock cave on Oregon coast

Smiling couple stands on Oregon coast rocks at hug point

Engaged couple runs around hug point in front of blue ocean

Couple stands on wet sand with sunlight behind them photographed with the fujifilm gfx 50r medium format camera

Engaged couple walks toward hug point waterfall in morning sunlight

Couple holding hands and running in sand along rocky Oregon coastline

Boy in jean jacket embraces girl in green jacket with morning sunlight peaking over the Oregon coastal forest

Morning sun rays stream through Oregon coastal forest onto waterfall while engaged couple stands together on fresh wet sand at Hug point

Couple talks together in front of Oregon Hug Point waterfall during engagement session

Close up portrait of engaged couple in front of Oregon coast greens and browns

Girl laughs holding hand of fiancé in front of hug point waterfall

Blue and diamond engagement ring on finger of engaged couple

Oregon coast cave by waterfall at hug point

Engaged couple shares tender moment under hug point waterfall

Couple holding hands walks across wet stones in front of waterfall and streaming sunlight

Couple stands together in slanted Oregon rock cave

Couple portrait in rock cave surrounded by greens and browns

Couple shares kiss in Oregon cave along the coast

Engagement session in front of hug point waterfall with streaming sun rays behind brown Oregon cliffside

Couple in brown boots and jean jacket sitting on rock in front of Oregon coast waterfall in morning sunlight

Boy holding girl in front of hug point waterfall and wet stones

Engaged couple laughing together on Oregon coastal logs

Funny moment while couple sits in front of brown Oregon coast cliffside while sitting on driftwood log

Square black and white photograph of couple in front of Oregon cliffside

Engagement photo at hug point beach in Oregon

Girl embraces fiancé from behind on beach

Engagement photograph silhouette running along Oregon coastline

Couple snuggles in front of jagged Oregon coast rock at hug point

Couple embrace in cold wind in front of coastal rocks

Sitting on large coastal beach rocks, couple snuggles looking out towards ocean

Girl laughs while sharing sitting on a rock on the coast

Couple sits together on large rock with wet green ocean algae in the foreground

Engagement photo in front of blue ocean and sky with jagged sunlit Oregon coast rock

Girl in purple black striped dress stands in Oregon coastal forest

Girl smiles in purple and black dress walking along trail in Oregon coastal forest

Engaged couple holding hands walking along cliffside at Hug Point forest

Engaged couple stands on cliffside overlooking sunny Oregon coastline

Tiny engaged couple stands far away in Oregon coastal trees with ocean and jagged rocks in the sunlight

Aaron Courter

May 1, 2021

Weddings, Elopements, Home, Backyard

portland front yard elopement

Aaron Courter

May 1, 2021

Weddings, Elopements, Home, Backyard

What could be better than a backyard wedding? How about a FRONT yard wedding? These two kept it simple and sweet, getting married with their friends, neighbors, and cat, while their families looked on via Zoom. Yummy cake, sidewalk portraits, and good drinks.

For a smaller wedding ceremony or elopement, check out some of my unsolicited advice.

And for more happy feelings of backyard weddings and elopements, you can see some more elopements here in a backyard, here at the parent’s house, another at the parent’s house, and a MUCH bigger backyard here!