- 3 min read

Forest Engagement Photography Session at Hoyt Arboretum | Portland, Oregon

Caitlyn & DJ

Love is an Adventure and Sometimes so is Taking Engagement Photos

I was so excited to be the Portland engagement photographer that Caitlyn and DJ choose for their forest engagement photography session at Hoyt Arboretum.

I believe Caitlyn and I first met when she attended a local wedding show. Wedding shows and open houses are a great way to meet local wedding vendors in person. It's an easy way to get a feeling for who they are and what their company is about, before booking them for your wedding day. I am so glad we met! Thanks to the wedding show they booked me to be their Ridgefield wedding photographer as well!

Caitlyn and DJ are both kind and thoughtful people, it's no wonder they are both teachers. In fact, that is how they met.....kind of....both of their teaching jobs happened to share a parking lot. Caitlyn noticed DJ right away! She began keeping an eye out for "Malibu Boy", as he became named, because he drove a Malibu. Then by luck, DJ's sister (and the future maid of honor) started working as a teacher at Caitlyn's school. It was her perfect opportunity to start learning more about him, and that she did.

Long after DJ's school took him to a new location, their relationship continued. One night, while Caitlyn was making spaghetti dinner for the two of them, DJ asked something like, "So, I think we are going to get married, right?". Caitlyn said something like "well, yeah". DJ replied "Great! You wanna marry me?", as he did, he magically, or from a silverware drawer, produced a ring and got down on one knee. Of course, she said yes!

Choosing Hoyt Arboretum for their engagement photos was a perfect match to their wedding venue, Summit Grove Lodge. Both are surrounded by nature and big lush trees. The Hoyt Arboretum's website boasts they are the home to 2,300 species of trees and shrubs from six continents.

Speaking of trees, as we were walking around I had an idea and asked if Caitlyn and DJ would be willing to climb up in a tree. They were both game and we started making a plan to get them both up. I kneed down to allow Caitlyn my leg as a step to start her climb. Having done this before I thought nothing of the small hill just behind me, well that was a mistake. As Caitlyn stepped up, I went stumbling down the hill. After we all had a good laugh and dusted ourselves off, we made a second attempt that worked perfectly. And the images were well worth it, if I do say so myself.

I had so much fun working with these two and it's always amazing when the feeling is mutual! Caitlyn was sweet enough to leave this 5 star review on Google about her experience with me as her Portland engagement photographer, this is what she said:

"Cambrae is absolutely amazing! Not only is she incredibly professional, but she has a very streamlined process. She is willing to take risks and try new things and is all about making you happy as the client. She has a wealth of knowledge and delivers an incredible product. We will be using Cambrae for all of our future photography needs!"