I'm so glad I was able to make this shoot happen! I have been dying to hike up this mountain for some time now. Summer is finally here and all the snow has melted off the tops of the mountains. I have seen my sister and my friends hike up this mountain and I guess that gave me the push I needed to come up here and do an adventurous couples shoot! So I did a model call on my Instagram and my cousin reached out. They were perfect for what I had in mind, and I'm so glad we hiked all the way up here! It was a hard hike for sure, uphill and the trip in total I believe was around 3 miles (and this was the shorter hike, there's another hike that goes all the way up to the top that is 10 miles)! But the wind up top felt so nice, and there was a lot of it. But it made for such majestic mountain couples photos - I'm so glad they were willing to hike up this mountain in North Idaho with me!
What should I wear for photos in the mountains?
You'll likely have to bring two separate outfits for this occasion of hiking and getting nice formal photos in the mountains. To hike up, wearing hiking boots, wool hiking socks, and hiking clothes are going to keep you the most comfortable while hiking up. In your backpack with you, you'll want to bring water, snacks, and your change of nice clothes for the photos!
Once you're at the top and when you change into your outfit, you'll want an outfit that you feel confident in, and one that's comfortable! In this case, it was super windy at the top, so a flowy dress looked super pretty in the photos! For girls, you could also bring up a cute pair of casual jeans and a pretty blouse as well. This is also the point where you can change your shoes from hiking boots to something more classy to match your outfit. For you guys a pair of jeans and a button up is something you can't go wrong with!
Unless you want to have an adventurous themed hiking session with your hiking clothes on, I would follow the tips listed above! Always feel free to talk with your photographer about what outfits would be best for your vision!
What time of year should I schedule photos to get wildflowers?
This all depends on the elevation of the location you want photos! In this case, this location was over 5500 feet. We took these photos in the first week of July. Wildflowers typically show up right after the snow melts, so late June for this area would work too!
In places like North Cascades National Park, there is a much higher elevation there so you typically might not get wildflowers until mid July. You just basically need to see when the snow melts off and that will give you a good estimate!
Tips for taking photos in wildflowers:
Don't pick them! Wildflowers are fragile, and it could take a lot longer than you think for them to grow back.
Don't trample them - when working around wildflowers, the best thing you can do is to stay on trail. A tip for photographers is to get low, so it looks like your couple is in lush wildflowers, but the angle just makes it look that way. Check out this method in the photo below.
When is the best time for couples photos in North Idaho?
The real answer to this question is anytime of the year! Idaho offers stunning scenery year round, so pick what you like best! I personally love late spring and fall! The mountains are a little behind on the season, so even though the snow melted off down below awhile ago, it took a few extra weeks for it to melt in the mountains. This is why wildflowers show up later in the summer in the mountains.
North Idaho Mountain Couples Session with Wildflowers
North Idaho offers endless beauty for any photos, whether that be for anniversary photos, engagements, or just for fun! Check out these other couples sessions in North Idaho, and contact me for your adventure in the mountains!
