There’s a reason I keep returning to Neck Point Park for engagement sessions. And a Neck Point Park engagement session on film? YES PLEASE. Between the rocky coastline, grassy cliffs, ocean views, and little pathways overlooking the water, it’s one of the most beautiful coastal locations in Nanaimo for couples wanting a session that feels natural and connected to the landscape around them.

This engagement session with one of my 2027 wedding couples, Rachel & Hunter, unfolded on a warm and slightly windy evening along the coast and was shot entirely on film.

Why I Love Photographing Neck Point Park Engagement Sessions

Neck Point Park has become one of my favourite locations for engagement sessions on Vancouver Island because it offers such a beautiful mix of coastline, open sky, rocky cliffs, grassy viewpoints, and natural textures all within a relatively small area. Oh and the birds!! Can’t forget about them, they really put in their time as paid actors.

Another one of the reasons I love most about photographing couples here is how peaceful it feels. Even on warmer evenings, there’s usually enough space to wander around without constantly feeling surrounded by people.

Every part of the park photographs beautifully in a slightly different way, which makes it perfect for couples wanting both candid moments and more artful editorial style imagery throughout their session (which is what I love to lean into, if you couldn’t already tell).

A Relaxed and Candid Engagement Session Along the Coast

Like basically all of my couples, Rachel & Hunter arrived at the session feeling a nervous and unsure of what it would feel like being in front of the camera.

But almost immediately after we started walking around together, the nerves started disappearing, as I promise it always does!

The two of them had such a natural connection with each other that everything quickly began unfolding very organically. Hunter constantly made Rachel laugh in little ways throughout the evening, whether it was joking around or teasing her between shots. There was something really sweet and effortless about the way they interacted together that made the entire session feel incredibly easy to document. I had to actually clarify with them that they weren’t models and just pulling a fast one on me 😉

We spent most of the evening simply moving through the landscape together, talking about wedding plans, travel, work, and life while documenting moments as they happened.

By the end of the session, it honestly felt less like photographing clients and more like spending the evening with friends (which is the entire point).

Why Engagement Sessions Matter Before the Wedding Day

One of the things I value most about engagement sessions is the opportunity they create for connection before a wedding day arrives. Sessions like these allow couples to settle into the experience naturally and without the pressure of timelines, guests, or expectations surrounding them.

It gives us space to build trust, learn how each other works, and create an environment where couples can simply relax into being themselves together. By the time a wedding day arrives, it no longer feels like standing in front of a stranger’s camera. Instead, it feels familiar, comfortable, and collaborative in a way that allows moments to unfold much more honestly.

Getting to spend the evening with these two made me even more excited to document their wedding day for next year!

Planning Your Nanaimo Engagement Session

If you’re dreaming of a Nanaimo engagement session that feels relaxed, artful, and genuinely reflective of your relationship, I’d love to document it for you. Whether your ideal session looks like wandering the coastline at Neck Point Park, a slow evening at home, or incorporating meaningful pieces of your life together into the experience, my approach is rooted in storytelling that feels natural, artful, and emotionally connected.

Based in Parksville and photographing couples throughout Nanaimo and all over Vancouver Island, you’ll usually find me chasing sunsets, carrying a multitude of cameras full of film, and encouraging couples to run around with airplane arms. You can explore more of my couples and portrait work here, and if it feels like we’d be a good fit, I’d absolutely love to hear from you!