portland engagement photographer | Jessica Hill Photography

Engagement

Lei & Alfonso
A Forest Park Engagement

While attending UofP Lei passed out a study-group sign-up sheet for a particularly difficult poly-sci class and Alfonso wrote his name down. Little she know that he would become her future husband! He kept messaging her after the class was over and she was wondering why? Well, Alfonso knew she was something extraordinary and as soon as Lei got the hint she saw how special Alfonso was as well. This kind and intelligent couple and I first met at Jenna & Greg’s elegant and fun wedding last year and had a blast. Lei and Alfonso love nature walks and the PNW and thought Forest Park would be the perfect place to photograph their engagement. We found a grove of palms, caught the perfect light (magic hour yesss!!) hiked on the trails and watched the clouds while laying in the grass. I loved this session and this couple and I’m so looking forward to their winter wedding next weekend at the Portland Golf Club!

Engagement

Julie & Joe
A Downtown Portland Engagement

Destination Portland! Julie and Joe decided on Portland for their winter wedding planned for this month at the iconic Benson Hotel. After meeting at their church they knew they had finally found “the one” and decided to create a fun adventure for their friends and family in Portland! They are so sweet and kind and oh so in love! We really wanted to celebrate the city of roses in all of its glory for their engagement session so we decided on Coava coffee in downtown, the Park Blocks Rose Garden and of course, the Arlene Schnitzer Portland Sign on Broadway! We had a blast walking around the city and finding the golden nooks and crannies that this fair city has to offer! Julie and Joe laughed the entire time and I can’t wait to celebrate these two and their amazing love later this month!

Engagement

McKenzie & Paul
A Wilsonville, Oregon engagement

When McKenzie and Paul first met, they shook hands and felt it… You know that thing you feel when you instantly connect with someone? Well as soon as they told me their story I knew I wanted to focus on their hands and the connections they make. I had the absolute pleasure of meeting McKenzie and Paul and they feel like old friends, the ones you can go ages without seeing, but then as soon as you see each other you’re right back to where you were all those years ago and it feels like not a day has passed. They are wise, kind, talented, generous and not to mention total babes! They invited me to document their home for a day in their life while they cooked breakfast together in their beautiful Wilsonville home and drank coffee. I love how intimate and cozy at-home photos are, as the couple could just be themselves. Paul then played piano (*and oh my goodness he is talented as he was a professional piano player for years!) on his antique grand piano that was recently restored after a fire. We then took their Harley to the local park for some photos at dusk and wondered to an ancient oak tree. Paul picked flowers for McKenzie (unprompted!) and we had a blast running around in the fields making art and finding light. The dusk light was this gorgeous shade of pink and I love this engagement session and this couple. Needless to say I am oh-so excited and inspired for their elegant wedding this weekend at the historic Sentinel hotel!

Engagement

Hannah & Jason
A NW Portland Engagement

Tater tots, billiards and beer? Yes please! Hannah and Jason are a fun-loving, creative and musical couple who met in NW Portland at Blue Moon over their love of tots, pool and craft beer. This incredible couple both share the love of music in their professions, Hannah a professional violinist and Jason, a long-time music blogger at chorus.fm. I love infusing a couple’s love story into their engagement photos; so we met at their original meeting location and shared tots and then explored the SE Portland waterfront for some moody sunset photos with the Portland skyline backdrop. I loved Hannah’s flowy gown, of which she has many considering her profession, which I think is a definite perk to her job! We had a total blast and I’m so looking forward to their wedding this month at the historic Sentinel hotel.

Engagement

Jennylyn & Daniel
A Chinese Garden and Waterfront Engagement

I met sweet and playful couple, Jennylyn and Daniel, at the magical Lan Su Chinese Gardens in Portland’s Chinatown. The gardens don’t allow professional photography within its walls but the outside made for quite the impressive scene! The simplicity of the wall’s architecture detailed with lively green plants really let the couple’s fun personalities shine.

Jennylyn and Daniel brought some hip jackets to switch up their looks and I’m confident we snapped some cool shots for their mixtape that may or may not drop! As the sun set lower into the sky we captured lots of laughs and playful poses at the SE waterfront. This stylish couple from California is planning an intimate destination Portland wedding this month! Thank you for choosing me to convey the special love you share together.

Engagement

Evan & Aaron
A Tilikum Crossing Engagement

Evan and Aaron are the type of couple that make you smile as soon as you meet them. They perfectly complement each other and I was honored to photograph their engagement session at the gorgeous Tilikum Crossing bridge which is the newest bridge on the Portland skyline. This cable-stayed bridge across the Willamette River is quite striking in its architecture and it was fun to photograph this environmentally conscience couple along the cables and sky of this public-transit only bridge. We finished the session with lovely tea from the Tao of Tea on Belmont, which is one of the couples favorite date spots. I am so looking forward to documenting their wedding this weekend!

Engagement

Caroline & Scott
A SE Portland Engagement

I met Caroline and Scott, a kind & quiet couple on a gorgeous afternoon in Portland for their engagement at the Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden. Located in SE Portland, the Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden is a local gem for photographers with its variety of natural topography. It could not have been a more beautiful day with waterfalls and bursts of blooms in every color! I loved Caroline’s blue vintage-inspired dress that popped against the floral backdrop. I am so excited for their wedding this weekend at Cooper’s Hall! Thank you Caroline and Scott for entrusting me the honor to photograph you guys!

Engagement

Patience & Egan
A Mt. Tabor Park and Waterfront Engagement

As soon as I met Patience and Egan we immediately clicked and ended up talking for hours about their world travels (Japan & Greece!) and where to find the best sushi in Portland! (Ichidai and Bamboo!) Egan fell for Patience when they met one another while at summer camp! These two are such a kind, beautiful, and empathetic couple who I had the pleasure of photographing their engagements at Mt. Tabor, a popular urban park in SE Portland known for its views and water reservoirs. With the Portland city skyline as our backdrop, we made our way to a few beautiful locations around this gorgeous urban park along with their cutie pie pup Corgie, Kevin. We headed to the waterfront for some iconic sunset photos with Portland in the distance. I’m honored to have captured the love between Patience and Egan as the sun peaked through the trees amidst mesmerizing sunset reflections on the river. I loved connecting with these two and Patience’s makeup and hair by Olivia Hawthorne. They are getting married this June at the Sentinel in downtown Portland and I just know that their day will be filled with so much love. Thank you Patience and Egan for allowing me to be a part of your story.

Details

Jackie and Jordan
A Portland Rooftop Engagement

I had the best time photographing gorgeous couple Jackie and Jordan alongside their cute pup, Buddy! We captured stunning photos amidst the classic Portland sign and downtown along the Park Blocks. I love when the Portland Art Museum has epic displays that make for interesting and artistic backdrops. We then enjoyed some VIP access to gorgeous sun kissed rooms and an incredible rooftops inside a Portland high-rise. This was quite epic as I totally love photographing on rooftops and this rooftop was non-accessible to the public, so it made the experience quite incredible. Enjoying each other’s company high above the city as the sun set below Portland, Jackie and Jordan danced and laughed together as they toasted to a bright future. Wishing these two all the love and happiness and I’m so excited to be documenting their destination wedding in Napa coming this May. Jackie and Jordan- Thank you for choosing me to capture the undeniable love you two share!