I met Jess at the Walla Walla Wedding Show earlier this year. We were inside the grand ballroom at the Marcus Whitman Hotel, my booth was set up, and Jess walked by, paused, and we were deep in conversation within minutes. It wasn’t just her excitement—it was that feeling of “Oh yes, we’re about to create something so good together.” She connected instantly with my photography style. By the end of our chat, she knew she would book me for her and Edgar’s wedding. That kind of instant trust means the world.
Fast-forward a few months, and Jess had a vision. Their wedding would be a black-tie experience, and she wanted their engagement session to reflect that same elevated vibe. Her original idea was something outdoors, complete with an antique car, but with the wedding day fast approaching and our calendars filling up, we needed to pivot. That’s when the idea hit me: hotel engagement photos. I suggested a moody, romantic hotel bar vibe, and Jess was immediately obsessed. Marcus Whitman felt like the perfect fit. Little did we know just how perfect it would turn out to be.
The Hotel Bar Pivot
Time was slipping away before the wedding; I knew we had to get a little creative. Even though we’d both spent time at the Marcus Whitman for the wedding show, neither Jess nor Edgar had actually seen the rest of the hotel. The ballroom was all they knew—and they were in for a treat.
As luck would have it (and isn’t that just how these things go?), we showed up for the session only to find the hotel buzzing with a massive banquet. We’re talking full-blown event mode. And our beloved bar was totally off-limits. Cue the tiny heartbreak. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned from shooting love stories in real life, it’s this: beauty happens when you let go and lean in. We may not have had access to the bar, but we had some beautiful corners of the hotel.
We adapted to what was available and made it our own. It turned into something even more intimate, unique, and—dare I say—even more magical than we imagined.
Read all the engagement photoshoot tips for the perfect session!
Downtown Walla Walla Hotel Engagement Photos
After wrapping up inside the Marcus Whitman, we took to the streets—Main Street, to be exact. Downtown Walla Walla never disappoints. But Jess was a little unsure about the switch to an outdoor setting. Understandably so. After all, we had envisioned something sleek and swanky indoors. But by the time we wrapped, she turned to me with the biggest smile and said she was already obsessed—she hadn’t even seen the photos yet. Winning!
To fully match the black-tie elegance of their wedding, Jess requested the entire gallery in black and white. Something about stripping away the color lets the emotion speak louder.
This session was never about getting the “right” locations or perfectly posed shots. It was about telling their story, feeling the connection, and creating something that looked and felt authentic. Downtown Walla Walla gave us the perfect atmosphere to bring it all together, and it was everything I had hoped for in a shoot.
