Every time I sit down to edit photos from a shoot/elopement I swear I still cannot believe I get to do this for my JOB, y’all. I mean just look at that photo above of the stunning couple exploring one of the prettiest spots on the coast of Washington. I got to capture that beautiful, special experience for them, and now I get to share it with you! Get ready for Jaime + Bret’s couples session to inspire you to take Ruby Beach engagement photos. It’s seriously one of the best PNW engagement photoshoot locations everrrr.

Jaime + Bret’s Couples Pictures at Ruby Beach

A moody day on the Olympic Peninsula

As much as I love golden hour on the coast, I am just as in love with the PNW moodiness that you’ll get most often! Jaime + Bret’s session was a perfect example of peak gloomy Washington skies, but I always remind my couples to not let clouds ruin their session or elopement. Clouds + fog provide JUST as magical of a backdrop for any shoot, and look seriously beautiful with the rocks, trees, and beach driftwood.

Lantern photos on the beach at dusk

We ended our session in one of my favorite ways: walking along the beach at dusk, holding lanterns. It’s easy to be scared of blue hour (the time of night that comes after the sun sets, when the sky shows off cooler hues of blues/purples). Still, I promise you it’s one of the most dreamy times of day for photos. Experiencing those blue hour tones on the beach with light from lanterns reflecting on the sand + water makes you feel like you’re in the middle of a fairytale and is so romantic, quiet, + peaceful.

Their adorable outfits

Of course, I have to talk about the outfits Jaime + Bret wore, because they totally killed it with their choices. They started off the shoot with super casual looks, rocking blue jeans & dark gray/black tops, with a white long sleeve draped over Jaime’s arms to keep her warm. I love when couples keep it casual for their session, because oftentimes that’s what they wear in their daily lives + feel most comfortable in!

Once the sun went down some more, Bret changed into a light-beige jacket that totally popped against the dark sand + rocks. Jaime brought along the most beautiful maxi dress, lookin’ fire with a leg slit and spaghetti straps. I love how they kinda combined fall + summer vibes with their outfits (because let’s be real, a photo of Ruby Beach in the clouds/fog could be taken during ANY season)!

So thankful I got to go on this adventure on the beautiful coast with Jaime + Bret!!

About Ruby Beach

Ruby Beach is an iconic location inside of Olympic National Park, right on the peninsula (obviously) 27 miles south of Forks. Yes – the Forks where Twilight took place!! Trust me, I think about that every single time I visit the peninsula.

Ruby Beach is famous for its classic PNW moodiness, pretty driftwood along the beach, beautiful sunsets (especially golden hour!), + massive rock formations that make for super cool coastal views. Some of my fav photos from Ruby Beach sessions are ones where the huge rocks make the couple look tiny. It just feels epic & the perspective is so cool to see!

Note that at the time of writing this (July 2022), the main Ruby Beach entrance road, parking area, & beach access trail are closed for construction until September! You can keep an eye on current alerts through the NPS website to monitor closures, statuses + park conditions if you’re planning a shoot or elopement in the near future.

Ruby Beach Anniversary Pictures

I also shot at Ruby Beach a while back with Keziah + Kaleb, who wanted anniversary pictures on the Olympic Peninsula! This shoot was filleddd with all the Twilight vibes, laughs, and even matching vintage wolf tees (you gotta check out the pics to understand!). Take a look at Kez + Kaleb’s beautiful Ruby Beach Anniversary Pictures here!

Rialto Beach Elopement Inspiration

Now if you want to explore multiple beaches for your Olympic Peninsula engagement session or couples photos, Rialto Beach is about an hour north of Ruby Beach and is JUST as gorgeous. I explored Rialto Beach with Karli + Kevin (so many K names in these Olympic NP blog posts!!) back in 2020, and the dark sand was the dreamiest backdrop for their white pampas grass + their adventure elopement outfits. You won’t want to miss their moody AF Rialto Beach Elopement on the blog here!

How to Elope in Olympic National Park: Full Guide

If you’re considering eloping in Olympic National Park as well as having your engagement photos taken there, you’ll want to head over to my Full Guide to How to Elope in Olympic National Park, where I walk you through what permits you need to get, the best elopement locations within the park, weather + seasons, and sooo much more!