Personal - Hiking in the Pacific Northwest

This hike, with my friend Jason, was quite the adventure. I should have known this the second I saw some snow on our approach to this peak (which is just over 7000 feet above sea level). We set out in good spirits, dodging the beautiful streams from the melting snow, and started climbing. It wasn’t long, however, that in order to keep going we had to cross on top of snow - lots of snow. By the top we were going across spots of 10 feet or more, but we made it to the top and it was beautiful. I love being able to get out, explore, and spend time in nature. Now if only I could get a couple up here in these mountains for some engagement or elopement photos! Huge shout out to Outdoor Vitals who helped make this hike happen.

Priest Lake Wedding: Paul and Lela

As the wedding season gets closer and closer to fall, the risk of rain or bad weather increases dramatically. Often times, when we get rained on at a wedding, it’s only briefly, or it’s a really light rain. Things we can easily work around. Only a couple times have I ever been so limited by the rain that I couldn’t go outside at all. Only a couple times has it been so bad that going outside to take some wedding portraits would mean the couple also getting soaked. This was one of those days. The rain wasn’t so bad in the morning, and it looked like we may get lucky during the first look (it was very light) but mid portraits the rain moved from “light” to “very heavy” and my gear really started to get tested (including the couple umbrella’s I brought).

Priest Lake Wedding: David & Aly's Hills Resort Winter Wedding

Aly and David asked me to come out to the Hills Resort on Priest Lake for their simple winter wedding late last month. It was beautiful. The day before we got a fresh six inches of snow that covered all the trees and ground, giving us a beautiful blanket of white snow. The couple themselves were so kind, and I loved meeting their families. I love these small, simple weddings that have become more and more common over the last year, and I hope I get the chance to do more of them. Less people, but more time to spend with those people. It was an amazing wedding with great people at a beautiful location.

North Idaho Wedding at Elkins Resort

In mid April I had the privilege of heading up to Elkins Resort on Priest Lake and take pictures of an incredible and beautiful wedding. It was beautiful. In the midst of the rain and clouds was an area that was gorgeous with green and blue, something that was so obvious to me I added a couple photos of the surrounding area. The couple was so much fun, and while rain often causes distress on wedding days, it didn’t phase either of them. I love photographing weddings, from Spokane to Coeur d’Alene, but Priest Lake and Elkins Resort is always something special.

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Brent Looyenga is a Spokane wedding photographer based IN SPOKANE WASHINGTON and Coeur d’Alene Idaho area. He loves people and specializes in wedding, engagement, family and senior photography. You can like Looyenga Photography on Facebook or follow them on Instagram.