Earlier this year I had a wedding on the western side of the state of Washington, and I took that opportunity to head out that way a little early to hike with my friend and fellow photographer Zach Nichols. He’s not only a talented wedding photographer but also a great landscape one (really you should check out his instagram page - especially if you like mood Pacific Northwest photos) Anyway, while there I had the chance to do some hikes alone, but also with him. I’m super pumped to be able to share some of my favorite photos from that trip.

Personal: Looyenga Family Goes to Kauai Hawaii

Early in 2021 my family, along with some of my brothers and parents went on a trip to Kauai, Hawaii. While there we relaxed, hiked, swam in the ocean, explored and went to Costco - all the normal things. Over the course of that week I took photos - a lot of photos. I know, you’re shocked. Believe it or not, I absolutely love taking pictures, not just for work, but for life. As I say elsewhere, photos have this unique ability to capture a moment, a memory, and I love doing that. I love putting those adventures up in my home, and sharing them with others. So you won’t find any wedding photos here (although there are some couple photos I got of some random (extremely awesome) people I met on a hike - and yes, I did send them the photos). I’ll split some of the photos up in days, and let you know a little what we did that day to give some context. But I hope you see a little bit more of my family here, and sorry I included so many landscape photos - or should I say i’m sorry i’m not sorry? That would probably be more accurate.

PersonalBrent LooyengaMay 19, 2022Personal Photos, Looyenga Family, Brent Looyenga, Hawaii, Kauai

Personal: Trip to Glacier

In the fall of 2021 I had the chance to photograph a wedding out near Glacier National Park (shout out to Zach and Abbie!). You may not know this about me, but while I absolutely love photographing weddings, and families, engagements, seniors and all that good stuff, I also love hiking, being outside, exercise, and being in God’s incredible creation. So a couple days before the wedding came about I left early to do some hiking with my parents and younger sister. Once school got out my incredible wife and two boys also joined me out there, and we had one day to explore the park before the wedding on Saturday. Here are some of my favorites from that (smokey) trip. Zach and Abbie’s wedding was smokeless though, thanks in part to the large amount of rain we got the day before (the day we were hiking).

North Idaho Adventure: Hiking in the Mountains

Every summer I get the chance to get outside - most of the time it’s because i’m at your wedding, or visiting with someone’s family, or whatever. But even more rarely I get to do some hiking because I WANT to, because I love to be outside, because I love my job so much that I want to do it when i’m not actually doing it. These photos are the result of me and some friends getting up and leaving at 2am to go on a hike so we could reach the top of this mountain in North Idaho before the sun rose over the horizon. We timed it perfectly and arrived during blue hour. There are perhaps more photos here than need to be, but I couldn’t help myself. Every moment was beautiful, and trying to capture what it’s like, sitting on the side of a hill as the very first rays of sun peek out over the mountains is something that’s hard to describe.

Personal Photos: Adventure to the Top of a Mountain

This mountain peak is a place i’ve had the chance to visit several times this year. It’s not an easy hike, it’s not even really a hard hike, most people may categorize it as an extremely hard hike. With over 3600 feet in elevation climb, it’s one of the biggest ones i’ve seen, and depending on who you are it could take as little as three hours to climb to the top, or as many as five.

PersonalBrent LooyengaOctober 14, 2020Personal Photos, Looyenga Photography, Adventure, Hiking, Brent Looyenga

Family Photography: Looyenga Family Photos

Today I have the opportunity to introduce you (if you haven’t been already) to the best family i’ve ever met. Seriously, the best. There is no family I love more, there are no kids I love less, there isn’t a wife more beautiful - than appear in this family. This family features the best grandparents, the best uncles, and the best cousins someone could ever hope for. This Is my family. My brothers and sisters, my parents, my nieces and nephews, and of course my incredibly beautiful wife and two boys (and our new dog!). Ever year we go and I attempt the hardest family photo session ever - my own family. So I hope you love them as much as I do, because they are truly beautiful.

The Blog

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.