Cultus Lake Engagement Session | Jessie & Sam’s October Adventure

There are some couples who show up to their engagement session with a Pinterest board full of carefully planned poses, and then there are couples like Jessie and Sam, who included jumping into Cultus Lake in October on their inspiration list.

And honestly? I knew we were going to have fun.

Their Cultus Lake engagement session in British Columbia was one of those reminders of why I love engagement photography in the first place. It's not just about getting beautiful photos to share with friends, post on Instagram, or use for wedding invitations. It's about giving two people the space to be themselves, forget about the camera for a little while, and create something that actually feels like them.

Jessie and Sam are so full of life. They're playful, adventurous, and the kind of couple who seem to bring their own energy into a room. So when I saw their inspiration photos and realized that a very real, very cold October lake swim was part of the plan, I had a few thoughts.

Was it going to be freezing? Absolutely.

Was I going to let them talk me into getting in the water, too? That's another question.

But would it make for a memorable engagement session? I had a pretty good feeling about that.

An October Engagement Session at Cultus Lake, BC

Cultus Lake is such a beautiful location for engagement photos in the Fraser Valley. Between the mountain views, the shoreline, the trees, and the way the light changes throughout the day, there's so much to work with without needing to make the location feel overly styled.

And October brings its own kind of beauty.

The summer crowds begin to thin out, the air gets a little crisper, and there's something about the changing season that makes the whole experience feel a bit more intimate. Of course, the weather can be unpredictable, and the lake isn't exactly giving tropical vacation vibes by this point in the year.

But I think that's part of what makes sessions like this interesting.

It's easy to picture an engagement session on a warm summer evening, with golden light and a couple walking hand in hand along the water. That's beautiful, and I love those sessions, too. But what happens when we let go of the idea that everything has to be perfectly comfortable or look exactly like the inspiration photos?

Sometimes, we get something even better.

With Jessie and Sam, the goal wasn't to create a perfectly posed collection of images. It was to capture their relationship as it actually feels: energetic, affectionate, a little spontaneous, and full of laughter.

Cultus Lake gave us the perfect backdrop, but their personalities were what made the session.

Yes, They Really Wanted to Jump Into the Lake

I have to admit, when couples send me inspiration photos, I always pay attention to the little details.

Not just the poses they like or the colours they gravitate toward, but what those photos tell me about how they want their session to feel.

Do they want something quiet and romantic? A little editorial? More documentary, with lots of movement and candid moments? Do they want to run around, get messy, laugh until their faces hurt, and maybe do something that makes absolutely no sense to anyone watching from the shore?

Jessie and Sam's inspiration photos made their answer pretty clear.

They wanted fun.

And not the kind of fun where I tell them to laugh at each other while standing in a field. I mean actual, genuine, slightly ridiculous fun. The kind where you stop worrying about what your hair is doing because you're too busy enjoying the person standing beside you.

Which brings us back to the lake.

It was October. The water was cold. There was no pretending otherwise. And yet, the idea of jumping into Cultus Lake together was something they were genuinely excited about.

I love that about them.

There's something really special about a couple who can look at an experience like this and think, Why not?

Will every couple want to jump into a lake during their engagement session? Definitely not. And honestly, I wouldn't recommend it just for the sake of getting a dramatic photo. Cold water, weather conditions, and safety all matter, especially as the seasons change.

But if something feels true to you as a couple, I want to hear about it. Even if it sounds a little wild at first.

Your engagement session doesn't have to follow a formula. It can be romantic, adventurous, playful, quiet, or a combination of all four. The important thing is that it feels like you.

Your Engagement Session Should Feel Like a Date, Not a Photoshoot

Let's be honest for a second. Most people don't spend their everyday lives being photographed by a professional photographer.

You might feel awkward about where to put your hands. You might wonder whether you're smiling weirdly, whether you should be looking at the camera, or whether you're supposed to kiss every thirty seconds because that's what couples do in photos.

And the more you think about those things, the harder it can be to relax.

This is one of the biggest reasons I encourage couples to book an engagement session before their wedding day.

It's not just about having a few extra photos. It's about giving yourselves the opportunity to get comfortable in front of the camera before one of the biggest days of your lives.

Think of it as a chance to practise being photographed without the pressure of a wedding timeline, guests waiting for you, or a reception that starts in twenty minutes.

You can take your time. You can ask questions. You can figure out what feels natural and what doesn't.

And you can learn that you don't actually need to know how to pose.

You just need to show up, be willing to interact with your partner, and trust that I'll help guide you along the way.

Sometimes that means giving you a little direction. Sometimes it means stepping back and letting a moment unfold. And sometimes it means suggesting something that gets you both moving so you stop thinking about the camera altogether.

Because the best photos often happen in the moments between the poses.

The little glance after someone says something ridiculous. The laugh you try to hold back and can't. The way one person instinctively reaches for the other.

Those are the moments I want you to remember.

Why Getting Comfortable Before Your Wedding Day Matters

Wedding days move quickly. Even with the best timeline, there are so many things happening that it's easy to feel like you're being pulled from one moment to the next.

Your engagement session offers something different.

It's a little pocket of time where the two of you get to slow down and enjoy being together, without a room full of people watching.

And from a photography perspective, it gives us a chance to get to know each other, too.

You'll start to understand how I work, how I give direction, and what I mean when I ask you to focus on each other rather than the camera. I'll get a better sense of your dynamic as a couple and the kinds of moments that feel most natural to you.

Maybe one of you is more comfortable in front of the camera than the other. Maybe you both feel a little awkward at first. That's completely normal.

You don't need to arrive knowing how to pose, and you certainly don't need to arrive acting like professional models.

Actually, I'd much rather you arrive as yourselves.

The more comfortable you become, the less the experience feels like performing for a camera and the more it feels like spending time together.

By the time your wedding day arrives, the camera won't feel quite so unfamiliar. You'll already have an idea of what to expect, and hopefully, you'll remember that being photographed can actually be a lot of fun.

That's the part I want every couple to take away from their engagement session.

Not that they learned how to stand perfectly or smile on command, but that they learned they can relax, be a little silly, and trust the process.

You Don't Have to Be Posed to Look Good in Photos

I think there's a common misconception that looking good in photos means knowing exactly what to do with your body at all times.

It doesn't.

You can be a little awkward. You can laugh at the wrong moment. You can move around, mess up a pose, or forget that the camera is there.

In fact, those things can make your photos feel more personal.

When I photograph couples, I'm always looking for ways to create space for those natural interactions. That might mean asking you to walk together, whisper something in each other's ears, spin around, or simply spend a moment holding each other without worrying about what comes next.

And if you're the type of couple who wants to run toward a lake in October? Well, we'll talk about that, too.

The point isn't to manufacture a perfect moment. It's to create an environment where real moments have room to happen.

Of course, I'll still help with positioning, light, and the little adjustments that make a photograph work. There's a balance between giving direction and allowing things to unfold naturally.

Too much direction can make a session feel stiff. Too little can leave couples wondering what they're supposed to do.

Finding that balance is part of my job.

Your job is simply to show up and enjoy each other.

Planning Your Own Cultus Lake Engagement Photos

If you're considering a Cultus Lake engagement session, there are a few things worth thinking about before you go.

Choose a location that feels like you.

Cultus Lake is a great option for couples who love the outdoors, mountain scenery, and being near the water. But don't choose it just because you've seen beautiful photos there. Think about whether you would actually enjoy spending an afternoon together in that setting.

Consider the season.

Summer offers warmer temperatures and long evenings, while fall can bring softer colours, cooler air, and a quieter atmosphere. Each season has its own character. The right choice depends on the experience you want, not just the photos you're hoping to get.

Wear something you can move in.

You don't need to sacrifice comfort for a beautiful outfit. Choose clothing that makes you feel confident but also allows you to sit, walk, move, and interact naturally. If you're planning an adventurous session, practical footwear and a backup outfit can make a big difference.

Bring ideas, but stay open to the unexpected.

Inspiration photos are helpful. They give me a sense of your vision and the moments you're drawn to. But the goal isn't to recreate someone else's session exactly. It's to use those ideas as a starting point and make something personal to the two of you.

And please, don't feel like you need to be good at photos.

That's what I'm here for.

You don't need to practise poses in the mirror or figure out your best angle before you arrive. We can work through all of that together. The most important thing is that you feel comfortable enough to be yourselves.

And if your version of yourselves involves a spontaneous lake adventure, let's make a plan that keeps it fun and safe.

The Best Engagement Photos Feel Like You

Looking back on Jessie and Sam's Cultus Lake engagement session, what stands out most isn't simply the location or the fact that it was October.

It's their willingness to embrace the experience.

They came in with ideas, energy, and a clear sense of what they wanted their photos to feel like. They weren't trying to fit themselves into someone else's idea of the perfect engagement session. They wanted something that reflected their relationship, even if that meant doing something a little unexpected.

And that's exactly how I think engagement photography should be.

Your session doesn't need to be extravagant. It doesn't need elaborate props, a perfectly curated wardrobe, or a list of poses you found online. It doesn't even need to involve a particularly adventurous activity.

It just needs to give you room to be yourselves.

Maybe that means a quiet walk along the shoreline. Maybe it's running through the trees, sharing a coffee, or laughing your way through a session because neither of you can take anything seriously for more than five minutes.

Or maybe it's standing at the edge of Cultus Lake in October, looking at each other and wondering whether jumping into freezing water is a brilliant idea or a terrible one.

Honestly, those are some of my favourite moments to photograph: the ones where you stop worrying about how everything looks and start enjoying how it feels.

Because when your wedding day arrives, I want you to feel comfortable with me, confident in front of the camera, and excited to have these moments documented.

And when you look back at your engagement photos years from now, I hope you see more than two people who looked good in a photograph.

I hope you see yourselves.

The way you laughed. The way you looked at each other. The little things that make your relationship yours.

And, in Jessie and Sam's case, maybe a reminder that October seemed like a perfectly reasonable time to jump into a lake.

Would I do it?

Well, that might depend on the temperature.

But that's the beauty of engagement sessions. They don't have to be perfect to be memorable.

They just have to be yours.

Planning your own engagement session in Cultus Lake or the Fraser Valley?

I'd love to help you create an experience that feels natural, fun, and true to your relationship. Whether you're dreaming of a laid-back session by the water, an adventurous afternoon outdoors, or something completely your own, your engagement photos should feel like a celebration of the two of you.

Let's make it an experience you actually enjoy, long before the wedding day arrives.

‍