Lake Almanor Engagement Photos | Jess & Josh
There is nothing more full circle than taking your oldest childhood friend’s engagement photos, let me tell ya!
A few weeks ago, Joseph got to do just that, and in their hometown of Lake Almanor, California no less! Something I really admire about Joseph and his upbringing is how tight-knit his little community was, and how so many people he’s grown up with have remained some of his closest friends to this day! It’s also quite a treat to get to grow in relationship with them myself, and Jessica and her new fiance, Josh, are no exception to this! It was a tremendous honor when they reached out to us a few months back, asking us to photograph their engagements and upcoming wedding (!!!!!), and on a chilly September weekend, we found ourselves up in the place where Joseph & Jess’ friendship all began, Lake Almanor.
Last summer was the first time I (finally) got to meet Jessica in person after every plan to meet her in years past had been foiled by the ol’ ‘vid :(. It was a meeting very much worth the wait, not only because of the incredible human she is, but because Josh, who she recently started dating, came with her. It was such an interesting perspective being surrounded by people who knew Jess so well, while I was really getting the chance to sit down and talk to her for the first time as a part of ~ Jess & Josh ~
These two had been so intentional in dating each other from the beginning, from their initial meeting on a dating app to every opportunity they were able to see each other (Josh lived a few hours away in Lake Tahoe at the time), and finally with their “grand tour of California” they were currently on, meeting all of each other’s closest family and friends. We were all floored by Josh’s story, and he fit right into the little crew of Lake Almanor kids (and us wives) that migrated down to the Central Coast. As months went by, we got to follow along as their relationship progressed, and finally, in July, Josh asked Jess to marry him!
After a few months of celebrating, the ~ real ~ (lol) rite of passage to being engaged occurred— our wild adventure around Lake Almanor to capture some nostalgic engagement photos for Jess & Josh. We began the evening at Chester’s general store, where a soda fountain, and one of two ice cream places in the little town can be found. We wandered through a nearby park chatting about life and what was all new for us (we hadn’t seen Jess & Josh in over a year, so we really took our time with the photos!), Jess and Joseph in a sense of disbelief that all these years later they were back in the very place they played little league and slid down slides and watched parades with the loves of their lives.
Next we ended up on Jess and Joseph’s childhood street where they lived a few doors down from each other, and wandered through the woods and along the Feather River for some very iconic (and necessary) Chester photo spots. After that literal walk down memory lane, we headed over to Lake Almanor’s peninsula for some views of the lake, and an open road Joseph and I found while scouting that proved to be perfect for photos. It’s funny how used to taking photos along the coast we are, and how different this environment dotted with towering pines is.
Ultimately, Jess & Josh wanted engagement photos that encapsulated who they are (very sweet, very goofy, very in love) in a place that means the world to them. Our grand tour of Lake Almanor touched so many places nostalgic to Jess’ childhood, places she’d dreamed of showing Josh, and (I believe) capture the beauty of this place she called home for so many years! Keep scrolling to see every moment of Jess & Josh’s Lake Almanor engagement photoshoot!
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Poppy and Vine - Arizona Wedding Photographers
Howdy friends! We’re Katie & Joseph, a husband and wife team and Phoenix-based wedding photography duo.
We are big fans of documenting wedding days in an unposed, raw, genuine, and honest way that allows our couples to maximize their experience on their day while also receiving a gallery full of stunning images that communicate how it felt to be there.
Though we are based in Scottsdale, we’ll travel anywhere for a good love story (and dance party). We invite you to follow the links below to learn more about us and our services, and to get in contact with us!
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High school sweethearts Samantha and Tom have spent much of their relationship hiking in geologically unique places, and it was only fitting they take their engagement photos in a similar setting!