Idaho Summer camping engagement session
Erika and Ken by the campfire at Pocatello East Fork of Mink Creek Nordic Center
Table of Contents
Introduction
The couple: Erika and Ken
The location: Pocatello East Fork of Mink Creek Nordic Center
Theme
A review from the couple
Introduction
Boy, do I love a portrait session that focuses on the lifestyle that a couple enjoys together! This engagement session was centered around the couple’s love for camping and the outdoors. Located just south of Pocatello Idaho, we met at the Pocatello East Fork Mink Creek Nordic Center. We went for a walk along the trails, played with their dogs, made a campfire, and enjoyed all the best parts of summer evenings.
The couple: Erika + Ken
Erika and Ken met in high school and started dating a couple of years afterward when life brought them back together. They got engaged in late June in the Idaho mountains and are currently planning a destination wedding in Mexico. They plan to have an intimate gathering with some family and friends to help them celebrate their love. Erika and Ken wanted an engagement session to focus on some of their favorite activities together like camping and playing with their dogs – a perfect combo for a summer night in Idaho.
Location: Pocatello east fork of mink creek nordic center
In planning this shoot, I visited several locations on Scout Mountain, south of Pocatello Idaho and ultimately decided on this location for the variety of setting, best lighting, accessibility for dogs, and fire ban considerations during summer months. No permits were required to shoot at this location and parking is free. The location is open year-round but is a more popular destination in the winter for its Nordic ski trails. The Nordic center is located 13 miles south of Pocatello, about a 25-minute drive. Much of the road is paved but once you access the entrance, the road turns to dirt and often has a number of large potholes to navigate. And sometimes cows. And cow poop. If this location was unavailable some alternates would have been the Scout Mountain campsites further up the mountain.
The location is easily accessible by car; however, the ground is uneven when you arrive and may be an important accessibility consideration. There is cell service at the center but is it limited and spotty in some areas. Pit toilets are available at the entrance but may be closed during certain times of year due to lack of use.
Lighting is best at sunrise or sunset but due to the variety of setting, good lighting can be found during almost any hour of the day. The Nordic center offers natural beauty and gorgeous views at all times of year with bright greens aspen leaves in the spring, wildflowers in the summer, gold and red hues in the fall, and white/pink alpenglow in the winter. The location is not crowded during the months outside of the winter season due to its primary use as a Nordic Ski center however the city recreation department does facilitate other activities like fun-runs throughout the year so always best to check out the website for any potential scheduled events.
One consideration for this shoot was the ability for the couple to bring their dogs. While many trails are dog friendly, there are some locations in Pocatello Idaho that are not. The Nordic center allows dogs and just asks that owners pick up after them.
Additionally, wildfire season occurs throughout the summer months and into the fall in Idaho. For this shoot, we wanted to build a campfire and needed to make sure that we were in a location where there was no fire ban. The Nordic center has a fire ring for a campfire and was not under a ban at the time we called. Always make sure to check ahead for fire bans and any necessary precautions to prevent wildfires.
Theme: Idaho summer camping engagement
The theme for this shoot was an Idaho camping engagement session. This theme was important to the couple because they wanted to center the experience around things that they enjoyed doing together and that felt authentic to them. As a photographer, I am always looking for opportunities like this so that couples not only feel comfortable and have fun when in session but also that when they look back in 20 years, the photos feel like them. Before the shoot, Erika mentioned to me that she and Ken were a little camera shy and hadn’t done a shoot like this before. Incorporating elements of their normal life like a night around the campfire and playing with their dogs helped to make the experience feel comfortable and authentic. To bring the session together, Erika and Ken brought some camp chairs, their Dutch oven, a camp coffee carafe, and camp mugs. We also made sure to bring plenty of firewood and a water cooler to douse the fire after we had finished.
A review from the couple
“We recently had the absolute pleasure of working with Julia for our engagement photos, and we couldn’t be happier with the entire experience. From the moment we arrived, she made us feel completely at ease — which is no small feat when you’re not used to being in front of the camera!
Julia struck the perfect balance of offering gentle guidance while still allowing us to be ourselves. She consistently checked in throughout the session to make sure we were both comfortable, and it truly made a difference. Her thoughtfulness extended well before the shoot even began — the location and theme she scouted for us were spot-on, and clearly planned with care. Not only did she beautifully capture us as a couple, but she also managed to include our dogs in such a natural and heartwarming way. The photos are full of personality and love, and I honestly can’t wait to hang them up in our home.
If you’re looking for a photographer who’s professional, kind, and incredibly talented — look no further than Julia. We’re so grateful to have these memories preserved so perfectly.”
