Rainy Engagement Session at Linville Gorge in North Carolina
As an Asheville wedding photographer who’s been doing this for over 10 years, there are some moments that stand out not just for their beauty, but for the stories they tell and the experiences they bring. One such engagement session took place this past July in the majestic Linville Gorge, North Carolina.
Summertime mountain sessions can be both wondrous and challenging, as the weather can create the most remarkable scenes, but also bring the unpredictable chances of storms and rain. Ensuring the safety of my couples and myself is a PRIORITY, especially since being on a mountain during a thunderstorm is not safe. As per routine, I had been closely monitoring the weather all week, which, true to mountain form, kept changing constantly… I THOUGHT I had found a window of opportunity, a break in the rain… but, as is common with mountain weather in North Carolina, the rain decided to join us.
However, Jenn and Jarrod, with their incredible attitudes, were in—rain and all. And goodness if only we knew what we were in for…
This Linville Gorge hike is one of the toughest mountain locations I offer; a 2-mile round trip that isn’t too strenuous overall, but the 700 feet elevation gain, mostly in the last quarter, can be a real challenge – especially in the summer. It gets HOT! But oh, the views at the top make every step worth it! As we reached the summit, the rain, miraculously, paused almost entirely for our session. It was cooler—a welcome respite from the summer heat—and the low clouds and fog created a breathtaking backdrop. (aka my favorite conditions) It felt like a blessing; despite the rain surrounding us, we remained untouched. To be honest…you could probably hear me yelling in joy from the neighboring mountain because I was THAT happy. (Jenn and Jarrod could attest to this)
As the sun began its descent, it dipped below the cloud line, and the world around us was bathed in golden and orange hues. it could be easy to think I’m exaggerating, but trust me…I still can’t believe it happened the way it did. Every second the color and light was changing The rain illuminated by the sunlight appeared as if it were glowing orange fog. In that moment of awe, we turned to see a full circular rainbow behind us. A RAINBOW! Which is one of my favorite things to see! It felt like time had stopped, and we were witnessing God’s showing off his creation. Just as we were wrapping up, the rain finally reached us, but with the vibrant golden light and the rain combined, it was surreal. It was as though the rain drops around us were little crystals – each reflecting the brilliance of the fading sunlight.
This session became one of my favorites, not just because of the incredible weather but because of Jenn and Jarrod’s attitude and the connection we shared. It was a true blessing to my heart. It’s understandable if you don’t want to deal with the rain at your engagement session, but over and over again I am showed if you lean in and welcome the elements together, not only will you have incredible photographs to cherish, but the memories of the experience are so far beyond just “coming out to take pictures.” It will be an adventure – one that makes for a great story to share with your loved ones.
The North Carolina mountains can be unpredictable in the summertime, but if you embrace it, you can have utterly remarkable sessions just like this.
PLUS I always bring umbrellas with me – so I got ya covered 😉
