As Seattle engagement photographers, we love capturing sessions that feel as genuine, playful, and personal as the couples themselves. For Rachel and Neil, their engagement session at Carl S. English Jr. Botanical Garden was the perfect way to celebrate a new chapter together. After meeting four years ago in Philadelphia through Hinge, these two nerds have built a relationship filled with support, balance, and plenty of silliness. Now, after moving across the country for Rachel’s family medicine residency, they were ready to explore their new Seattle home together, and create some beautiful memories along the way.

Rachel was about to begin her second year of medical school, and after making a career change into medicine, she knew the road ahead would be a big one. She fully expected it might scare Neil away. Instead, he understood the value of the investment she was making in her future and kept showing up for her. That steady support became one of the things that made them such a great match.

Now, four years later, Rachel and Neil have started a brand-new chapter together in Seattle. They moved to the city in June for Rachel’s family medicine residency, bringing their East Coast love story all the way across the country. While most of their friends and family are still back East, the people they love remain at the center of their lives. They both enjoy anything that brings them together with friends and family, making connection and togetherness a huge part of who they are as a couple.

Rachel and Neil will be the first to admit that they are not exactly comfortable in front of a camera. In fact, they said they avoid photos “like it is our job.” But that made their engagement session even more fun. Instead of forcing them into overly posed moments, we focused on giving them simple direction and plenty of room to be themselves.

Their personalities came through in every frame. One moment they were walking hand in hand across the garden lawn, and the next, Neil was playfully bowing while Rachel lifted the sides of her dress and laughed. Those little interactions are what make their session feel so genuine. They balance each other well, and silliness is clearly a big part of their relationship.

Exploring Carl S. English Jr. Botanical Garden

Carl S. English Jr. Botanical Garden was a beautiful setting for their Seattle engagement session. The lush greenery, open lawn, mature trees, and peaceful garden paths created plenty of variety without taking attention away from Rachel and Neil.

We loved starting with the two of them walking together across the grass. The open space gave us clean, natural portraits while the surrounding trees created a beautiful green backdrop. Rachel’s classic white dress stood out beautifully against the garden, while Neil’s light gray suit gave the session a polished but relaxed feel.

The garden’s covered wooden structures and landscaped areas also gave us a completely different setting for more playful photos. These images captured the couple’s personalities perfectly. Rachel laughing while holding her dress and Neil leaning into the silliness made the session feel less like a traditional photo shoot and more like a fun afternoon together.

We love locations that give couples room to move, explore, laugh, and simply enjoy being together. Carl S. English Jr. Botanical Garden does exactly that. Its greenery and open spaces create timeless portraits, while the garden’s paths and architectural details add variety throughout the session.

For Rachel and Neil, it was especially fitting. They wanted someone to tell them exactly how to be less awkward, and we were happy to guide them every step of the way. With a little direction and plenty of opportunities to be silly, they quickly settled into the session.

Our Seattle engagement photographers loved capturing the balance between Rachel and Neil’s sweet connection and their playful personalities. From quiet walks through the garden to big laughs and wonderfully awkward moments, this session felt completely like them. Most importantly, it gave two self-proclaimed photo avoiders a chance to relax, have fun, and create memories together in their new Seattle home.

At Original Weddings, we love capturing engagement sessions that feel natural, playful, and true to each couple. From quiet walks through beautiful gardens to the unexpected laughs and silly moments in between, we focus on creating images that reflect who you are together. Our photographers bring gentle direction, creativity, and a relaxed approach to every session, especially for couples who are not used to being in front of the camera. If you’re planning an engagement session in Seattle, reach out to us now. We can’t wait to bring the same care and creativity to yours.

Original Weddings is a team of Seattle wedding photographers and videographers. Please click here to learn more about our Seattle photography and videography services. This engagement session was edited in our Airy editing style. We offer three different photography editing styles: Timeless, Airy and Rustic. Please click here to learn more about our photography styles. You pick the style you love for your photos.

Engagement Photos | Seattle Engagement Photographers

Seattle Engagement Photographers at Carl S. English Jr. Botanical Garden

We love capturing weddings and engagement sessions at Carl S. English Jr. Botanical Garden. This peaceful garden offers a natural setting filled with lush greenery, mature trees, open lawns, and charming pathways. It is a wonderful choice for couples who want their wedding photos to feel romantic, relaxed, and timeless. The garden offers plenty of variety for wedding photography. Couples can enjoy portraits surrounded by beautiful foliage, walk hand in hand along the garden paths, or take advantage of the open lawn for wider, scenic photographs. The wooden structures and landscaped areas also create unique backdrops for portraits and candid moments. Every corner gives us another opportunity to create images that feel personal and connected to the setting.

We also love capturing engagement sessions here. The peaceful atmosphere makes it easy for couples to relax and interact naturally, while the variety of scenery keeps the gallery interesting. Whether you are planning an intimate wedding, portraits, or an engagement session, our Seattle wedding photographers know how to make the most of this beautiful Seattle location. At Original Weddings, we focus on capturing genuine emotions, meaningful details, and the little moments that make your celebration uniquely yours. If Carl S. English Jr. Botanical Garden is part of your wedding plans, we would love to capture it with you.

Seattle Engagement Videographers at Carl S. English Jr. Botanical Garden

As Seattle wedding videographers, we love capturing weddings and engagement sessions at Carl S. English Jr. Botanical Garden. The lush greenery, open lawns, peaceful pathways, and beautiful garden details create a gorgeous backdrop for cinematic wedding films. We capture the movement and emotion of the day, from couples walking through the garden together to joyful laughs, intimate embraces, and meaningful moments with family and friends. The garden’s natural beauty also gives us plenty of opportunities to create varied footage throughout your celebration. Our Seattle wedding videographers focus on preserving not only how your wedding looked, but also how it felt. At Original Weddings, we create films that let you relive those genuine moments for years to come.