Nothing says “let’s adventure” like a quest for some stunning waterfall engagement photos. Living in British Columbia, stunning landscapes are seemingly around every corner. But there are still hidden gems to be found, if only you know where to look. That’s why when Jess and Dan told me they were up for something a little more unique than the go-to mountainscapes, an adventure to Steelhead Falls immediately came to mind.

Getting waterfall engagement photos near Vancouver can be tricky for a couple of reasons. Firstly because most of them require a bit of an excursion to get to. And secondly, because you just don’t know what you’re going to get. Snow melt and weather that year play a huge role in the views available. (Keep reading for a pro-tip solution to this!) But we decided to risk it and head to Mission anyway to scope out some known accessible falls!

But before we dive into our adventurous waterfall engagement photo session, let’s talk about being engaged! Jess and Dan rescheduled their wedding twice due to the big C and came to me wanting a session to celebrate just being engaged. They wanted to commemorate this special phase of their lives and just have a day to feel excited! Personally, I think being engaged is the best feeling in the world. I remember feeling elated when people would ask how we were and get equally as excited about our plans.

Engagement photo sessions are the perfect chance to just soak it all in. To have a bit of fun, create core memories tied to this time in your life, and get even more pumped for your wedding day! Jess and Dan had the right idea!

So we did what that one song tells you not to and headed off to Mission to chase a few waterfalls! Mission is about an hour outside of Vancouver, making it a bit off of the beaten path for tourists, and thankfully a bit of a quieter area. It was the end of June and the area was lush, green, and beautiful.

When we arrived at the falls, they were refreshing, as it was warm outside, and there was just the right amount of water flowing. Jess and Dan, who were both college athletes, assured me they were up for a next-level adventure. So they slipped off their shoes and climbed down the rocks barefoot to the bottom of the falls.

As a photographer, this was so exciting, as many waterfall engagement photos can only be taken from one angle. Oftentimes you can’t climb down into the basin due to steep cliffs or rushing water, but Mother Nature let us play that day.

After the falls, we headed just down the trail to Stave Lake. I had a vision in my head, as I had shot there just a month before, but when we arrived, I was not-so-pleasantly surprised. There was no beach. After a bit of research, I realized that Stave Lake is controlled by a dam, which changes the water levels quite quickly. Oops! Luckily these two were ready to improvise and they hopped onto the dock, dipping their toes in, being playful, and having fun!

Their wedding is coming up and I can’t wait to see what is in store! If their wedding photos are a fraction of the fun we had this day (I know they will be), it’s going to be one for the books. Scroll through their gallery for some British Columbia waterfall engagement photo inspiration! But first, don’t forget…

Tips for waterfall engagement photos near Vancouver:

If you are looking for accessible waterfall locations, Steelhead Falls is a great option! Others require much more hiking. Here is another look at a waterfall engagement photoshoot at Steelhead Falls!
Choose your season carefully! While some waterfalls dry up in the summertime, this isn’t the case for Steelhead Falls. There is a decent amount of water all year round, so that is a plus! But you still can’t know exactly what it will look like until closer to the shoot.
For these waterfall engagement photos, it has previously been very cold and most of the snow hadn’t melted yet. Just a few days later, the area went through a heat wave and severe flooding as a result! Crazy weather changes aside, here are times I’d recommend shooting at the falls:

For a full rushing waterfall - springtime! Just know you might not be able to stand at the bottom like Jess and Dan.

Ideal overall - July and August! You’ll likely be able to climb down in and the water will be refreshing!

Avoid fall - this is the rainiest time in the Vancouver area and therefore the most unpredictable!

Pro-tip: Use Instagram’s location tag feature! Search the waterfall you are looking for and look at the most recent tagged photos. Make the guess from there at what the waterfall might look like!

Be careful! Water + rock = a slippery situation. I’d highly recommend going barefoot if you decide to climb down into the bottom of the falls. Make sure you feel comfortable climbing on rocks!
Pair it with a hike on Hunter Trail! An in-and-out trail on an old logging road gives stunning views and a bit of a longer hike if that is your speed!
Read this blog post on how to plan an adventure session! As a little treat, look through the photos! These are the same falls Jess and Dan visited in their session.
Looking for other accessible waterfalls? Check out Bridal Veil Falls Provincial Park near Chilliwack!