Anna (she/her) and Ben (he/him) celebrated their anniversary with an adventure session at Hidden Hills in Giles County, Virginia. Their March evening session was a bit windy, but we were still able to capture beautiful photos that reflected the essence of their relationship and helped them cross “get Christmas cards” off their to-do list.
Wait, what is an Adventure Session?
If you were reading this and thinking to yourself this question, here’s your answer!
An adventure session is whatever you want it to be! It’s usually an engagement session, but it can also be an anniversary session, a day-before or day-after photo session that happens prior to or following your elopement, or a couple session. This type of session usually involves going to an epic location for amazing photos and, as it’s mentioned in the name, involves some element of adventure.
Adventure is completely subjective and could mean something different to each person. An adventure session to you could mean hiking, climbing, or braving the cold (or heat!), or it could entail visiting a place you’ve never been before or experiencing something you’ve never done before.
Anna and Ben’s Giles County, Virginia Adventure Session Experience
Anna and Ben approached their session with a clear vision: they wanted casual and candid photos that highlighted their smiles and their fun-loving relationship. Just a few minutes outside of Blacksburg in Giles County, Virginia, Hidden Hills was a perfect choice for their adventure session. Fun fact: Giles County, Virginia is lovingly referred to as Virginia’s Mountain Playground, so if you’re eyeing a mountainous landscape as your background for your adventure session, Giles County is perfect for that! The location provided the privacy and “off the beaten path” feel that allowed them to feel more comfortable.
To ensure that the photos felt casual and candid after our time together, I helped Anna and Ben figure out what outfits to wear that would complement one another and their location as well as attribute to the vibe they were looking for. I loved that Anna and Ben went with a more “autumn” color palette, with Ben’s olive green button up and khakis and Anna’s burnt orange dress.
While their session was windy, we made the best out of it by using it to our advantage whenever we could, like incorporating movement in their poses (for example, I asked Ben to twirl Anna with her dress and the wind was SO helpful for that) and just allowing the wind to whip through their hair (the natural movement of the hair really added some personality to the shots, especially when they were super close to one another!!)
Anna really wanted to highlight their smiles and it wasn’t hard to see why; both Anna and Ben have incredible smiles and their happiness and connection shone through in every moment we captured.
About Anna and Ben
In their questionnaire, when asked to describe what was special about their relationship, the pair said “we’re genuinely best friends” and “we’re straight up goofy”. In fact, Anna also added “no one makes me laugh like Ben.” They also went on to say that they’re “each other’s biggest cheerleaders.” Their goofiness and mutual support were on full display throughout the session and I was LIVING for every single moment. Anna and Ben also love to “embark on hare-brained schemes and stupid projects together,” which speaks to their adventurous spirts, making the adventure session even more exciting and fun!
Reflecting on Anna and Ben’s Giles County, VA Adventure Session
Anna and Ben’s relationship is a perfect example of the genuine joy and connection that comes from being with your best friend. Photographing couples like Anna and Ben, who share such a playful and supportive bond, is incredibly rewarding. Their session was a blend of laughter, genuine smiles, and heartfelt moments. Capturing their lighthearted nature reminds me of why I love what I do—preserving these beautiful, authentic moments for couples to cherish forever. If you enjoyed this session, be sure to check out their elopement blog to see more of their love story.
If you’re looking for a photographer who will help you two get updated photos, document your proposal and/or engagement, or celebrate your anniversary, you’re in the right place! My name is Cameron (she/her) and I’m a photographer based in Southwest Virginia. I primarily photograph half-day, full-day, or multi-day elopements, but I also have availability in my calendar to photograph adventure sessions as well.
Adventure sessions can be booked separately or added onto any of my elopement packages. And get this: An adventure session is already included in my 12-hour elopement package! So, if you’re planning to elope in Virginia and are yearning for as many opportunities to enjoy the Southwest Virginia hollers as possible, I’d love to be your photographer and capture all of your special moments! Fill out an inquiry form to get started or check out my pricing to learn more about my philosophy, practice, and packages.
I encourage you to check out some of the elopements and adventure sessions I’ve planned and photographed for other couples:
- Nalli and Rob’s Carvin’s Cove Elopement
- Ryanne and Meredith’s Roanoke Star Engagement Adventure Session
- Lindsey Page and Taylor’s Fishburn Park Elopement
- Sarah and Sarra’s Anniversary Portrait Adventure Session in Newport, Virginia
- James and Pedro’s At-Home Photoshoot Adventure Session in Downtown Roanoke
Maybe you have plenty of inspiration, but you need planning resources. Here are a few blogs I’d recommend to help you get started:
