Aran and Darrell hired me to photograph their adventure couple’s session at Virginia Tech and in the hidden hills of Blacksburg, Virginia and it was a blast!
Wait, what’s an adventure session?
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-after or day-before photo session prior to 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.
Aran and Darrell’s Adventure Couple’s Session in Blacksburg, Virginia
Aran (she/her) and Darrell (he/him) wanted to have their adventure couples session take place in two locations with the first location being at Virginia Tech’s Hahn Horticulture Garden and the second location a short 15-minute drive away to their private property in Southwest Virginia. They referred to the property lovingly as “Hidden Hills” and you’ll see why it was given that nickname as you continue reading!
Both Aran and Darrell are currently graduate students attending Virginia Tech. Aran studies human development and family studies and Darrell studies biology. Because they’re both going to school at Virginia Tech, they both wanted a location to represent this part of their relationship and, after some discussion, we all thought the Hahn Horticulture Garden would be perfect for this session. Though, the Duck Pond was a close contender!
After we finished our portion of the session at Virginia Tech, we all hopped back into our cars and drove out to Hidden Hills. Now, this is where the adventure really started! Once we arrived at their property, Aran and Darrell loaded up the truck with a nice chair, a guitar, and a violin to use as props once we reached the top. Aran drove all three of us up a winding trail along the side of a hill and we forged our own path to the location (thanks to 4WD!).
We unloaded the truck and I set up my portable changing tent so that Aran and Darrell could both change into their second outfit. After they were finished changing, we explored the location a little and took some photos in this forest nearby. I absolutely loved the trees as they descended down the hill and this tree branch framed the two so beautifully.
After spending time frolicking in the forest, we really took advantage of the gorgeous views at Hidden Hills. The three of us enjoyed the fresh air and gorgeous views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and I had such a good time hearing Aran and Darrell play old-time tunes together as I snapped away.
Aran and Darrell met in Greensboro, North Carolina at Tate Street Coffee House. They thrive on goofiness and their support for another. They love to eat and cook, play games (cards, dice, chess; you name it!), and make music together. This experience allowed them to not only capture their love in stunning photographs, but also to create new memories together in a place that is special to them.
What vibe were Aran and Darrell going for?
Aran and Darrell are both extremely goofy and young-spirited. So, they wanted pictures captured that reflect their personalities and their relationship. They wanted lots of your typical “couple-y” poses but, more importantly, they wanted this session to be a good bonding experience.
What type of music was used for their adventure couple’s session?
First, let me start by prefacing that creating playlists is a huge part of my adventure session experience! Each playlist is specifically curated for each adventure session and, as I’m making them, I aim to keep the playlist upbeat and fun so that my couples feel their absolute best during their session. This playlist is curated based on my couples favorite songs, artists, and bands. My goal is to make my couples feel confident and comfortable in front of the camera and have found that adding music for these sessions really helps to enhance the overall vibe of the session.
Some of Aran and Darrell’s favorite songs that were featured on their playlist were County Line and Nelly by Doctor Dog; I’ll Try Anything Once by Julien Casablanca, and Them Changes and Dragonball Durag by Thundercat. They also mentioned that they loved the bands/artists The Strokes, Lord Huron, Reliably Bad, and Vulfpeck, so I made sure to incorporate songs by these artists in their playlist.
Testimonials
This couples portrait session went without a hitch and both Aran and Darrell were more than pleased with their final gallery. But, don’t just take it from me. Here’s what they both had to say about their adventure couple’s session!
“I felt a lot of positive energy after the photoshoot I had with Cameron. Thank you for making the photoshoot such a fun experience. Aran and I were incredibly pleased with the photos and the overall enjoyable flow of the shoot.” – Darrell
“I really enjoyed Cameron’s dedication to detail and how she strived to make me and my partner feel comfortable during the photoshoot. It was such a fun and comfortable experience from start to finish and Darrell and I are happy and thrilled about the images we’ve received. I highly recommend Cameron Warren Photography and her services; she’s amazing and I love what she does.” – Aran
Are you planning to elope in Virginia? If so, I would love to be your photographer! Fill out an inquiry form to get started or check out my pricing.
