Finch Arboretum is one of those spots that looks different every time I shoot there. Late May might be my favorite version of it. Olivia and Zaq’s engagement session on May 31st caught it at peak green — leaves fully out, a few trees still holding onto their blooms, and that late afternoon light filtering through the canopy in the best way.

One thing worth knowing about Finch Arboretum if you’re considering it for photos: the tall trees eat your light faster than you’d expect. Therefore, I always plan to arrive at least two hours before sunset there. This gave Olivia and Zaq a full, unhurried session without racing the clock at the end.

Another thing I love about Finch Arboretum is the size of it. It’s big enough that you genuinely forget other people exist — no feeling like you’re in someone’s way, no strangers wandering into the background, no sense of being watched. That matters more than most people realize. When a couple feels private and unhurried, it shows in the photos.

These Two

I met Olivia and Zaq at BridalFest. Within about thirty seconds I could tell they were going to be a blast to work with. They have this bright, playful energy — the kind where you can just tell they genuinely have fun together, not just on camera. We were laughing and joking basically the entire session. Honestly, that’s my favorite way to spend two hours.

They’re getting married in June 2027, and I am already looking forward to it.

What a Session with Me Is Like

I do direct — just not with a rigid list of poses. I’m there the whole time helping with where to put your hands, a little chin tilt here, angling you toward the light there, so you both look your best. But the bigger part of my job is getting you playing games with each other, moving, laughing, doing something that feels normal instead of standing still and posing. My sessions are largely documentary with some editorial posing mixed in when it’s useful. Furthermore, they’re the most fun when a couple just fully commits to the silly stuff instead of holding back.

Most couples feel a little awkward in the first ten minutes, and that’s completely fine. By the time we’re twenty minutes in, you stop thinking about the camera entirely.

With Olivia and Zaq, we barely had to warm up. The laughing started almost immediately and didn’t really stop. That’s not something I can manufacture — it’s just who they are together. However, it’s also what I’m looking for and what I’ll help draw out if it takes a little longer to get there.

Engagement sessions are also genuinely useful for your wedding day. By the time June 2027 rolls around, Olivia and Zaq will already know what it feels like to be photographed by me. That comfort makes a real difference when the stakes are higher.

Are you newly engaged and thinking about Finch Arboretum for your session, I’d love to talk about timing and what to expect: https://www.archandelm.com/contact

And if you want to see more of what I love about shooting in Spokane: archandelmphoto.com/engagement-session-locations-spokane