I had the most fun shooting these couples photos at Emily + Harrison’s engagement session! This Black Hills engagement session was 2 hours long, and we got to experience overcast skies, light rain, and then clear skies just in time for golden hour. And let me tell you — the views from this one were stunning!
Emily + Harrison’s romantic Black Hills engagement session
Last minute Independence Day Plans
Emily + Harrison wanted some engagement pictures while they were visiting the Black Hills over Independence Day weekend. In the inquiry, Emily told me that they both love the outdoors and wanted a location with cliff-sides and the Black Hills in the background. I knew the perfect locations for these two!
A perfect weekend for a Black Hills engagement session
At the session, Emily told me that they went on a couple of hikes in Spearfish Canyon that morning, had run into a couple of parades while they were out and about (not on purpose), and were going to catch a fireworks show after the session. These two love the outdoors, so a Black Hills engagement session was a perfect match for them.
About Sylvan Lake
Our first location was the stunning Sylvan Lake. This lake has stunning rock formations and access to a few popular trails in the area (Sunday Gulch and Little Devil’s Tower). While we didn’t have time to go on a hike, we were still able to take full advantage of the scenery surrounding the lake.
Where to park + meet at Sylvan Lake
If you’ve ever been to Sylvan Lake, you’re no stranger to how difficult parking can be. It’s smart to get there a few minutes early (even ten to fifteen minutes early), to make sure you’re able to circle around the lot to find parking.
This wasn’t the case at Emily + Harrison’s session. It must’ve been the holiday weekend, the storm clouds, or possibly both. The parking lot was almost completely empty and at the end of our time at Sylvan Lake, we nearly had the whole lake to ourselves.
The only other time I’ve seen the lake this empty has been during the winter. It was a welcomed surprise.
Cell phone reception at Sylvan Lake
One thing to note about Sylvan Lake, is that there’s little to no cell phone reception. Because of this, I make sure to have a game plan set in place when meeting up with my couples.
Finding Emily + Harrison was easy enough. I spotted Emily in her cute white dress and knew that they were most likely the couple I was supposed to be meeting. I was right and the rest is history!
About Needles Highway
Next, we drove up the road a couple of minutes to Needles Eye Tunnel. This was a perfect second location! The sun was low enough in the sky so we were able to take photos in multiple locations around the Needles Eye.
Where to park + meet at Needles Eye Tunnel
Parking at Needles Eye Tunnel can be rough depending on the time of year and the time of day. There are a handful of parking spots before the tunnel if you’re coming from Sylvan Lake. There’s even a section with deep enough parking where you can double park with others in your group (please don’t block someone in who isn’t traveling with you).
Once again, for Emily + Harrison’s session, there were hardly any other cars or people. Maybe a dozen or so people filtered through the area throughout the hour we were there. That’s nothing compared to what it can be. It was truly a fun little blessing!
Needles Eye Tunnel
Because Needles Eye Tunnel wasn’t crowded, we were able to walk through the tunnel and capture some fun images while going to the other side! When we emerged from the tunnel, the east facing view was stunning! This was the view Emily + Harrison had asked for. After another ten minutes of images, we were ready to wrap up and head our separate ways. On the way back to our trucks, Emily decided to spin in the tunnel, creating a couple fun last images to finish off the session.
I couldn’t have asked for a sweeter couple to work with! Thank you so much Emily + Harrison for letting me take your engagement photos while you were in town. It was such a fun and memorable way to spend Independence Day!
If you’re ready to schedule you’re couples session while visiting the Black Hills, I would love to make that happen for you! Reach out here and we’ll make some magic happen!
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An Adventurous Couple’s Session in Brookings, South Dakota
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