Ivory once told Leia she is more beautiful than the sunset. That takes nerve to say at Chambers Bay, where the sunsets have a reputation to protect, but by the end of this evening the sky itself seemed ready to concede. Leia and Ivory first met back in eighth grade, reconnected years later, and he proposed on the very day their daughter was born. With their wedding right around the corner and a big move ahead, this golden hour session at Chambers Bay was their moment to slow down and soak in this new chapter as a family. Here is how we planned and photographed their sunset evening, and how you can plan one too.
Planning your own session here? See our complete Chambers Bay engagement photos guide for the best photo spots, timing, access, and tips.
Why Chambers Bay is one of Tacoma’s best sunset spots
Chambers Bay sits right on the water in University Place, just south of Tacoma, and it is hard to beat for a sunset session. There are open meadows, a moody pine grove, the dramatic concrete ruins and towering columns left from the old sand and gravel plant, a high bluff over Puget Sound, and the long boardwalk pier that reaches out over the water. We can move from forest to ruins to coastline without leaving the park, so one evening here gives you a whole range of looks. For the full breakdown of the spot, here is my guide to why Chambers Bay is an ideal spot for Tacoma engagement photos.
How we planned and prepped the session
Great photos start long before sunset, and most of the magic is in the prep. This is the same process I walk every couple through:
- A styling plan and mood board. Leia wanted something soft, romantic, and full of story. We kept the looks light and neutral, a flowing white dress and a cream outfit, so the golden light and the landscape stayed the focus instead of competing with busy colors.
- Outfit guidance so no one is guessing. I send every couple direction on what to wear. Intentional, coordinated colors photograph beautifully in this kind of light. My what to wear for engagement photos guide breaks it down.
- Timing the light. We booked the session to run from golden hour into blue hour. After the comparison Ivory is now famous for, the sky had something to prove, and we wanted to give it every chance to make its case.
- A location game plan. Pine grove, meadow, concrete ruins and columns, the bluff over the water, then the boardwalk pier and driftwood beach as the light faded. Mapping the order ahead of time means we move quickly and catch the best light at every stop.
How we drew out the emotion
Some couples are nervous in front of the camera. Leia and Ivory wear their hearts on their sleeves, so my job was simply to give them space and the right prompts to be present with each other. We leaned into their story, slowed everything down, and let the real moments rise to the top. We also brought their baby girl into a few frames, because this season of building a family is exactly what they wanted to remember. If you are nervous about your own session, here is how I help you relax and look confident, plus a full walkthrough of what to expect during your engagement session.
Chasing the light to the water
As the sun dropped we worked our way from the meadow toward Puget Sound. We caught the concrete ruins while there was still warmth in the sky, then the bluff over the water as it shifted to blue hour, and finished on the boardwalk pier and driftwood beach with the last color glowing on the horizon. Building the timeline around sunset is what makes the difference, so the best light lands on the most dramatic backdrops of the night.
How to plan your own Chambers Bay sunset session
Want photos here? Use this as your starting checklist:
- Book the sunset slot. Start about an hour and a half before sunset so you can move through every spot and finish on the pier as the sky lights up.
- Dress to complement, not compete. Soft, coordinated, intentional colors let the golden light and the water shine. Skip busy patterns.
- Use the whole park. Pine grove, meadow, concrete ruins and columns, the bluff over the water, and the boardwalk pier give you huge variety in one location.
- Wear comfortable shoes. Chambers Bay is big and hilly with gravel and paved paths, so plan your footwear for some walking between spots.
- Bring the people who matter. Kids and family are welcome. Some of the most meaningful frames come from the people you are building your life with.
- Trust your photographer to direct. You do not need to know how to pose. The right prompts and a relaxed pace do all the work.
Golden hour or blue hour, which is better here?
Both, and you do not have to choose. Golden hour is the warm, glowing stretch that starts about an hour before sunset, and it flatters skin and lights the meadows and pines with soft color. Blue hour arrives right after the sun drops, when the sky turns deep blue and the pier and the water pick up a quiet, cinematic glow. If you have ever seen a photo of a couple on the pier with the Sound glowing on both sides of them, that was blue hour doing the heavy lifting. At Chambers Bay we plan the route so you get both in one session, warm romantic frames early and moody dramatic frames to finish.
What a sunset timeline looks like here
We start about ninety minutes before sunset in the pine grove and the meadow while the light is still soft and even. The concrete ruins and columns get the strongest warm color next. The last half hour belongs to the water, first the bluff, then the boardwalk pier and driftwood beach as the sky burns through its final colors. Give yourself a few extra minutes for parking and the walk in, the park is bigger than it looks. By the time most visitors are heading back to their cars, we are catching the best frames of the night.
Chambers Bay sunset session FAQ
What time should you book a sunset engagement session at Chambers Bay?
Start about ninety minutes before sunset. In midsummer that means roughly 7:30 in the evening, and by early fall closer to 6:00. That window carries you through golden hour and lands you on the pier for blue hour, the two best stretches of light in the whole day.
Can you bring your baby or kids to an engagement session?
Yes, and I encourage it when kids are part of your story. Leia and Ivory brought their daughter into a few frames, and those are some of the most meaningful photos of the night. Here is my full guide to planning an engagement session with kids.
What should you do with your engagement photos afterward?
Put them to work. Save the dates, a guest book for the wedding day, wall art for the new house, and your announcement online. I wrote a full breakdown of what to actually do with your engagement photos so they do not just live on a hard drive.
Is the park stroller friendly?
Mostly yes. The main loop trail is paved and easy with a stroller, while a few of the photo spots sit on grass or gravel. We plan the route around whoever you are bringing, from babies to grandparents.
How far before the wedding should you do your engagement session?
Six months to a year out is the sweet spot. That leaves comfortable time to use your images for save the dates, your wedding website, and a guest book album, and it usually lands before the busiest planning months swallow your calendar. It is also simply a good date night in the middle of wedding planning, which counts for more than most couples expect.
More Tacoma engagement inspiration
Love this location but want to see your other options? Take a look at my guide to the best photo locations in Tacoma, or see a completely different mood at this same park in Madison and Jon’s moody autumn session at Chambers Bay.
If you are newly engaged and want photos that feel like the two of you, calm, real, and full of meaning, I would love to help you plan a session like this one. Reach out to plan your Tacoma engagement session.
Fully guided sessions, a professional editing team behind every image, and a private reveal where you choose finished artwork for your walls. That is the difference between hiring a photographer and booking an experience.
Let’s bring your vision to life! Fill out the form below to ask any questions, share your story, or start planning your session. I’m here, ready when you are.
