Hiking Engagement Session at Scott's Run Nature Preserve | McLean, VA | Allison and Patrick

Scott's Run Nature Preserve engagement photos | Hiking engagement session in Northern Virginia | Megan Rei Photography

Allison and Patrick wanted their engagement photos to be in a park and near water, so Scott's Run Nature Preserve in McLean was the perfect choice! Scott’s Run has hiking trails all along the stream, views of the Potomac River, and even a waterfall. Although sometimes the waterfall is nonexistent - you’ll see as you scroll down!

I absolutely love it when couples want to go hiking for their engagement session, and what's better than hiking with your dog?! They brought their rescue dog Weston along for the shoot, and I swear they must have practiced taking photos with him beforehand. This guy had perfected his Blue Steel look for our session!

We had their engagement shoot scheduled for a Monday morning, and of course it poured the ENTIRE weekend beforehand. Allison and I were emailing back and forth about the possibility of rescheduling, but she said they didn’t mind a little bit of mud. Patrick actually proposed to Allison during a rainy hike when they were in Asheville, so a muddy hike for their engagement photos was not going to intimidate them at all!

Smiling couple at Scott's Run in McLean, VA

Engaged couple with their dog hiking at Scott's Run | Northern Virginia Engagement Photgrapher

Hiking at Scott's Run Nature Preserve with dog | Hiking engagement pictures in Northern Virginia

Candid engagement picture of couple hiking with their dog at Scott's Run Nature Preserve in Northern Virginia | Megan Rei Photgraphy

Weston enjoyed the delicious Scott's Run water at all the stream crossings.

Carefully crossing over Scott's Run while hiking with their dog

This might be my new favorite engagement ring shot. I just love the green moss!

Solitaire engagement ring with moss during a hiking engagement photo shoot in Northern Virginia

Sitting on the rocks at Scott's Run Nature Preserve with dog | Northern Virginia engagement pictures in the forest

Smiling engaged couple during engagement session in the woods

Engagement photos in the creek at Scott's Run | Nature lovers engagement | Megan Rei Photography

Dog walking through the stream at Scott's Run Nature Preserve

Hiking along the trail at Scott's Run with their dog | Northern Virginia forest engagement session

Candid laughter photo as couple hikes along the trail at Scott's Run Nature Preserve

Normally you'd see the beautiful Scott's Run waterfall behind Patrick and Allison in this photo, but we were out of luck due to the heavy rain a few days earlier. The Potomac River had risen so high, it completely engulfed the waterfall!

Smiling at each other during forest engagement pictures

Cuddling up to each other in the woods in Northern Virginia

Solitaire engagement ring with fern | Nature lovers engagement photos Northern Virginia

Dog lovers engagement photos | Hiking the trails at Scott's Run in Northern Virginia | Megan Rei Photography

Cute dog looking at the camera during a hike in Northern Virginia

Dog kisses on the trail at Scott's Run Nature Preserve

Hahaha, Weston's face in this one kills me.

Dog-friendly hiking trail in Northern Virginia | Dog parents engagement session | Megan Rei Photography

Engagement ring with moss during an engagement shoot in the forest

After stopping at the “waterfall,” we had one more destination on our hike. We wanted to get to an overlook with a beautiful view of the Potomac, but the direct trail to it was actually flooded. So we found a different, longer, completely muddy route, but we made it there! We all took turns nearly wiping out and getting covered in mud, but thankfully managed to remain upright haha.