Winter ferry photo sessions in Seattle have quickly become one of my favorite things in recent years. They feel so appropriately cinematic for the usual overcast weather in the city and they’re a great avenue for getting gorgeous engagement photos when there’s rain in the forecast.

Sarah and Jimmy weren’t originally from Seattle but have lived in the area together for a few years and chose to take their engagement photos on the Seattle-Bainbridge Ferry, a route they’ve taken often, to celebrate their engagement before moving to the eastern side of the country.

I absolutely loved their outfits. They perfectly complimented their personalities and gave us the opportunity to play into both their classy and casual sides. My favorite thing that they brought are their long jackets which were perfect for staying warm in the wind as we crossed Puget Sound but also photographed so well. Long jackets are a great way to dress up any outfit for a winter photo session and I think they give photos a cinematic tone.

Sarah and Jimmy were such a fun couple. They really liked the classic ferry window photos so we spent a good chunk of time getting different variations of that idea. Ferries have so many different spots for photos which is why I don’t get tired of doing these sessions. Settings with places to sit, stand, walk around, etc. are usually where you’ll get the most variety in your photos.

A couple sitting together kissing in the booth of a Seattle ferry

Black and white photos of a woman leaning backwards over the rail of the Seattle-Bainbridge ferry while her fiance holds her by the waist

Here are my tips for taking photos on the Seattle-Bainbridge Ferry.

Arrive early. I’ve never had to wait for the next ferry because one is full, but I still like to arrive early enough that I can be near the front of the queue in case things are busy, especially on the weekend.

Plan to walk on. I like to focus on the ferry ride during these sessions and walking on allows of maximal time on the ferry itself. Cars are great if you’re planning to drive somewhere once you get to your destination but the Seattle-Bainbridge Terminals actually have some great spots within walking distance so I’ve never found the need for a car!

Plan for 2 hours. The ride between Seattle and Bainbridge Island is around half and hour but these sessions tend to take about two hours including walk on and walk off time. While there are many different ferry routes in the Seattle-Tacoma area I’ve found that Bainbridge allows for just the right amount of time for an engagement session.

Go for the booths first. This is important for a few reasons. Mainly, because if you don’t claim a booth at the beginning of the ferry ride they’ll fill up and you’ll have to wait for the return trip to get a chance to grab one. Secondly, starting indoors means you can stay dry and any put together before taking photos out on the deck where it can be windy (it’s almost always windy on the ferry) or rainy.

The right side of the ferry has the best city views on the way to Bainbridge. I like to get a series of photos before the ferry even leaves the terminal because there are great views of the city from this spot! I’ll usually take photos on the right side (starboard) on the way to Bainbridge and left side (port) of the boat on the way back.

Explore the different levels. The Seattle-Bainbridge ferry has three separate levels that you can freely explore. I like to spend most of my sessions on the second and third levels where you can find the booths and the sun deck. But sometimes there are fun spots on the way down to the bottom level where all of the car commuters are.

Be aware of the people around you. Ferries are public transportation which obviously means you likely won’t be the only ones on the boat. Things get especially busy during boarding times so pay attention to your surroundings and make sure your photo session isn’t a disruption to others. I do my very best to not monopolize one spot for too long so other ferry riders can enjoy the views and get their photos too.

Each ferry is a little different. One of the notable differences is the benches on the sun deck. Some ferries have classic wooden benches while others have green benches. If you really care about these details you can reach out to WSDOT ahead of time and ask which ferries will be running on which days.