I believe that the way you get married matters. So, here are some reasons why I think adventure elopements are a great way to do it:
I have a strong aversion to traditions when they don't make sense to me. So, choosing to photograph adventure elopements was a deliberate choice to work with like-minded couples who make intentional decisions about how they want to get married.
Before becoming an elopement photographer, I was pursuing physical therapy as a career and obtained a bachelor's degree in public health. But, I was strongly encouraged by my husband to shoot for my dream job of being a photographer. He supported us as I got my business going and now I get to return the favor while he starts his own business!
My husband and I had a traditional wedding and it was a blast, but we would do an adventure elopement if we were to get married today. Our favorite part of our wedding day was right after the ceremony when we had 20 minutes completely to ourselves. We went up to the bridal suite, I took my dress off, and we laid on the ground eating a plate of horderves.
If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll see that I am into getting to know people through fun polls and “would you rather” questions. I am often inappropriate, I mention poop a lot, and I’m very open-minded.
I think the best part about being an elopement photographer is telling stories through a visual medium. The story of the couple, the story of how the day unfolded, and the story of beautiful landscapes we explore. Also, getting to meet cool people like you!
I’m a huge advocate of making your day about the experience, not just the photos. If you’re not having fun, what’s the point of it all? My job is for you to feel at ease, to feel like you can truly be present, so you can focus on spending quality time with the person you’re marrying - I’ll take care of the rest.
As I’ve observed couples over the years, I’ve learned what approach creates better experiences – a documentary approach. This simply means that I would capture how you two actually are together, in moments that are authentic and not staged. Here are some key points below:
Hobbies include pickleball, dressing for comfort, cooking, and vacuuming dog hair.
Hobbies include skipping meals, being obsessed with Darren, and shedding.
Hobbies include carrying my stuff, making spreadsheets, and mowing the lawn.
Darren and I met in 2012 at a physical therapist’s office after he broke his ankle. We got married 4 years later in 2016. You might see him around, second shooting for me, or even officiating (we are both ordained)! Our dog’s name is Luka and our world basically revolves around her.
Together we go hiking, backpacking, rock climbing, paddleboarding, and generally get outside as much as possible. Wandering around in the wilderness carrying 50lb on our backs and not showering for days is our favorite thing to do as a family.
Recently, we spent months exploring the US in our 22ft travel trailer, visiting as many parks as we could. Most of our days were spent on desolate roads leading us to some of the most beautiful places on earth. The journey was meaningful for us as a couple, and provided me with endless inspiration for elopement photography sessions.
