It’s no secret that engaged couples are considering elopements, now more than ever. With beautiful locations like Yosemite National Park to commemorate a marriage, how could they not? However, the pre-ceremony questions of where to elope or why to elope can quickly send a couple spiraling. Not to mention the concerns about cost, location, and photos. But what if I told you it was not only totally possible, but also extremely easy to plan your desired get-away elopement!

After my last blog post it’s no surprise that Lake Tahoe has quickly stolen my heart. The more time I spend here in these mountains, the more certain I am that I will be coming back for years to come! Between the serene forests, golden-hour sunsets on the lake, and lush hidden valleys tucked between snow-capped peaks — the possibilities seem endless.

I had the pleasure of photographing Jimmy’s proposal to Briana last year. I was delighted when they reached out again to photograph their engagement session. After a little debate on the location, Briana proposed we’d shoot at the San Juan Capistrano Mission! I was sold on the idea immediately.

As much as I love a simple, quiet elopement day in a scenic outdoor space, I’m a city girl at heart. And for some time I’ve been wanting to show clients that there is romantic beauty in even the densest city centers. Newly engaged couple Amanda and Alan agreed to be our bride and groom for the day. We met first at Exposition Park Rose Garden in USC. The afternoon light dissolved perfectly among large colorful roses. The glowy light around them was just breathtaking. Most people would be so surprised that these photos where taken in the middle of Los Angeles!

Spring blooms can be fickle in Southern California. If we don’t get enough rain, or if a certain area is ravaged by wildfires the year before, the flowers can quickly die out before I get a chance to enjoy them. This year, I didn’t have too much hope for a flower-filled spring engagement season. But Bekah, Austin, and I just happened to catch Malibu Creek State Park at the most opportune time.

I’ve been wanting to try out some new ideas for sometime now. Thankfully, I have no shortage of sweet couples who are willing to get their photo taken. Eunice and Christian were all about this elopement styled shoot. We worked together on a concept and location. I love how stylish and classic the scenery at Pasadena City Hall is. We met there early in the morning. Eunice brought fresh extra styling pieces, including a beautiful bouquet she made herself!

I’m falling in love with Northern California. Having lived my life in Southern California, I haven’t celebrated the north as much. I’m going to have to change that! I met up with Nicola and Matt just north of San Francisco in the Marin Headlands. We spent out day running around the hilltops enjoying the last of the light and talking about how awesome this area is.

Way before Covid times, I was pretty used to wedding plans being subject to change. A few years ago, I met a lovely couple during a wedding in Tulum, Mexico. They asked if I’d be willing to photograph their wedding in Virginia that summer. I said of course, and they booked me!

Whether it’s your preference or other circumstances are causing you to not be able to have a traditional wedding, you still want the wedding day of your dreams. And you should know, that is totally possible with an elopement or micro-wedding. So here is a little bit more about the two ceremony types, and why so many couples are choosing this option!

Normally, a rainy day means a cancelled hoot. But this time, I purposely wanted to shoot in the rain. Luckily, Gabe and Avery were game to brave the weather and we set up a shoot for last month. We met at a nature park in Pasadena, CA for their couples session. This is the park that I run at! I love making some of the most normal places for me look beautiful.