Have you caught yourself looking up the phrase, “Should I have a backyard wedding?” If so, you’re not alone. With the costs of wedding venues, lack of flexibility in scheduling, and not to mention the restrictions of the pandemic, a lot of couples are searching for alternative ideas. While fears and doubts may arise with the absence of a venue to guide you, it is totally possible to have a beautiful and intimate backyard wedding of your own.

For many of my couples, the pandemic totally derailed their wedding expectations, forcing them to get creative with their solutions. Ben and Caroline are no exception to the drama of changing plans and being flexible. If you’ve been following me for a while, you know that I shot their sweet engagement session back in 2020 and then their intimate elopement when a larger event wasn’t possible.

Capturing your love in one of your favorite places can make the photos all the more special. When you already have so many wonderful memories in a place, having professional photos taken there can really enrich the experience. When Camille and Joey reached out to book an adventurous engagement shoot, I was so excited to hear they wanted to capture their love in Yosemite Valley – one of my favorite places!

I’ve completely fallen in love with Washington. In the summer of 2020, my boyfriend took me to meet his mom in Seattle, and that was it for me. I fell in love. Now, I’m constantly looking forward to the day that we will visit next or maybe move there! This summer, I was able to combine our yearly trip with some work for two dear friends of mine.

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!