Sunrise at the Sand Dunes // San Luis Obispo, California
Exploring the San Luis Obispo Sand Dunes at sunrise to catch that golden light for this couples shoot!
Lake Powell, UT // Couple Photos + Creating an Experience
CREATING AN EXPERIENCE TOGETHER β OUR TRIP TO LAKE POWELL & IDEAS ON HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE!
This story and collection of images is a little bit different than normal β itβs more personal, but also a space for you to begin dreaming up ideas for your own adventure!
Over the summer, we had the opportunity to go to Lake Powell with a group of our closest friends. We road-tripped through the night to Utah, rented a houseboat for 5 days, and floated out into the beautiful canyon arms of Lake Powell.
Living on a boat together β with no signal, just us and the lake β was a DREAM. It was a space of laughter, star gazing, late night conversations, kayaking explorations, living in swim suits, dancing to music, sleepovers every night on the top deck, and true connection with friends. Itβs special. These are experiences we have to choose into. And, these kind of meaningful moments look different for everyone β they can be as big or as small as we want, we just have to be intentional about them.
These images are obviously personal to me β but they taught me a lot. They taught me that the feelings and memories an image carries comes with the authentic connection we create in the moment we snap them.
The experience.
THIS experience β itβs one I will never forget. We created it, we lived into it, and these images (along with hundreds of silly iPhone videos haha) will solidify the memories always.
Now, itβs your turn. What adventures can you start dreaming up? What experiences do you want to create?
TIPS & IDEAS β
LAKE POWELL HOUSEBOATS // Bullfrog Marina Houseboat Rentals
LAKE POWELL MUST SEE SPOTS // Points of Interest
BRING A STRAW HAT ;) // Billabong & Quicksilver & Patagonia
a few othersβ¦
bring sunscreen // bring books // bring lots of drinks to hydrate through the day // bring bug repellant // bring games to play // bring floaties for the water // bring lots of coolers & lots lots lots of ice (it gets HOT) // expect chill β this is a space to not rush β swim, read, swim, read again. Enjoy every second //
Want travel ideas? Check out my travel bucket list here β
Intimate A-Frame Cabin Wedding // Mt. Rainier, WA
An intimate wedding day at an A-frame cabin in the forest near Mt. Rainier National Park β a beautiful, tiny ceremony with close friends and family.
These two must have a thing for cabins (and I LOVE it) β we spent a morning at a cabin in the Oregon woods near Mt. Hood for their engagement photos, then they found this adorable a-frame cabin on a river near Mt. Rainier National Park. Dreams do come true!
Paige & Brenden chose to have an intimate day, a small micro wedding with their closest friends and family. With wild fires burning across the West Coast, there was a layer of smoke that hung in the sky, but it only added to the moody, soft vibe that these two had wanted!
They had the most beautiful ceremony on the deck of the cabin, ending with a collection group shot of champagne (my new favorite way to end a ceremony)! Then, they spent the evening laughing, sharing stories, snapping polaroids, and dancing under the trees. With a long table set for dinner along the river to share a meal together, it truly felt like βfamilyβ being a part of this day β every single detail was intentional.
Grateful to be a part of sacred moments like these, enjoy these snapshots of their day!
THE DETAILS
DRESS // a&bΓ© bridal shop
FLORIST // Wild Fern Florals
VENUE // Airbnb near Mt. Rainier National Park
Van Life Couple Adventure Session // Joshua Tree, California
THIS ADVENTURE COUPLE SESSION MADE ME WANT TO PACK UP, MOVE INTO A COOL VAN, AND TRAVEL THE DESERT AND CALIFORNIA COASTLINE!
Hello, meet the coolest van life couple EVER! Also, the kindest humans youβll ever meet! After hanging with Lydia and Philip for that afternoon, we all wanted to just keep chatting for hours! Check out their Instagram to follow along on all their van-lifing adventures together!
Grateful for these sunny, desert adventures together in Joshua Tree National Park!
A Guide to Traveling Southern Thailand // Tips for the Best Itinerary
A PEAK INTO HOW WE SPENT 2 WEEKS TRAVELING AROUND AND ISLAND HOPPING IN SOUTHERN THAILAND! I WANTED TO SHARE A FEW TIPS, GO INTO THE DETAILS, AND MENTION SOME βBESTSβ FROM OUR CRAZY JOURNEY! HOPEFULLY THIS CAN BE A GUIDE TO YOUR OWN FUTURE TROPICAL ADVENTURES!
Southern Thailand really is a gem β island hopping, crystal clear turquoise water, gorgeous snorkeling, the yummiest food, the coolest places to stay, cheap transportation, the kindest people β itβs the best!
We had planned to spend a month in Thailand (which you can EASILY do + more), but ended up cutting our trip short due to the COVID-19 outbreak. These two weeks were still well spent and full of incredible experiences! Weβll definitely be back!
PHUKET > 6 DAYS
RAILAY > 3 DAYS
PHI PHI > 2 DAYS
KOH LANTA > 3 DAYS
I. PHUKET // 6 DAYS
WHERE WE STAYED:
We jumped on Airbnb and found the coolest bungalows in Rawai called the Coco Palace. This was right near Nai Harn beach, which is a gorgeous white sand beach that isnβt as touristy as the beaches up North (Patong, Karon, or Kata Noi). It also came with a fresh, homemade breakfast each morning.
THINGS TO DO + PLACES TO GO:
Kayak and snorkel off Yanui Beach
Motorbike around to explore (especially up to some view points - ie Panwa Viewpoint)
Spend a day at Nai Harn - wave bobbing + sun tanning
FOOD FOOD FOOD (more tips below)
Check out the markets! G-Market food stalls and the Sunday Old Town night Market are my faves! Youβll find a bunch of cool things for a great deal and eat the BEST food!
Walk through Old Town during the day as well, super cool architecture and shops!
Coffee - our faves were: YES Coffee and Campus Coffee Roasters
One nice sunset dinner at After Beach Bar (we mostly did budget food options - which are the YUMMIEST - but splurged one night for some epic views while dining).
II. RAILAY // 3 DAYS
WHERE WE STAYED:
Having been to Railay before, we settled with the same place that we stayed last time - Railay Princess Resort. Itβs not on the main beach which has some pros and cons. Pros: itβs quiet, feels more private, and is cheaper. Cons: itβs a bit of a walk from where the ferry lets you off (aka the main beach), the east beach isnβt as pretty, andβ¦ thatβs all actually haha! Itβs a gorgeous property with two pools - a jungle-y one and an infinity pool on the roof with a view. The breakfast is included and delicious and all the staff is wonderful!
THINGS TO DO + PLACES TO GO:
Railay is SMALL - you walk everywhere and can easily explore!
Walk the main strip - lots of food, fun shops, and fresh fruit shakes! You can also check out ALL the excursions offered here (rock climbing, night kayaking, paddle boarding, boat tours, etc.).
Grab some kayaks at Sand Sea resort on the main beach front and head out for 2+ hours. We explored all the little limestone islands, paddled through sea caves, and climbed ropes hanging from stalactites jump into the water! SO SO SO fun!
Explore all the pathways, youβll find some more secretive beaches and coves! Just watch out for the grabby monkeysβ¦ they like to steal your water bottlesβ¦ and everything else.
Check out the βfood boatsβ on Phra Nang Cave Beach
Hike INSIDE Bat Caves on the west side of Phra Nang Beachβ¦ itβs a little secretive and tricky to find, ask staff at your hotel to point you in the right direction! Beware, not for people with claustrophobia (that was tough for me, lots of moral support was needed haha). There is a SICK view at the top of the opening!
Another hike thatβs more for the experience (and kinda for the view), is on your left when walking down the pathway to Phra Nang beach. You may see some brave souls using the ropes and vines to make their way up or downβ¦ yep, just go straight up!
For dinner, grab it to go and head to the main west beach. Put some towels down and watch the sunset illuminate the sky with SO many colors! Then, check your left after the sun goes down and watch millions of bats fill the sky way above as they fly out into the jungle!
Enjoy the night life - whether thatβs watching fire dancers on the beach or wandering through the main strip to grab a Chang beer!
III. PHI PHI // 2 DAYS
WHERE WE STAYED:
We stayed at a cute beach front bungalow resort called Paradise Pearl. With our own little beach and restaurant, it was a great place to hang out for the day!
THINGS TO DO + PLACES TO GO:
SNORKLE SNORKLE SNORKLE - hire a private long tail boat near where youβre staying to boat you out to the different islands. This was an amazing experience! Avoid the tourist trap speed boats - this was cheaper and we could stop wherever we wanted for however long we wanted. It was awesome. Friends, the sea life here is UNBELIEVABLE. So many fish and colors, and we even swam with a small reef shark. Wild, so incredible! We spent 5 hours out snorkeling!
Enjoy the clearest water, float and cool off between tanning sessions on your white sand beach.
We walked from our bungalows into downtown Phi Phi for dinner one night - about 20 mins. There are tons of food options and a fun night market to explore as well!
IV. KOH LANTA // 3 DAYS
WHERE WE STAYED:
This might have been my favorite place we stayed - Alama Sea Village Resort - on the south end of Koh Lanta. It has gorgeous modern bungalows that overlook the ocean from the hillside. You can even enjoy the view while floating in the infinity pool!
THINGS TO DO + PLACES TO GO:
Koh Lanta was by far the most chill place to visited! Everyone was incredibly laid back and it seemed a bit less touristy. A hidden gem, for sure!
We did lots of pool hangs, relaxing and soaking up the sun from our hillside perch.
Explore the jungle roads by motorbike (watch for monkey crossings)!
Our favorite beach was Bamboo Beach, it was a peaceful more private cove.
Head to the East side to explore the cute fishing town - lots of shops and restaurants. Just drive safely over the twisty, old mountain roads!
This is very much a βtake it easyβ kind of place. It was an awesome place to end our trip, although it ended abruptly, we were glad it was in such a peaceful place!
A FEW OTHER THINGS β
ALL THINGS FOOD + DRINK
Lots and lots of Thai Iced Tea ($75 cents)
Mango and Coconut shakes were my fave
Try iced Blue Butterfly Pea Tea - UH-MAZING!
Eat Banana Rhoti - the best kind of βpancakeβ youβll ever have
Get some Mango & Sticky Rice - I could eat this EVERY. FREAKING. DAY.
Fave Noodles to try: Pad Thai, Pad See Ew, Yum Woon Sen, and βNoodle Soupβ
Fave Curries: Green Curry, Red Curry, and Massaman Curry
Fave Other Dishes: Pad Krapow (spicy basil chicken), Morning Glory (garlic + greens), and papaya salad (so yummy and fresh)
Want a quick refresher? Grab a lime Manao Soda from any convenience store!
TRANSPORTATION
We got motorbikes in the bigger towns: Phuket and Koh Lanta. Itβs the best and cheapest way to get around - $8 bucks a day! Just DRIVE SAFELY - itβs an adjustment if youβre not used to that type of traffic OR driving on the left side of the road.
In places we didnβt get motorbikes, we either walked or used the βGRABβ app (basically Thailandβs version of Uber or Lyft). Most hotels can help you book transport as well!
Between islands, we took the local ferries. You can book them online ahead of time and just print the tickets out! PRO TIP: load the ferry and sit outside on the deck!! You can hang your feet off the edge, get that cool breeze, and not be cramped inside an overcrowded cabin!
A FEW TIPS
Buy snorkel gear there - SO cheap and will save you money over renting each time! We bought ours at Decathlon in Phuket for around $10 each.
Get up early - we woke up several time for sunrise beach walks, and basically had the WHOLE place to ourselves! Itβs cooler, quieter, and pure magic!
Buy big bottles of cold water - not only do you need to stay hydrated, but holding a bottle of ice cold water did wonders in cooling us down during those hot days!
7-Eleven is life - Walking the hot streets mid-day? Need a cool break? Pop into a 7-Eleven and be hit with the most refreshing AC youβve ever felt! Iβve never been into a 7-Eleven so many times!! Take these little pit stops to chill for a sec, grab a cheap cold drink, and hit the heat again!
Tiger fish swarming - sounds scarier than it is! Just know - when snorkeling, there are schools of striped yellow & black fish that are NOT shy and will swim all up in yoβ face!!! They donβt bite or do anything harmful really, but it definitely took some getting used to (and lots of screaming through my snorkel) to finally be a little more chill swimming with them!
Find the cheap food - try to avoid tourist traps! Yes, this is hard, and we definitely fell into some! Do your best to look for the local, small business eateries. Clues to finding them: family owned, not much english (if any) on the menus, and 30-50 Baht meals. SO YUMMY. The best food by far!
For super cheap stays - check out some hostels! We went with more medium priced bungalows and resorts (βcuz hey, still so cheap)! BUT, there are even cheaper options - check out Hostel World to find some rad overnight places!
Free breakfasts - everywhere we stayed had breakfast included! Which was SO nice! Most places have fresh fruit, omelet stations, and coffee, along with a variety of other choices! This made starting the day so easy and FREE! Something to think about when choosing a place to stay.
Planning your day - we always tried to plan our day with thinking about the heat. The mornings are often cooler, so we would go do our adventure first thing: hike, snorkel, drive around, etc. Then, make sure we were near some type of water (beach or pool) for the afternoon so we could constantly be cooling off! Evenings were always good for town walks, avoiding the sun and day heat as much as possible for meandering!
take a peak at a couple phone pics from along the way! ππ»
A FEW MORE PHOTOS FROM THE TRIP
Andie and I swapped a few photos along the way so we could have some of Josiah and I and her and Mikal! The perks of traveling with another photographer, photo swaps for life! ;)
Dreamy 70s Retro Vibe Elopement Inspiration // Joshua Tree, California
IF YOUβRE ON THE SEARCH FOR SOME RAD 70s RETRO ELOPEMENT INSPIRATION, THEN YOUβRE IN THE RIGHT PLACE!
The desert vibes of Joshua Tree California paired with some fun 70s styling created this magic for our Makers & Movers Workshop styled shoot!
This amazing shoot could not have been done without the collaboration of these incredible team members! We couldnβt have imagined everything coming together any better!
Excited to share these photos to power your imagination and inspire you with ideas for your own special day! If youβre thinking of eloping in Joshua Tree, check out these vendors to build your vision:
WORKSHOP // Makers & Movers
COORDINATION & DESIGN // Wilder Events Co.
COUPLE // Katie & Joe
DRESS // Lovely Bride LA
JEWELRY // Serpentine & Fair
WEDDING BANDS // Sharon Z Jewelry
CALLIGRAPHER // Summit & Sage
FLORALS // Bluebell Florals
CAKE // Fantasy Frostings
H&MU // Chelsea Nicole
RENTALS // Otis & Pearl
TUX // ASOS
We began with a bit of cozy in home time in our desert airbnb! Joe and Katie spent time getting ready together before we headed out on gorgeous property to hang out with the Joshua Trees.
Northern California Waterfall Couples Session
Spent a sunny day with these two gems exploring this Northern California Waterfall in Lassen National Park!
As you explore Lassen National Forest, you may stumble across this gem of a waterfall in Shasta County. It truly appears out of nowhere, and if you get there at just the right time of day, itβs grandness draws you in with the sun beans bursting through the sprays of water!
Loved getting to explore Californiaβs beauty with these two!
Epic Yosemite Elopement // Glacier Point + Taft Point
Intimate Maui Elopement at Molokini Bluff // Ian & Amalia
A Summer in the French Countryside // Josi & Taylor
Big Sur, California Elopement
Phuket, Thailand Family Session // The Hills
Australian Blue Mountains Elopement // New South Wales
Downtown Belfast, Northern Ireland Couple Session // Bethany + Israel
ahhh, my heart just kept growing and growing with love for northern ireland! Then, I did this couples shoot in downtown belfast with these two lovely humans and the love grew even more!
These two were such champs showing me all the hidden gems as we explored all around the main square! I love them and their story and that they trusted me to capture them together for the first time that wasnβt βjust selfiesβ haha! Also, can we just be like SHOOT DANG they are such babes!!!
we already know how much I love city photos and urban vibes, but belfast just filled my heart with all its cobblestone streets and beautiful architecture!
so, if youβre crushing on northern ireland too, and want to run around the city or the coast with your person, HIT ME UP!
SOME BELFAST GO-TOβS β
Established Coffee β a cute place to grab coffee
βOh Donutsβ β because YUM
Belfast Titanic Museum β an amazing experience
Giantβs Causeway β incredible landscape
Northern Ireland Wedding // Ruins Along the Coast
Wow, words for this day are hard. Mostly because thereβs so much I want to say!
I mean, how can you go wrong with a beautiful, Northern Ireland wedding along the coast? AND doing your couple pics at old ruins??!!
Anyways, letβs start with this. Bethany and I grew up together, our friendship has survived a crazy transitional life, the terrible tween years, states apart + countries apart, and into new seasons of βadult-ingβ alongside each other. When she asked me to be her bridesmaid AND photographer, I was so so so honored. This gave my storytelling a whole new level. One second I was full on snapping, and the next bawling my eyes out while reading a letter she wrote me. I walked down the aisle with a bouquet, and back with a camera. It was worth every second of running around in a flowy dress to capture the moments!
Bethany and Paddy got married in the most beautiful old, stone building along the Northern Ireland coast. The day was windy as heck, but I donβt think Iβve laughed so hard while dresses & hair flew in every direction during group photos! It was pure joy through every second. Their ceremony was so true to them, i doubt there was a single dry eye there (mine included)!
it may feel like a lot to scroll through, but it feels like a story book to me, from beginning to end. Itβs the documentation of one of the greatest days!
The story of this day feels so full and close to my heart! From early morning granola & coffee, mirrors spread ALL over our airbnb, tearful father & daughter first looks, ear to ear smiles walking down the aisle, wind blown hair, frolicking around old ruins, allll the way to the Irish ceili dancing late into the night!
I love you both so much! Cheers to this new season of life!
xx
PS I COULD NOT HAVE DONE THIS WITHOUT MY SISTER WHO CRUSHED IT AT SECOND SHOOTING!!!!
venue // Orange Tree House, Northern Ireland, Greyabbey
florals // Flowers by Mee
dress // thrifted (sheβs cool like that)
Colorado Mountain wedding
California Clifftop elopement // Diana + Daniel
ohhhhh california, your golden clifftops and earthy tones steal my heart every time!!! after spending the afternoon wine tasting in Sonoma, i couldn't have pictured ending the day in a more magical way! running up and down these ocean cliffs was a DREAM. We sprinted down the warm sand beach and they kissed till the sun went down. Now, that's a day well spent!
california coast elopement // Half Moon Bay
Skogafoss // Iceland Waterfall Couples session
majestic feels like an understatement for this Iceland waterfall. it was absolutely incredible and I could have stayed there all day just watching it and listening to its powerful force.
shooting with these two love bugs at the foot of something so beautiful was pure magic! we were soaked from the spray, but giddy as ever!
Icelandic Airplace Frolicking
Iceland, you are as beautiful as everyone says! these massive, open landscapes take your breath away (both because they are AMAZING, but also because it's windy as heck haha)! I would frolick on an Icelandic black sand beach or an abandon plane wreck any day!
