sandra + michaela // colorado mountain top elopement

If there’s ever a couple in this world to show what love truly is and how much bigger love can be than anything that might stand in it’s way… it’s Michaela and Sandra.

I’m grateful to know these two as a friend and a small piece in their journey to getting married. As so many couples had to reroute, change and minimize their weddings this past year, these two kept their love at the forefront of it all. Even on their actual wedding day with the strongest, coldest wind I’ve ever felt in Colorado and wildfires amongst the mountains, Sandra and Michaela stayed centered and trusted the process. They directed their small circle back to the Airbnb to stay warm and cozy for the ceremony while they took on the wind and ventured mountainside to spend some time together.

Their vows to one another ran deep. They told stories of their love early on when they’d hold hands in secret and share their love between just the two of them. All of us there watched teary-eyed as they celebrated one another and their beautiful journey together.

Thank you Michaela and Sandra for trusting me to capture your day. You two are the brightest souls in this life and I’m so happy to know you.

jess + adam // colorado alpine lake elopement

It goes without saying that 2020 was an odd year for everyone. A tough year. We had to change a lot about our lives. From the way we communicated with each other, to the people that we were able to see, and even to the way we sat with ourselves.

Throughout 2020 we had countless things taken away from us. Our experiences, emotions, and memories of this past year will always follow with a footnote. With all of these changes and obstacles in the one hand; we were given a chance to evaluate our lives and look at things through a different lens in the other.

It was inspiring to witness couples come together and redirect their weddings. Couples were forced to change their plans of big celebrations, and large weddings; to smaller, more inmate gatherings. I was fortunate enough to watch couples fall in love all over again as they planned their new wedding day. Love created their plans, instead of traditions, and making sure their Mom’s second cousin had the right meal.

They chose to have a day led with simple truth. Truth that a life shared together is about change and everlasting growth. It was about stepping into their heart, and building something beautiful with the soul that they want to enjoy life’s ride with.

Jess and Adam’s day was the epitome of this. Their original plan of a large wedding surrounded by friends and family gave way to a much different celebration. With restrictions on guest lists, and venue cancellations Jess and Adam had to reroute their plans. Now, their venue was an alpine lake surrounded by backcountry campers, and their guests showered Jess and Adam with unwavering support through videos and letters.

Witnessing these two share their honest, unfiltered words with one another is something I will be forever thankful for. Their vows reminded me of what truly counts in this life. Eachother, and the love that we extend to each other. I don’t mean this in a false and fluffy way, but in a real way, with meaning and intention. Showing love with actions, and words that say “you are safe here with me. I’ve seen your real self and everything that comes with it, and I love it”.

Thank you Jess and Adam for trusting me to capture your day and sharing a piece of your story. I wish you two the best, and I’m forever grateful to see love in this world like yours.

cassie + nick // dreamy white sands new mexico engagement

Ohhh the White Sands in New Mexico… it’s one of those places that ventures you to the middle of nowhere. Where the drive is so long and you’re wondering where the heck it is but once you arrive it feels like being on another planet. A surreal place with white sands anywhere you look and the color of the sky can change from hazy blue to pink to golden and then deep, brilliant mish mash of sunset colors.

Cassie and Nick live in New Mexico and I was super excited that both of them were down to make the trek to have their engagement photos at the Sands. Cassie is one of my childhood friends and one I consider close to the heart. It was just a bonus that not only did I get to capture this special chapter for her and Nick, but it was in an amazing place.

We hiked around the sands, played some music, popped some champs and danced it out until the sun crept down over the mountain. Here’s to Cass + Nick.

kelsey + scott // mayflower gulch honeymoon road trip

Ohhh Kelsey and Scott… just two incredible people I have so luckily gotten to know through their journey of engagement, marriage and now honeymooning. They’re the example of clients turned into friends. They have been a real inspiration of living intentionally and surrounding each other + their inner circle with love.

These two east coast sweet souls wanted to get married in Colorado but kept it back in Long Island for family (P.S. the wedding was amazing). They planned a honeymoon road-trip through Colorado and Utah, so we met up in the mountains for some post-wedding portraits. Before the sun had even risen, we linked up at the bottom of Mayflower Gulch trail to trek up in my Subie. So glad these two are down for an adventure since the trail was sketchy in some areas but with four-wheel drive and my trusty Subaru, we made it up to backcountry bliss surrounded by wildflowers, historic mining cabins and those CO peaks.

So much love to you both + Kelsey and Scott.

ellie + kevin // telluride summer elopement

Telluride views, down-to-earth in-love souls, a golden hour out of this world and love celebrated by a close inner circle. This elopement between Ellie and Kevin will forever be stamped in my heart and in my memory.

As a photographer, being a piece of a bigger wedding can seem like a smaller part in the big picture. However, as a photographer at an elopement, you’re really in it as a bigger piece. There’s a different weight that carries with it. One that comes with recognizing that you get to be let in just a little bit more and be someone that gets to hold those memories a little more closely.

I have so much gratitude for Ellie and Kevin letting me be a piece of their Telluride elopement day and into their circle. Getting to capture the two of them and those that are in their corner, just as they are with all of the beautiful layers and love they share, was an honor. Ellie and Kevin made it feel like the real deal kind of special and I dig it. Hope you do too…

jess + adam // evergreen colorado engagement

Capturing Jess and Adam’s Evergreen engagement session on a warm summer evening was just the start to how stoked I am to capture their marriage journey.

Listening to their sweet stories together, meeting their cute kitties, perusing the new Denver house they bought and then venturing out into the front range mountains, reflected much how they genuinely love each other. The connection between the two of them was so very present that it vibrated throughout their sweet sunset session.

Thank you Jess + Adam for just being you.

kortney + sean // windswept mexico elopement

It doesn’t get much better than having Kortney as a longtime friend. Truly… she’s a radiant soul, keeps it real and supports anyone in her circle. It was an honor getting to celebrate her elopement in a beautiful place with her person, Sean. I am so happy for these two. They really care about the best in one another and they still know how to keep life balanced with adventure. They did up their big day brilliantly with their closest inner circles in sunny Mexico. Reminiscing on these photos takes me back to the colorful sunsets, bright blue waters, new chapters with friends and one good ass time. Here’s to you, Kortney + Sean.

abby + cordis // a boulder sunset engagement

When Abby and Cordis first reached out to me, I was so stoked about their story. Adventurous, totally in-love, epic first date and not to mention, both of them part of the Adidas trail running team together traveling to beautiful places and killing the running game. To say they’re even more incredible in-person is an understatement.

For their session, we met at their casa and they showed me around some of the remodeling in the works. Cue: self made duo flipping their new home and making it amazing. We hopped in the car and and enjoyed the rest of the evening chasing the sunset, laughing and celebrating.

makayla + kevin // in-home columbus park engagement

I know I say this a lot, but there’s something to be said about couples trusting you to get in their space and just do your thing. Throughout the busy season you can encounter creative restriction or direction from outside sources, so having the moments and people that let you just move about and see things the way you see them and let you create freely is invaluable. Full heart here friends. To you, M + K.

lauren + kyle // camp hale colorado wedding

To say I was completely and beautifully moved from Lauren and Kyle’s wedding is an understatement. These two radiate love in such a raw, humbling form.

Just walking in while Lauren and her closest loves were getting ready for the day was a breath of fresh air. Their VRBO was mountainside overlooking Vail with the morning sunlight pouring in. Lauren and Kyle met up along the trail for their first look. We found an aspen grove tucked away off the trail so they could share their words and hearts with one another amongst the trees. In that moment, I knew it would be something I’d look back on and really feel like I was apart of something that was happening in it’s truest form. I appreciate so much how they went with the flow during the day. We had a few trail runners and bikers popping in and out of photos and the two of them welcomed it all in.

We trekked into the mountains a bit more for their wedding festivities at Camp Hale. While we had some down time the father of the bride did a little fly fishing in the pond that surrounded the ceremony site. And Mother Nature held off the rain during the ceremony and hit just in time during the cocktail hour for people to cozy up in the tent.

I have so many reflections back on this day and all the people that surrounded these two, but I’ll let the photos tell the story. Here’s to you, Lauren and Kyle. Thank you so much for trusting me to capture this day for you.

And big love to all the wonderful vendors from the day!

Planning: Hourglass Productions

Venue + Catering: Camp Hale Weddings

Ceremony Dress: a&bé bridal shop denver

Evening Dress: BHLDN

Hair + Makeup: Nicole McGraw

Florals: Fluorescence Flowers

Videography: Johnny Brewer, Homefield Productions