Moab Moonrise Adventure Session | Moab Elopement Photographer

Jenna & Mark Explore Moab for Engagement Session

SWELL & STONE / Adventure Elopement Photographer / Utah & Beyond

I met Jenna and Mark at a random pull out on the Colorado River outside of Moab for their adventure engagement session. It’s a spot I’ve been coming back to for years because of it’s unique viewpoint of desert towers backed by mountains. Up to our left was a treacherous looking slope littered with giant boulders in front of a sheer face. To our right flowed the mighty Colorado River, and there was an easy walk down to a nice beach. I pointed left and said, “we’re going up there.” Jenna and Mark got themselves in order and started hiking. Jenna in a dress and wedges made it up the steep, scrambling slope much faster than I did, and was less out of breath as well. They are both canyoneers and climbers and scrambling up a rock littered slope is an everyday affair for them. They didn’t think twice or hesitate when I directed them to a rock edge to perch on.

These two met rock climbing, Jenna explained. “We were bouldering at the local climbing gym and Mark fell off of a route that I was trying to climb and we just started chatting! We went on a trip to southern Utah the next week.”

They had so much in common that they just kept hanging out because who better than your best friend to go on all your adventures with? “We’re pretty similar as far as hobbies go. We both love rock climbing, hiking, running, backpacking, and canyoneering. I love to ski and snowboard, Mark hasn’t learned yet. We also both love to read.”

After we got some amazing tiny person landscape shots of the towers, mountains, and river we headed down to the river. Mark said he loves the way rivers rocks look, so I took some overhead shots of them laying on the rocks and exploring the beach area. They love all kinds of outdoor activities but mentioned that currently, backpacking was a favorite. “Backpacking is the current craze. We really want to get back to Escalante and go on a backcountry trip.”

As the sun sank lower we headed down the road to take in views of some different desert towers. Moab is such an unreal spot that driving just a few minutes in either direction can change up the scenery. We hiked, skipped, and explored, and as the sun sank lower a full moon rose overhead. Just being among the towers in golden light is a treat, but staying to see the moonrise and with temperatures still really comfortable was just spectacular. The shot of them dancing under a full moon rising ended up being one of my favorites of the whole session, even though it was one of the shots that I had given the least thought and planning. That slope that I was talking about earlier… I had hiked up and down that entire slope for hours to find the perfect rock for them to stand on for those shots as part of my location scouting process. And don’t get me I LOVE those shots. But something about the small details and the unplanned shots makes this job so much fun.

This shoot happened right before a lot was locked down for Covid-19. I’m so happy we were able to get out for a lovely evening in Moab, and Jenna and Mark spent the rest of the weekend exploring canyonlands. But they had a wedding scheduled for April, which they had to change and move several times before finally being able to elope with a few friends and family socially distanced in the great outdoors. I’m so happy they were able to make it happen because they are so clearly deeply in love!

I love staying out until the sun goes down with my couples, so if you’d love starry night sky shots or moonrise shots get in touch, and let’s make it happen.

Epic Engagement Session at Valley of Fire | Las Vegas Elopement Photographer

Maria & Kaden Explore Valley of Fire State Park for Engagement Session

SWELL & STONE / Adventure Elopement Photographer / Las Vegas & Beyond

Maria and Kaden reached out to me about 2 weeks before I was set to leave on a 3-week work trip around the desert, and in a matter of a few days, I was able to extend my trip a few days so that I could photograph them as well! They love last-minute trips and it ended up being great timing because Maria was going to be in Las Vegas for a work conference anyway. They are from Kansas City, so Kaden flew out at the end of the week, and we were able to go explore Valley of Fire State Park, which is only an hour outside the city, but packs a huge punch in terms of views.

The landscape is surreal and otherworldly, and to top everything off, it was their first time ever seeing the red rock. I love being there for people’s first experiences in the red rock desert. Like them, I’m from Kansas, and I drove through the desert for the first time in 2008 on my way to work at Lake Powell in-between years of school. I still remember hanging out of my best friend’s sunroof with my mouth hanging wide open. I couldn’t believe this magical place existed on earth.

Maria and Kaden’s first time seeing the landscape was similar. They loved the colors and shapes. We had incredible weather that was comfortable to hike around in, and even when I asked if they wanted to take off their shoes and walk through cold slot canyon water, they were game.

They met online, both swiping right. Maria said, “We talked for a week or so through texts and calls then decided to meet in person. We met at a tapas restaurant for our first date and talked for hours. Afterward, we decided to keep the night going as any mature adult would do — with hot cocoa at a local coffee shop. For our second date, I picked the restaurant. He hadn’t been there before, and admittedly I was testing him to see how adventurous he could be with food. The first thing he ordered was my favorite item on the menus — something that most people wouldn’t even think about ordering. I was pretty hooked after that.”

As we hiked we talked about life in Kansas, their dogs, and the Kansas City Chiefs. When asked about their relationship Kaden said, “It would be impossible to identify an exact moment (I fell in love with her). For me, it is everything that Maria is that made me fall in love with her. The way she cares for others, the way she cares for herself, and of course I see and feel how much she cares for me. I admire her work ethic and desire to succeed in anything she is doing. She makes me better and THAT is what I fell in love with.”

For Maria, the moment she fell in love with him was a little more concrete. “I realized how much I loved Kaden when he and I were renovating his rental property. We were on a tight deadline and it was early in our relationship. I’m a very handy woman (thanks to my mom) and took the lead of the work — Kaden was so proud and appreciative and helpful. No matter how hangry I got, he met me with patience and kindness and a burrito. I may have been the one helping without him asking me, but I felt like the lucky one because I had him.”

They both love dogs and have rescued many. They spend the weekends outside with their pups. “We love going to restaurants that have patios and hanging out during nice days. Dog park, dog-friendly bars, Jeep rides, and lazy afternoons at home make for the best weekends.”

And one of my favorite stories they told me was their engagement story. When they were telling it my hands were sweating just thinking about what Kaden was going through. “Kaden got the ring in September then tried to think of the best possible proposal. He even brought it to Iceland during a trip we took in October! Yet he couldn’t find the right moment...” That’s right, he took the ring all the way to Iceland and didn’t propose. He said he had to keep hiding and moving to different places so Maria wouldn’t find it. And he managed not to lose it or blow the secret! “Finally, on Christmas, we were in Colorado with my family and he had a chance to ask my mom and brother in law (patriarch of our family) for permission. He got on one knee after we all opened presents and popped the question. I happy cried a lot, he smiled a lot. I would also like to note that I never told Kaden a ring style I wanted, I don’t wear jewelry. But the ring he got is absolutely perfect.” And it is a beautiful ring, check out the pics below for evidence.

They are clearly very in love, I think you can see that through the photos, but they are also the kindest people. They were joyful and fun, and I’m so happy we were able to make the day work. And what an incredible afternoon/evening we spent hiking around one of the coolest parks. Thunderstorms had hit the area recently and I had planned on taking Maria and Kaden through a slot canyon, but it was filled with water. But that was no obstacle, we just took off our shoes and walked through it, and of course, they paused so I could take some photos. The stormy weather made for a lot of wind, which Maria handled gracefully, even though wearing a dress in windy weather is a hard thing to do. A lot of the images included her hair whipping around her face, which I love. Her hair still managed to look great through it all.

I’m so happy these two took the leap to get on a plane and come meet me where I was for their engagement shoot on such short notice. This was right before everything started to get locked down for the coronavirus pandemic, so the time spent outside in fresh air in a new place was really a precious memory.

“Not only is Kat an amazing photographer, but she’s an incredible person. Kat gave us an idea of what to expect, but as our first time doing a photo session, we were still a bit nervous/clueless. Kat made us feel comfortable and at ease. I never once felt rushed. She really is a professional who found her calling. Our photos turned out SO so great... I can’t stop looking at them. I highly recommend Kat and swell & stone to anyone who is even the slightest interested in getting some really cool and memorable couples photos outdoors.”

— Maria & Kaden

Arizona Saguaro Wonderland in Superstition Mountains | Arizona Elopement Photographer

Martha & Wil Wander Through Superstition Mountain Trails Outside Phoenix, AZ

SWELL & STONE / Adventure Elopement Photographer / Arizona & Beyond

Martha and Wil and their daughter, Lucy, met me in the Superstition Mountains in Lost Dutchman State Park outside of Phoenix, Arizona. We had a lovely sunny afternoon to explore some of the trails, and Lucy was excited to hit the ground running. I love how saguaros look in backlight, so naturally, I was hunting for the perfect saguaro for them to stand next to. We started by just trying to find some shade, which we managed to do, and I was able to capture some of the cutest family shots.

I love to include couple’s kids in their anniversary or engagement shoots, and of course, you include them on the actual wedding or elopement day as well. It makes the experience so fun because as a photographer I just think- what would be fun for a kid, let’s do that. So Lucy went up on her dad’s shoulders and held hands with her parents while swinging back and forth. She thought it was so much fun that she didn’t want to stop doing it. So if you can just create a fun experience and environment, that’s literally most of the battle. At one point Lucy and Wil went back to the car to grab her stuffed bunny, and that made for some really cute photos as well.

After a bit a fun family playfulness we were able to distract Lucy with an iPad and a good friend who kept an eye on her and we snuck away for some more sunset shots and a few outfit changes. The Superstition Mountains are such a cool spot, but where we were the sun was directly on the mountain, so I waited until it dropped a bit to put them against that amazing backdrop. We were able to hike far enough away from most of the people and it really felt secluded. On top of that, the weather was absolutely perfect even as the sun dropped the temps were comfortable.

The golden hour is one of my absolute favorite times to shoot, and I just revel in the amazing golden light as it’s happening. Martha and Wil were amazing and ran around like kids, spun, kissed, and twirled to their heart’s content. Every time I get to photograph a couple in these amazingly beautiful places, I love when the moment when they really take in their surroundings- how amazing the light is, how gorgeous the views are, how lovely their partner is, and they almost always say something like- we should do this more often. And the truth is most people should do this more often. Go for a hike where you have a nice view and watch the sunset. Feel your feet in the dirt and smell each flower or plant that you pass. Martha and Wil commented on how it was less than an hour's drive for them, but with a child at home and a list of obligations piling up it was something they hadn’t made enough time for. It’s so easy to let that happen. even though this is my job, I let it happen too. But my favorite part of the job is- often after the sun has set and the couple had an amazing time and their daughter is worn out from running and playing and we are hiking back to the cars- when they say something like what Martha and Wil said, which is that they will make getting outside as a family more regular. And they have a satisfied, very content-disposition and you can tell that everyone is truly happy.

Sunset Adventure Session at Dead Horse Point | Utah Wedding Photographer

Janessa & Brandon Explore Dead Horse Point State Park in Celebration of One Year Anniversary

SWELL & STONE / Adventure Elopement Photographer / Utah & Beyond

I met Janessa and Brandon on a secluded dirt road somewhere outside of Moab. I wanted to pack in the views during their adventure session, and the dirt road had stunning views of the La Sal mountain range as a backdrop. They were approaching their one year anniversary of marriage, and Janessa had told me she was excited to get some great nature photos with her dress, because on their actual wedding day she was more nervous about tearing it up. But now, a full year after their wedding she was excited to drag it through the desert dirt and spin freely on the hiking trails.

She also brought along an amazing white jumpsuit, so she started out wearing that, which allowed her to be playful and be mobile. So naturally running down the dirt road was a must, and we enjoyed the incredible mountain views for a while.

Janessa and Brandon met on a dating app and as Janessa explains it, “Our first date was for lunch at a pho restaurant. What was supposed to be a casual date ended up being way longer than either of us planned because we were having so much fun. We were laughing and telling stories and I probably overshared but everything felt so natural. Brandon told me about breaking his foot wake boarding, I told him about prepping to hike the PCT. He drove me back to my apartment and I knew I had to see him again. We still go back to that restaurant frequently, we even have our orders memorized and sometimes they'll seat us at that same table.”

Janessa fell in love with Brandon quickly and said, “I was on the phone talking to a friend, telling them about Brandon and they said, ‘So what, do you think you're gonna marry this guy?’ And I was like, ‘You know, I might.’ That was almost two months after we started dating. I knew really soon that I could never be bored with Brandon in my life.”

And in Janessa, Brandon knew it felt right from the start as well. “My family always complained that I never went out with a girl more than twice. When I met Janessa, I broke the rules I had set for myself about length of dates, texting, and everything else. It felt right from the start, and we saw each other almost every day after maybe our third date. I kept looking for red flags, but green means go!”

They share a mutual love for adventure activities which brought them closer together and really crystalized the special bond they share when they were dating long distance. “We lived several hours apart but made special trips to see each other on the weekends. When Janessa came to Utah Brandon would plan our adventure, and when he came to Idaho Janessa would plan it. We hiked in the Tetons, went to hot springs and did our very first canyoneering trip together. I think it showed both of us how far the other was willing to go in order to see something new with someone we loved. It feels like that's been the theme of our whole relationship. We are always looking for the next adventure, location or activity to do together. Someday maybe we'll get a dog or adventure cat or bird or something. Janessa wants something small to love.”

Next we drove just a few miles down the road to Dead Horse Point State Park. It was their first time in the park and for a while they just took in the view and gasped at how amazing it was. The cool thing about Dead Horse Point is that you have two fairly different views on each side of the park, and it’s up on a thin plateau, so you can walk from one side to the other quickly. We started looking down at the Potash Evaporation Ponds- bright blue sections of water at the base of tall orange mesas. It’s a strange sight for sure, but really cool to see from above. There is an info plaque in the park with more info on why this exists, but the short explanation is that a company is mining salt, and the way they do that is by pumping water into the rock, dissolving the salt, and pumping it back out into the ponds. They dye the water various shades of blue so that it evaporates more quickly, and then a machine gathers it.

On the other side you look down to see the classic Dead Horse Point view. We hike along the rim for a while, and it’s truly best to take in this view from absolutely every possible direction. As the sun sank a little lower, Janessa changed into her wedding gown, and Brandon into his suit. It was the first time they’d seen each other in their wedding clothes since their wedding, and they were so cute when they saw one another again. We moved to a different section of the park and Brandon in particular had no problem standing close to the edge of some overhanging cliffs.

We watched the sun go down, and Brandon’s playfulness came out when he picked up Janessa and threw her over his shoulder. When I was going through the images I could see the full range of emotions play out on Janessa’s face. From surprise, to shock, a little bit of fear, to full on laughter. It was a great way to end the session after witnessing an incredible sunset in one of the most beautiful places on earth. Through it all their love for each shone bright, and I walked away so happy to have had the opportunity to spend an afternoon with these wonderful humans.

“Kat is awesome! We took anniversary photos and she was so helpful with giving us ideas for poses, keeping the mood light and capturing our love for the outdoors and each other. She was awesome with communication and answered our questions quickly. Also, she’s super cool! I’d book her again just to keep talking with her.
”

— Janessa & Brandon

Couple Go Canyoneering for Engagement Shoot | Utah Elopement Photographer

Saoly & Benjamin Descend a Technical Canyon for Epic Engagement Shots

SWELL & STONE / Adventure Wedding Photographer / Utah & Beyond

I met Saoly and Benjamin in an unassuming dirt pull off on the side of the road outside of Zion National Park. The spot didn’t look like much, and to the untrained eye it looks much more spectacular than the views you will find by just driving an additional 15 minutes into Zion. But a short hike reveals one of my favorite short canyons, and Saoly and Benjamin were up for a technical canyoneering adventure for their engagement photos.

Saoly is a canyoneer and climber, and Benjamin is a climber and mountaineer. They both have a ton of rope work experience, all the necessary gear and safety training. It should be noted that I also have a ton of rope work experience, and I’ve completed around 100 canyons. I don’t guide couples down canyons, but it they have the technical experience to do it on their own I will certainly photograph them doing it. For other couples interested in a similar experience, but have zero or only a few canyons or climbs under their belt I highly recommend they hire a guide and I would be happy to photograph and come along for the journey. It’s such a fun experience, but safety is definitely the number one priority when descending a technical canyon, so it’s great to have a guide to worry about all the safety, and then I am able to focus on the photos.

When I asked about how they met and started to date Saoly explained that they met at the climbing gym in Las Vegas, but were only acquaintances for a while. Benjamin eventually moved to Salt Lake City and after Saoly ended a relationship they both ended up on an online dating app. Saoly said she had extensive filters set so she needed to expand her range to include more cities outside of Las Vegas, so when she saw Benjamin pop up on her screen she remembered him from the climbing gym. The rest, as they say, is history. They began seeing one another on the weekends and they love doing the same things, mostly climbing and skiing.

I picked this spot for their engagement photos, and we didn’t see a single person the entire day even though it was a weekend day. We had the whole canyon to ourselves to enjoy, and both Saoly and I laughed at how Benjamin pointed out and climbed the bottom of every climbable crack along the way. If you’ve ever taken a climber through a canyon you’ll know what I’m talking about.

Saoly developed a system of tying her dress in a knot while down climbing (AKA GOWN CLIMBING, HAHAA!) and rappelling and then untied it for photos and just walking. She was really the MVP of the day, because as you can tell from the photos, there was still a little snow on the ground and it wasn’t exactly warm outside. And let’s face it, it’s never warm inside of a canyon. Luckily, we only had to avoid a few puddles, so no wading through potholes in a white dress. That would have been a first for my shoots.

It was such a fun day, and I’m so happy they were able to experience a canyon they had never done for their engagement photos. They plan to get married on a mountaintop and I can’t wait to capture that special day!

“My fiance and I had the pleasure of working with Kat on our engagement photoshoot canyoneering just outside of Zion. We are a very adventurous couple who loves rock climbing, skiing, canyoneering, and mountaineering, so naturally it made sense for our engagement photos to be during one of our adventures. Of course, I wanted the photos to be not only epic and adventurous, but also still pretty and “weddingy” with a white dress and all. In other words, I still wanted to feel pretty, so we couldn’t do anything that was TOO strenous, be on an adventure, and also be in a remote location where we wouldn’t run into anyone else who might be in our photos. Kat has been around the block and suggested the perfect location for us that was picturesque, yet also remote (we didn’t see any other people that day), adventurous enough for epic photos yet not TOO strenuous so that I could still look somewhat put together and not all sweaty LOL. It is very difficult to find a photographer who 1) knows of locations that would even meet all these criteria 2) is in good enough shape to go on said adventure 3) can scramble and do sketchy downclimbs while risking possibly damaging their photography equipment 4) is comfortable with ropework and can do technical canyoneering and/or rock climbing 5) makes you and your significant other feel completely comfortable in front of the camera and knows how to pose you 6) take amazing photos 7) deliver them to you quickly, and actually gives you a HUGE number of photos! Kat fits the bill in all regards, and we are so lucky to have found her to capture our special day. Can’t wait to use her again for our wedding!
”

— Saoly & Benjamin

New Hampshire Mountaintop Anniversary | New Hampshire Elopement Photographer

Meghan & Hilary Celebrate Two Years with Hike to Top of Mt. Major

Swell & Stone / New England Wedding Photographer

I met Megan & Hilary at the trailhead to Mt. Major in New Hampshire on a cold, but sunny Monday afternoon in February for their adventure session to take some photos in celebration of 2 years together. It was also a few days after Valentine’s Day, so great timing to have some photos done. They brought their adorable puppy, Walter, along for the hike, and he had the best time running ahead and then circling back to see what was taking us so long. I love when couples bring dogs for the hikes because they have so much fun and the joy factor is increased seeing their pup get to jump and play in the snow.

Megan and Hilary met at the climbing gym and quickly found that their shared passions drew them closer and they often found themselves deep in conversation. As Megan tells it, "I noted our similar values, including outdoor adventure and social justice, and also loved how much the two of us laughed together. We could spend so much time talking- we sat at bars until last call more than once! I also remember her bringing me a "purse beer" for my birthday (that's a beer that you conveniently carry in your purse). I insisted we go back to her place to split it, which is when I first met Walt, and also the first time I asked to kiss her." Hilary, on the other hand, had no freaking idea that Megan had an enormous crush on her. Eventually, she figured it out and they started dating.

As we hiked up the mountain we stopped and took photos where the light was good, and moving quickly when we weren’t throwing snowballs or taking pics. Actually, these two hiked so quickly that we summited way before I thought we were going to, and the reason why became obvious as we were hiking and chatting. They were reminiscing on many of the hikes they’ve done together and noted that they needed more easy days out, like hiking Mt. Major. When I asked what some of the hikes that they are used to doing together were like, they said they had done the Presidential Traverse (20.4 miles and 8,200 ft. of elevation gain) in one day! I had also done the Presidential Traverse, but I did it in 3 days and could not imagine doing it in one. They noted that they often take on intense outdoor objectives together, but that they both love mellow multi-pitch trad climbs, something we could all agree on.

When I asked what their perfect day would like that if they could choose to do absolutely anything, they said it would be like a day they had last summer. “Hands down we would rock climb Standard Route on Whitehorse Ledge in North Conway, or any similar low-grade, long, multi-pitch trad route. We'd then crack an ice-cold beer, meet up with our dog Walter, and jump in a lake. Then we'd definitely head to a barbecue or Thai restaurant for dinner, and finish it out with a bonfire.” Which sounds like a pretty perfect day.

We crested the summit to a cold and windy peak where we hid behind a rock barrier for a bit to crack open some hard cider’s they had brought along and celebrate the summit. After a bit, we ventured out and took some photos of the incredible view looking out at Lake Winnipesaukee and toward the White Mountains. Although I have summited the mountain a few times before, neither of them had, so they were happy to add another summit to their list in an area of New Hampshire they hadn’t visited as often as their beloved White Mountains.

As we hiked back down, the sun lowered on the horizon and Walter’s trail zoomies slowed a bit. We continued chatting about climbing, snowboarding, and hiking, and I was so grateful to have gone on this fun adventure with this amazing couple and their pup. And I was so excited to edit the photos and send them along. Of course, I was over the moon when they were kind enough to leave me a review after seeing the photos.

“My partner and I did a photoshoot in New Hampshire with Kat. It was such an amazing experience, one that we will not forget! We had a blast hiking up a mountain, stopping wherever the lighting was good. Kat made us feel at ease and helped us overcome any camera anxiety. She even let us bring our dog along and incorporated him into a lot of the pictures. Kat is super personable and enjoyable to be around and the hike was a pleasure; the photos as the end result were just the icing on the cake to a great day. Not to mention, the photos turned out amazingly, she somehow made our camera awkwardness disappear! I could not recommend Kat more for outdoor couples’ photos.”

— Megan & Hilary