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

How Your Favorite Color Palette Can Help Determine Your Elopement Location

Find Out How Your Favorite Color Palette Helps You Determine Where To Elope

Swell & Stone | Adventure Wedding & Elopement Photographer | United States & Beyond

Ever wonder where the best elopement location is for you? Take this short quiz to find out, and then read below to learn more about the best places to elope based on your favorite landscape and color palette.

I have what some people might call a “strong aesthetic taste”. My favorite color is blue and various forms of blue-green and dark teals. If I were to get married again, I would elope in the desert because I love the way the orange rock looks against the bright blue sky, and how the tan of the sand and the soft green of white sage play in harmony together. My house has exposed brick, which I feel mimics the red rock desert, and I have a teal couch next to a light brown leather couch complete with a southwest style rug. I’m just drawn to that color scheme, and I think part of the reason I love the desert so much is because I get to walk through living art. I keep returning to walk amongst the towers and night skies like an art connoisseur would return to the MoMA.

If you’re considering getting married outside, you might want to think about the color scheme of the location you are interested in. The beauty of elopements is that you don’t have to spend hours weighing decor options, deciding which tablecloths to rent, and picking out how all the pieces of the puzzle will work together. When you choose a wildly different wedding experience like eloping outside, the wilderness is your decor! So, take some time and sit down with your partner, because everything from the location you decide on to the time of day you get married will affect your wedding color scheme. You may decide to go somewhere you’ve never been before, or you may decide that a place you return to over and over is the location for you. Whatever you decide, work with your photographer to make that vision a reality.

Read below to look through a few options, but keep in mind that you can find a huge variety of color schemes and palettes in the same location. This is simply a guide to get you and your partner thinking about what aesthetic you are drawn to. Just because you aren’t mulling over what color your tablecloths are going to be, doesn’t mean you can’t have your favorite colors be a part of your day!

Desert Color Palette

The desert is one of those places that has a huge variety of color palette options. There are minimalist options in places like White Sands National Monument in New Mexico, or bold contrasting colors in the red rock desert of southern Utah and Northern Arizona. In some locations you can get some really monotone, gorgeous looks. If you drive a few hours you will get bold colors, and vibrant shots. The thing is, sometimes you can get both in the same place depending on the time of day. Work with your photographer to get an idea of how the changing light will affect your images. Although every photographer is different, all the photographers I know LOVE shooting at sunrise and sunset. Some hate shooting in the middle of the day. I think it really depends on the location, and in some spots, I love shooting in the middle of the day just as much as at dawn and dusk. Also, the desert is a great place to wait until it gets dark and shoot the night sky. I love photographing when the stars come out, and in the desert that is almost every night.

Mountain Color Palette

The high alpine is one of the most enchanting places to be and photograph. Mountain blues and grays are some of the most lovely colors, but depending on the season you can see some orange, red, yellow, and green in the mix as well. Often there are water elements and chances for reflections, too. The season for eloping in the mountains is short…unless you’re willing to dress warmly and get some wildly different shots- winter wedding style!

Forest Color Palette

Foggy forests bring out some ridiculously rich colors and dreamlike landscapes. I always say, “don’t be afraid of rain on your wedding day, because interesting weather makes for the most interesting photos!” I had a client once say to me that she was going for a “woodland nymph vibe”, and I knew exactly what she meant and we scheduled her elopement for the fall in Vermont. The forest is a truly magical place to be, especially in the off seasons.

Ocean Color Palette

If you’re a water person, one of the most beautiful places to elope is to a coastal location. But keep in mind, not all coastal locations are tropical. There are gorgeous spots on the coast of Maine, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire. Of course, Baja California, and the entire California Coast are unreal for clear, blue waters. Then there are places where the forest meets the ocean, like the Northern California coast, Oregon, and the San Juan Islands in Washington. Keep all of these things in mind, and maybe one of those locations has everything you love all in one place!

Sunrise & Sunset Color Palette

I’ve talked a little bit about shooting at dawn and dusk because those times are what photographers call the “golden hour” and with that comes a different, gorgeous color scheme. If you go to a place that has a primarily blue, green, or neutral color scheme, the golden hour can be the perfect time to add warm colors to those landscapes.

I hope I’ve given you some ideas and things to think about visually as you choose your wedding or elopement location. Not only should it be a place you love or a place you’ve longed to go to, but it’s also important to think about the color scheme of the place because that will affect your photos! If you are searching for an adventure wedding or elopement photographer who can help you work through those things I would love to help. Contact me here or use the button below and let’s start planning your wildly different wedding experience!

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.

Inexpensive Wedding Venue Ideas for Elopements

Free (or Nearly Free) Wedding and Elopement Ceremony Locations

SWELL & STONE / ADVENTURE Wedding & ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER / United States AND BEYOND

Wedding venues can be pricey, but what if you can find a free or inexpensive venue for your wedding or elopment? Game-changer, right! There are parts of your wedding that you certainly don’t want to skimp on, but if you’re the outdoorsy type, one place you can certainly save money is by eloping or having a small, outdoor wedding in the great outdoors. There are a variety of options to choose from when it comes to using public lands for your wedding or elopement. Public lands sometimes require a permit and it’s best to check with the nearest ranger station. Also keep in mind people you know with a gorgeous backyard, or private land with a view. Here are a few options for finding a free or inexpensive venue for your outdoor wedding.

Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land

Bureau of Land Management or BLM land is technically owned by all of us. You own it, I own it, anyone who pays his or her taxes owns it. There are over 247 million acres of wilderness preserved in BLM land, and it makes up and eighth of the total landmass in the United States. That offers a lot of options of beautiful and secluded locations to have your dream wedding!

I lived in my truck for two years roaming and photographing the western parts of North America, and when I set out to find a camping spot for the evening I always looked for BLM or National Forest land because they often have free dispersed camping options. Each BLM area is different and some of them are busier than others and require camping or day use fees. Some sites can be completely free for weddings. It’s best to check in at the ranger station or do your research online before heading out to each specific location.

For example, the BLM land near “the wave” in northern Arizona has surged in popularity in recent years. The ranger station holds a hyper-competitive lottery each morning. However, there are a ton of beautiful spots in the same area that do not require a permit to explore. When I begin helping a couple plan an elopement or small outdoor wedding one of the first things I do is email or call the ranger station in charge of the land they want to have their ceremony on. Once I receive a response we are free to move forward with planning, and we can begin completing any necessary paperwork.

Find out more info about permits and permissions on BLM land here.

National Forest Land

In the U.S. there are 155 National Forests totaling about 190 million acres, roughly the size of Texas. There are so many gorgeous spots that aren’t designated national parks, and one of the huge bonuses of choosing to elope on these lands is the seclusion they provide.

Recently, I photographed a couple on National Forest land in Vermont. Not only did the rangers approve the elopement time and date completely for FREE they also sent the couple their best wishes. This couple brought along a cake and a picnic lunch to enjoy. Other couples choose to paddleboard or go for a hike on their elopement day. The possibilities are endless when you choose to get married on public lands.

Again, whether or not you will need a permit differs from location to location, so the best way to find out if you need one for your desired location is to contact the local ranger station.

Find out more info about permits and permissions on National Forest land here.

National Park Elopements

The National Park system in the United States holds vast and varied landscapes from the gorgeous seashore and ancient granite peaks of Acadia National Park in Maine to the otherworldly desert of Joshua Tree National Park. There are 61 national parks covering over 52 million acres of land. Another amazing perk of getting married on public lands is that you save money on decor because the landscape is stunning. Some couples choose to use freestanding arches to designate their ceremony site while others create confetti out of native dried brush or flowers, although neither are necessary to have a wildly different and beautiful wedding.

In most National Parks couples will need permits to hold their elopement or small outdoor wedding. Most permits range from $100-$400, and can be obtained by filling out a form on the park’s website or sending a paper form to a specified address. Each park has its own rules are regulations on what kinds of decorations, guest limits, and activities can take place during the ceremony. Some parks allow pets and others do not.

Here is the wedding info for a few of the most popular parks couples elope in:

Zion National Park

Bryce Canyon National Park

Joshua Tree National Park

Yosemite National Park

North Cascades National Park

Crater Lake National Park

Acadia National Park

Cape Cod National Seashore

If you would like more info on the parks listed or others not listed here, please fill out my contact form and I can help you start planning your dream outdoor wedding or elopement.

State or City Parks

Some state or city parks have incredible views and sometimes fewer restrictions for wedding parties. Often these areas also have groups of cabins that can be rented for family and guests, making logistics and planning easier for everyone. I photographed a wedding at Deception Pass State Park in Washington and the entire guest list stayed on site in a bunch of small cabins. The couple was able to get married in the backyard of the lodge with a view of the ocean and activities like canoeing and hiking were available on site. Obviously renting out an entire area of cabins is not free, and may not be considered as inexpensive. However, if you compare renting the same amount of hotel rooms for your guests in a city it is guaranteed to be cheaper, and overall a more adventurous experience.

Options like this are great if you plan on having more than 15 guests as some state parks have more facilities in place for large groups and less demand than large national parks.

Private Land Owned by Family or Friends of Family

Sometimes the most inexpensive and easiest option might be in your own backyard. If you have a beautiful backyard or know someone who does it might be worth seeing if you can make it work. Some properties back up to wilderness preserves and boast great views and ample parking for attendees. Look around the area where you live, and if land isn’t designated under one of the public land categories, check and see if you know who owns it.

Planning a wedding is a labor of love, and if everyone pitches in to make it happen you can stay on budget and have the incredible outdoor elopement or wedding of your dreams.

If you need a photographer to help make public lands adventure wedding dream images come true, get in touch today.

Top 7 Reasons to Get Married Outside in the Off Season

Couples Eloping During the Off-Season End Up with Adventurous Wedding Stories

SWELL & STONE / ADVENTURE Wedding & ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER / United States AND BEYOND

It’s easy to think only about the downsides when it comes to planning your outdoor adventure wedding, like- what if it snows and the roads become impassable? But there’s a flip side to every coin, like- what if it snows and we have the magical winter wonderland elopement of our dreams?! Sometimes all that’s needed is a mindset shift, a little change of perspective, and before you know it your wedding day will be better than you ever thought possible.

Something to keep in mind is that “off-season” means different things in different locations. For instance, in the desert Southwest (Utah, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, and Southern California) this is generally both the winter and summer months. In the winter, temps can be nice during the day, but frigid when the sun goes down. In my opinion, the winter is the best off season time to plan an elopement in the desert because of the nice weather during the day. In the summer, the weather can be unbearably hot all day and night. However, there are some high desert locations that are really nice in the summer, like Flagstaff, AZ. If you’d like more help pinning down when are where might be the best time and place for you to elope- contact me!

In other locations like New England and the Pacific Northwest, the off-season is mostly the winter, but it can last all the way into the late spring months, depending on the location. In mountain locations the snow often doesn’t melt until well into June, so you can often plan snow hiking elopements in April and May, while still having nice temperatures during the day. Curious about how to stay warm during a winter hiking elopement? Check out this article that has tons of tips and tricks!

Here are, in my view, the top seven benefits that await when you plan the off-season elopement of your dreams.

1. Fewer Crowds

This is one of the most obvious benefits to getting married in the off-season. There’s just no one around. Views and overlooks that might be crowded with people during peak tourist season can often be found deserted, enabling you to have easy access to five-star views without all the crowds.

2. Cost Effectiveness

Often wedding vendors are more willing to give discounts in the off-season. If it’s slow season they might be looking to add to their portfolio and offer more than they would for less money than during their busy season. Another perk is that they aren’t as busy so they can give your cake, bouquet, or dress alterations more time and attention.

3. Unique Images

Let’s be honest, there are millions of images of couple celebrating in the summer when the weather is nice and the sun is out. Those are amazing, but they are not exactly unique. Getting married in the off-season gives you the opportunity for more visual interest. Imagine snow kissed desert towers in the background of your elopement location. Seriously, nothing shouts adventure more than a windy summit photo with snow capped peaks in the distance.

One elopement I photographed in February in southern Utah ended up being incredibly special. I drove up from Phoenix the day before, and it was raining the entire length of the state of Arizona. It never rains the entire length of the state of Arizona! It cleared up the next day, but we had planned to drive many hours back on 4x4 roads only to find ourselves faced with giant, frozen puddles in the middle of the dirt road needed to get to the ceremony site. We decided to go for it and made it to our destination without a hitch. The reward for taking the chance was large reflecting pools of water dotting the desert floor, a rare sight in the area, which made for truly unique and special adventure wedding photos.

4. Fewer Restrictions

Many locations have strict regulations in place for peak tourism season. If you plan an elopement outside those times, the regulations may become less stringent or disappear altogether. Sometimes those regulations are in place to control crowds in high traffic areas, and if the crowds won’t be a problem, officials often drop the regulations.

5. Easy Parking

This goes hand in hand with fewer crowds. Planning an elopement in the off-season means that the wedding party will have fewer crowd related obstacles to contend with, and of course, one of those is parking. Because the weather is often more extreme in the off-season couples tend to want to have ceremony sites that guests can drive to, while still having a five-star view. The good news is that this is possible in the off-season. Drive up spots with plenty of parking and great views are often deserted in the off-season months, making them feel like secluded far flung locations. Just make sure that the roads needed to reach those spots are still open if there is snow on the ground.

6. Guest Are Generally More Available

We all know a ton of people who schedule their entire summers around all the weddings they need to attend. Perhaps you are even one of those people! Dare to be wildly different on your wedding day and plan your elopement during a time of year when others are not attending several other weddings as well. Maybe it’s important to you that immediate family attend, or perhaps just a few good friends as witnesses. Regardless of your guest preferences, they are more likely to be able to fit your elopement into their busy schedule if you plan it in an off-season.

7. Ability to Add Interest with Fun Accessories

Most brides love to accessorize, and the benefit of planning an elopement in the off-season is that less than perfect weather gives couples the option to use fun accessories. This could mean clear umbrellas in rainy weather, warm leggings or a beautiful shawl or coat in cold weather, or your favorite hiking boots in any weather! Remember, just like when weekend adventuring the saying holds- there is no bad weather, only unsuitable clothing.

Inclement weather doesn’t mean your adventure wedding day won’t be great! Just plan to be comfortable in any weather and not only will you have an amazing adventure elopement day, but you’ll have unique images unlike anything you’ve seen before.

There you have it! The top seven reasons to get married outside in the off-season. Any time of year is a great time to get married, as long as you bring the right mindset and the right person!

If you need a photographer to help make those dream off-season adventure wedding images come true, get in touch today.

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

Top 11 Reasons Why Couples Elope in the Great Outdoors

Top 11 Reasons Couples decide to have an adventure elopement

SWELL & STONE / ADVENTURE Wedding & ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER / United States AND BEYOND

Not everyone is made for big, traditional weddings. In fact, some people dread the thought of them. And instead of asking “why do couples elope?” they find themselves wondering why everyone wouldn’t elope! There are a lot of reasons why couples decide to elope, including not getting along with family, or just being shy and not wanting to be the center of attention all day. Eloping isn’t just about running off to the courthouse when you turn 18 anymore. Some couples want to save money, and other couples just want to spend their money more intentionally. Eloping is about creating your big day in an intentional way that is true to you and your partner. It’s about creating an experience that you will remember for a lifetime, rather than spending a ton of cash on a big party for everyone else. So if you’re the outdoorsy type who would love to make your wedding day about experiences instead of things, then maybe an adventure elopement is right for you. Here’s a list of a few of the reasons some couples choose to elope.

1. We hate being the center of attention and would rather spend the day doing things we love with just each other or a few special people.

   If one or both of you are introverted it makes perfect sense that you’d rather have a more secluded location with a minimal guest list. Wedding days can be overwhelming, and even more so if people are heaping love, praise, and attention on you and then turning around and judging your centerpieces. A lot of people already wish they would never again have to make small talk with their 2nd cousin or stand in a ballroom with 100 people staring at them, so some couples choose to avoid putting themselves in that position, to begin with.

2. We don’t have the money to spend on a giant wedding.

   Maybe neither of your families have the means to pitch in, and you are busy working hard to build a career in a field you love. Traditional weddings can set you back big time, and make it harder to reach other goals in life that ultimately may be more important to you than spending a fortune on one day. The average wedding in the United States now costs over $33,000. That’s a lot of money that could go toward school, or a house, or building your future life with your partner. So instead of choosing to blow a huge wad of cash in a single day, many couples are choosing to hold onto it and use it for the things they deem truly important in life. You can easily plan an incredible and memorable elopement for under $10,000. So if you decide to save some money and still get married in a way that feels right to you, more power to you!

3. We have the money but would rather spend it on something else.

   Maybe your parents are willing to pitch in or you are both in a great place career-wise. Even then couples are choosing to spend their money with intention and to plan a day that reflects their values and lifestyle. And the truth is many people getting married today value experiences over things. They want to watch the sunset over the Grand Canyon while saying vows, or they want to spend their special day on a mountaintop with only their partner. Think about it- with the $33,000 an average couple spends on a traditional wedding, you could fly to an incredible locations, book a ridiculously nice AirBnB, get the most gorgeous dress of your dreams, hire a photographer who takes epic photos, take a helicopter tour to your secluded ceremony site, say your vows to the love of your life, and see sights and views that blow your mind, all while having an experience you’ll remember for a lifetime. And that still might be less expensive than a traditional wedding! Making decisions that create a more intimate day just feels more special to a lot of people, and many definitely find the experience much more enjoyable than stressing out about last minute decor decisions.

4. We want to avoid the family drama altogether.

   Aunt Jo doesn’t get along with your mom, or brother Chris always gets too drunk. Tense family situations are real and more and more couples are choosing to opt-out of being put in a situation that could cause greater tension in their family. Many couples find that eloping is so much easier and more closely reflects who they are as people. They choose to spend their wedding day outside and make it about their real and true love for their partner. Your wedding day should NOT be difficult or stressful due to familial tension. So just cut out the possibility of trouble and elope to a beautiful destination of your choice. It will likely be cheaper and a lot less stressful.

5. We wanted to do something unique and important to us.

   Let’s face it, every summer we get invited to a handful of weddings, and we go, and we eat, drink, and are merry. But at the end of the summer, can you remember what was so great about each wedding or does it all just blur together in a mix of eating, drinking, dancing, and the like? Now more couples are seeking to do something that sticks out in their own memory as spectacular and incredible. And it makes sense, in 30 years you absolutely will not remember what the silverware looked like or what style of monogram you chose for the place settings, but you will remember committing yourself to the person you built a life with. So why not do it in a stunning and scenic way? There are a ton of incredible locations to choose from, so you can go back to a place you already know you love, or you can make new memories and explore somewhere new. Either way, you will be choosing to make your wedding day align with the values you hold dear.

6. We don’t want our wedding to be about pleasing guests. We want it to be about us.

   Some people will never be pleased even if you choose the right caterer and the best cake and DJ imaginable. And who cares about those people anyway? Honestly, you getting married has nothing to do with them and you don’t need that negativity in your life. It’s time we all start caring about living our best life more than we care about what people think about our lives. So please yourself on your wedding day. If you have always wanted to go to Alaska, but it seems too far away. Go! Get married there and make it the vacation of your dreams. At the end of our lives, I bet we won’t be laying on our deathbeds saying “I really wish I would have please Aunt Karen more.” No, we will be saying- damn, we lived it right.

7. We are outdoorsy and love traveling. We decided to incorporate adventure and experiences into our big day.

   If the great outdoors is the place you feel most alive, most free, and most in awe of nature and the world- then dang it, eloping in the great outdoors is for you. I’ve heard from so many couples say that they had never even thought of their wedding or what it might look like, and then they saw photos like mine- photos of couples dedicating their lives to each other in epically beautiful places, and all of the sudden they were psyched on getting married and what their wedding might look like. It’s not that they didn’t want to commit their life to the person they loved, it’s that the production and show of weddings seemed horrible and overwhelming and unnecessary to them. Once you realize that it’s your day and it can absolutely be whatever you want it to be a whole new world opens up and it’s almost like you can taste the freedom and feel the wind in your hair.

8. We don’t like big, traditional weddings.

   It’s pretty simple, for a bunch of different reasons and on this list and otherwise, some people just really don’t like big, traditional weddings. They don’t like going to them, they don’t look forward to them, they may actively avoid them. So when it comes time to plan your big day and you feel like this, just know- you don’t have to have a big, traditional wedding. You absolutely do not have to spend a lot of time making decisions about things you could care less about. In truth, we should all spend more time making decisions about things we sincerely care about. There are so many other options out there and I’m sure you can find something that looks more up your alley. While you’re at it you may as well buck all kinds of trends and get married outside in the dead of winter!

9. We wanted to combine our wedding with our honeymoon in an epic travel destination.

   If you love traveling and find your self planning the honeymoon before you even start to think about the wedding, maybe doing both at the same time is right for you! Think about it, you were so excited to go somewhere awesome, you skipped over that part where you actually get married and went straight to the fun stuff. Clearly, you’re not that stoked about planning something big, so maybe just keep that excitement for the honeymoon going and plan your wedding in the same place! Why not kill two birds with one stone? It’s efficient and it gets the job done, all while being really fun. It sounds like a win-win to me. Plus so many epic travel destinations, like National Parks or National Forest lands, are free or inexpensive to get married on.

10. Nature is our church.

    I totally get this one. I feel so much more in awe of our world, and therefore spiritual when I am outside in an epic location. Like when I saw the sunset over the Baja California coast for the first time, or when I saw a lightning storm approaching Zion National Park or the first time I experienced autumn in New England- these experiences help wipe away all the negative and help me see the world with a clean slate. If you feel like you can relate, and that your most enlightening experiences happen when you’re outside, then eloping in the great outdoors is certainly for you.

11. We didn’t expect our families to support our marriage decision.

    This is a super sad truth, but some families do not support their loved one’s decision to marry under certain circumstances or a specific person. Whether faith and religion or race prejudice play a role, it’s an unfortunate occurrence. Of course, if you’ve met and fallen in love with your forever person only to find an unsupportive family it makes sense that you would feel free to be you with them there on your day. Many couples in this position choose to elope and to do it in a way that feels right to them. This way they only have positive and happy memories from the day they married the love of their life.

If you’re thinking of eloping in the great outdoors and would love someone with a ton of know-how and experience to photograph the story of your day, I would love to help! Make sure to reach out and tell me a little about you two and what you are considering for your small wedding or elopement. I help plan your entire day from beginning to end if that’s what you need. My specialty is finding gorgeous, off-the-beaten-path locations for couples to enjoy a secluded ceremony. If you need recommendations for an officiant, florist, cake maker, or anything else I’m here to help you make your day as true to you as possible.

Yosemite Elopement Complete with Airstreams & El Cap | Yosemite Elopement Photographer

Megan & Michael Elope in a Breathtaking Yosemite Landscape

Swell & Stone / California Elopement Photographer

I think one of the things that says the most about who Megan & Michael are as people and as a couple is the number of times each one of them bent down in formal wear to pick up trash off the ground during their Yosemite elopement. I can count at least two hand fulls of times- really it was habitual. Megan & Michael developed that habit because they spend a lot of time outside, and clearly care deeply about keeping it clean for others to enjoy. They run Fresh Off the Grid, a blog that serves as a cooking resource for outdoor enthusiasts.

Their wedding was an incredible combination of personal, beautiful, adventurous, and so much fun. They had their families in attendance, and stayed at AutoCamp Yosemite, which is a really nice camp/glamp spot about 30-40 minutes from the El Portal entrance to Yosemite National Park. When I arrived, Michael was hanging out in their airstream and Megan was over in Michael’s sister’s tent getting ready. They were all having a great time, enjoying breakfast and taking in the pondside scenery of the camp spot. One of my favorite moments was when Megan saw herself with her hair in a braid and her makeup done, after she had put the dress on, and she smiled and started to tear up. “I just never see myself like this,” she said. It was an emotional moment for her mother and soon-to-be mother-in-law as well as they looked on with tears in their eyes.

After she was ready we did a first look and headed out for a 9 am ceremony at Cathedral Beach in Yosemite. It is a stunning beach with the unreal backdrop of El Capitan and views for days. They said their vows in a sometimes tearful but completely joy filled ceremony. Celebrations of champagne followed before the wedding party headed off for lunch at the Awanhee Hotel. Later we reconvened at AutoCamp Yosemite where Megan & Michael works their outdoor camp cooking magic in a special dinner reception for their family. The setting was stunning, the details were beautiful, and the couple cherished getting to spend this quality time with their family all together in one place. The weather could not have been more perfect for their day.

The next day after having breakfast with their family, and packing up their lives into backpacks I met them down in the backpackers campground in Yosemite Valley. Their honeymoon was starting the next day, and they were planning to spend 3 weeks hiking the 211-mile John Muir Trail! When I walked up they had set up their tent and were already chowing down on freeze dried meals to lighten their load. But they had one more adventure in formal wear before spending the next three weeks dirtbagging! They jumped in my truck and we went up Glacier Point Road to hike to Taft Point just before sunset.

Walking through the forest the light filtered through in just the right way. The temperature was perfect, the light was amazing, and Megan & Michael took some time to look back on the events of the weekend. They talked about how it couldn’t have been more perfect, how happy they were to have the whole amazing experience with their close family.

When we arrived to the point we looked around. Neither of them had been to this spot before and they were in awe of the view. As the sun began to sink lower, colors lit up the sky. They walked out the cliffs edge and the light danced around them as they peered down at Yosemite Valley.

After the sun set I returned them to their camp spot, and the next day the headed out on the JMT. I’m happy to report that they completed the trip and they reported back, “The JMT was pretty amazing - challenging but so rewarding, and really a perfect honeymoon for us.”

“Stop your search right now and book Kat for your wedding photography! We hired her for our small wedding in Yosemite, and we could not imagine a better experience. She did an absolutely incredible job.

To start, she did a great job of communicating - both in advance of the event and on location. We always felt like we were on the same page. Very professional and thorough, yet very easy-going and relaxed to talk with.

On the day of the wedding, she did a perfect job of capturing fly-on-the-wall candid moments while also making sure we got the more traditional set-piece photos. She was like our fairy photo godmother. She was there to provide a little guidance (to help wrangle family members for portraits, etc), but otherwise just captured our special day as it naturally unfolded. She was on the entire time, watching over us, and it really shows in her photos.

But the most important thing to know about Kat is that she really goes the extra mile for her clients. She scouted out locations for us the day before, she drove us / coordinated a shoot near Glacier Point at sunset. And when it came to the editing, she got us the final photos turned around quickly. We went on an extended 3-week honeymoon and the final photos were in our inbox when we got back. We could not be happier with the experience.

So end your wedding photography search right now, and book Kat. It was one of the best decisions we’ve made.”

— Megan & Michael

If you’re looking for a photographer for your wildly different wedding experience get in touch with me ASAP! You can do that HERE- or by hitting the button below.