I think that wedding days are best covered when we shift between two different approaches. Candid and Intentional. There are parts of a wedding where I am asked to take control and orchestrate the results we are looking for. The rest of the wedding would be greatly hindered by my involvement so I shift towards more of a fly on the wall approach.

Arizona is full of unique and picturesque spots for your elopement. Wether you just want something scenic for a quick ceremony and some portraits or if you are looking to rent a property for a couple days of celebration, I am here to help you find the perfect fit. The bulk of this guide is a focus on the different regions throughout the state and some of the options you have available to you. My recommendations throughout this guide are mostly influenced by how these places will look in photos as how they might improve your experience. I don’t have any affiliation with any of these businesses and if you do choose to utilize any of them for your elopement, you should call them and discuss it with them first. In my experience, most small business owners are happy to be included but it’s worth paying the respect of discussing it with them.

If you are planning a big wedding, you might have a hard time here. Id say that this advice really appeals to those planning to elope or host a small wedding with less than 50 guests. You could save a little bit of money at a normal wedding venue by downsizing your guest list but that venue still has a basic operating cost that needs to be accounted for so you likely won’t save much. Here is a list of different small venue options that are unique and can save you a bit of money.

To sum it up as easily as possible, Elopements are weddings without guests (or with very few guests). These tiny little celebrations spiked during the pandemic when the state of things forced so many couples to cancel their weddings. When it became clear that things weren’t going back to normal anytime soon, thousands of couples changed plans and opted to get married on their own and oftentimes in really remote and beautiful locations.

Family photos are arguably one of the most important parts of a wedding day. This is kind of odd because it can be one of the most chaotic and uncomfortable aspects of your wedding. These portraits are ultimately what you and your family are going to be printing the most of and hanging up in your homes. In the beginning of my career, I dealt with a great deal of anxiety at every wedding because this it required me to orchestrate a crowd and that was never one of my strongest skillsets. I learned early on that getting good and efficient at family photos was paramount to my success as a Wedding Photographer. Being able to effectively cover all of the shots we needed in a timely manor made sure that my clients, their family, and my fellow vendors were happy. This also allowed us to stay on time and reserve enough time in the cocktail hour for the bridal party group shots and the newly wed portraits. In this article I am going to help you prepare for family photos so that your wedding day doesn’t get derailed by them.

A micro wedding focuses on intimacy and simplicity, allowing couples to enjoy their special day with a smaller, more manageable guest list. This type of wedding is not just about cutting costs but about prioritizing quality and personalization. By reducing the scale, couples can dedicate more attention to the details and experiences that truly matter to them and their close circle of friends and family.

Lately I have been exploring new ideas with my shoots and one that has really stuck with me is shooting indoors. There are so many cool rental properties and even film sets that we can rent and shoot in. I love the idea of photographing couples in places like this because it adds another dimension to the shoot. Rather than just interacting with each other, you are interacting with your surrounds together.

Candid Photography is a focus on moments happening exactly as they are happening. Most of my focus throughout a wedding is looking for candid moments and photographing them in a way that I am not influencing the moment or disturbing it. You are getting a pure and real snapshot of that experience. Because I am not interrupting to pose and position anyone or anything, these photos are beautifully imperfect.

My friend and colleague, Dominique Mattessino (Soul Agave) chimes in on how you can plan your wedding in a way that sets you up for the most success with your photos.

So you just got engaged! Now what? Here is a quick guide to getting started with your wedding/elopement planning.

So you want to elope but you don’t know how to break the news to your family? Here’s how

Here is a collection of my favorite wedding ring shots over the years.

Officiating a wedding is a significant honor and responsibility. Whether you're a friend or family member taking on this role for the first time or a newly ordained minister preparing for your debut ceremony, writing and delivering a meaningful wedding script is key to ensuring the couple’s big day is as special as they envision. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you write and officiate your first wedding with confidence and grace.

When it comes to your elopement, would you rather get married as he sun is coming up? or going down? This guide will help you decide.

So you have chosen to elope!? Awesome, let’s help you figure out where.

So you want to elope but you don’t want to completely leave your friends and family out of it. Here are some ways you can involve those closest to you.

Planning a micro wedding, while it may involve fewer guests, doesn’t mean it requires less attention to detail. In fact, the smaller scale often allows for more personalized touches and intricate planning. This checklist provides a comprehensive guide to organizing a memorable micro wedding, ensuring that every aspect is covered from start to finish.

It’s a bit of a loaded question. There are a few factors that play into how much a wedding photographer charges and there are a few factors that should play into how much you should budget for your photographer. I am sure you came here for the raw numbers so I will give you that up front. I will get into the reasons why afterwards.

The average people spend on a photographer ranges between $2500 and $6000. Of course there is a ton of variance on either side of those numbers but MOST weddings will be covered by a photographer that is charging somewhere in that range.

Should you have a first look? I can’t make that call but this guide will help you decide for yourself if seeing each other before the ceremony is something you want.

Building a solid timeline for your wedding is paramount to the success of the day. This guide will help you build a timeline that is sensible, flexible, and easy to follow.