Part photographer, part planning guide, and full-time fan of nature-inspired wedding days.
California-rooted, always ready to travel, and so down to help you plan and photograph your special day.
Hi, I’m Sara and I’m really glad you’re here!
ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER | PLANNING GUIDE | ORDAINED OFFICIANT | SNACK PROVIDER
Let me paint you a picture.
I help couples plan and photograph elopements that are rooted in the things that excite them.
We choose the places that matter to them, highlight the moments they want to slow down in, and overall make sure it’s the kind of day they'll look back on and think ‘let’s do it all over again!’.
CHOOSING TO ELOPE IS AN AMAZING AND EQUALLY EMOTIONALLY-LOADED DECISION.
And you deserve to feel certain about it. Not just on the day, but every single step of the way getting there. That's where I come in.
I'm with you from the first "okay, where do we even start?" all the way through your final gallery delivery. Location scouting, timelines, what to wear, how permits work, and yes, even how to stand in front of a camera without it feeling weird.
(It won't. I promise.)
And because I'm ordained, I can also officiate your ceremony if you want to keep things far simpler. One less vendor to coordinate, one more thing to feel good about!
We chose to have an elopement instead of a wedding so we could spend the day doing EXACTLY what we wanted.
We get overwhelmed with planning things and even when planning an elopement there is so much that needs to be done. Sara broke down the process in bite sized pieces and provided resources, guides and worksheets to make the planning not only pain free but really fun.
My fiancé and I would sit on the couch with our morning coffee and work through these guides and before we knew it, we had planned our entire elopement. And had fun doing it!
We had an idea of what we wanted our special day to look like, but Sara really helped make it very us.
E + M
But, why elopements?
I’m so glad you asked.
There's something about the intimacy of a small, intentional celebration somewhere that gets your energy flowing that I find really moving. Every single time.
I’VE WITNESSED COUPLES EXCHANGE VOWS IN SOME OF THE MOST STUNNING LANDSCAPES TO EXIST AND IT NEVER GETS OLD.
But here's something I'll be upfront about:
I haven't eloped myself and I've come to see that as a good thing because I don't show up with a "this is how I'd do it" attitude.
Instead, I show up as a blank slate, fully focused on the day you want. After all this day is all about you!
And here’s where I get a tiny bit personal.
I'm an introvert-social-butterfly who somehow found a career that puts her in some of the most tender moments of people's lives.
And I wouldn't trade it for the world.
My path here wasn't exactly a straight line though. I actually spent years in engineering and admin work, which is where the planning instincts come from.
But I also grew up as a visual and performing artist, and photography had always pulled at me, so here we are.
Come to find out that my analytical and creative sides were never meant to be opposites. They just needed the right moment to shine together!
When I'm not editing away at my desk, you'll probably find me on a trail somewhere with an iced chai, completely in my element.
Nature recharges me in a way nothing else does, which is probably why places like Yosemite, Big Sur, and even Iceland feel less like places and more like home (even though I have only visited it once).
I truly believe those landscapes don't just sit in the background of your life. They become part of THE moment!
Sara is amazing! She is organized and thoughtful. I am in love with our wedding photos! She picked out great places for photos at our location and didn’t mind getting a little wet with the rain. Some of the black and white images are my favorite.
K + D
The best elopements aren't just about the location.
They're about showing up fully, being present with the person you love, and walking away thinking ‘yup, that was made for us.’
If that's what you're after, I'd really love to be part of it.
What you can always count on me for:
I'll notice before you say anything.
I'm like your friend who can tell something's off just by the way you walked in. On your day, that means if things feel rushed or overwhelming, I'll feel it too. That’ll be my cue for us all to slow down.
I'll have already thought of the thing you forgot.
I hope you trust me when I say I make checklists for my checklists. Planning is just something I do for everything, so when it comes to your day, it’ll be no different. The backup plan already exists, the timeline has buffer built in, and you bet I already googled the parking situation at your location. You're in good hands.
I'll tell you the truth, kindly.
I'm not the type to say what you want to hear just to keep things smooth. If something isn't going to work, I'd rather tell you early so we can find better alternatives. I believe honesty is so important while planning your day because you’ll always know what to expect and can look forward to it with confidence.
I’ll help you be present with each other (and forget the camera!).
You can expect both posed and candid photos from me, but the poses will never feel demanding. Somewhere in between the poses is usually where the best stuff happens! In the end, all I want is to give you space to create a core memory, make you look good, and make the whole thing feel like such a good time that you kind of forget there's a camera there at all.
I’ll always follow your lead!
I have insights and I'll share them when you want them. But at the end of the day, this is your story. I'm just here to help you plan and document it the way you want.
Elopement Inspiration and Tips
