An elopement not only in the desert, but at Horseshoe Bend in Page, Arizona is truly magical. Especially with these two, they made this adventurous photographer so inspired. This canyon view has become one of most iconic travel spots in the southwest. Being able to see the natural horseshoe curve of the Colorado River and its accessibility is truly why so many crowd this destination.

Regardless of influx of crowds over the past 7 years, this place still remains a special place to me. I work hard to make couples’ sessions, elopements, and weddings as intimate as possible. That’s due to the endless amount of time I have spent and photographed in this location.

We started the day before their elopement. I offer an extra adventure session in my Dream collection of photography packages. This gives me the opportunity to either photograph the couple before their day—I really get to know them during this time and how they like to be photographed—or after if they want more adventures to celebrate afterwards. Now this gives the couple the opportunity to explore places in the area they also want photos of in their elopement attire or just to be casual—without elopement attire—purely for the adventure and to document it. So really, if you want ideal sunset lighting in multiple locations this is the perfect option! We traveled off to other mars-like rock formations the evening before. It was a great opportunity for all of us to get to know each other in person, and I got to hear more about their story together. Magical again with a cotton candy sunset on the cliffs.

The morning of their elopement, S + C got their hair done in the Flagstaff area and headed up north to the city of Page. We met up at a spot along Lake Powell to adventure and capture some portraits before the sunset ceremony at Horseshoe Bend. I like this spot because you’re closer to the water and get insane wave-like rock formations. From here you can actually go down to the water with small sandy spots to relax and jump in. We decided to stay up amongst the rocks.

As you can see I really enjoy those wide, wide open landscapes shots where the subjects look small, and you can really feel how expansive our world is. After all, that’s why these clients pick these places. You WANT to see these epic backdrops in your photos—not only closeups.

From there, we headed over to Horseshoe Bend with our proper permit and met up with their officiant, Jen from Life Passages. Quick little rant: I absolutely love working with Jen who really is such a positive and fun person to work with. The detailedness and personable ceremonies Jen provides are beautiful. Hire Jen for your Arizona wedding!

S + C set up their phone on a tripod and started a Zoom video chat so family could join their elopement. It was a complete surprise to them that day. We timed it perfectly for the sun to be setting on the cliff of Horseshoe Bend as they were giving their vows and we really got such great changes in light and the sky. Plus, we had the perfect amount of time to take portraits afterwards with the golden light!

Are you dreaming of creative engagement photos in Old Town Scottsdale?

Are you dreaming of creative engagement photos in Old Town Scottsdale?

The word creative gets tossed around so much that it can often seem like a lazy way to describe something, but a session like this reminds you what it means to be truly creative.

CREATIVE /krēˈādiv/ (adj): relating to or involving the imagination or original ideas, especially in the production of an artistic work.

When Adrian and Jesse first approached Earth Below Photo for an engagement session they wanted to emphasize the idea of creating with me. They didn’t want photos just because it was the normal thing to do, in fact it was quite the opposite. They specifically let me know they wanted to create real art through the images. The day we met in Old Town Scottsdale they were just as much the artists as I was. Every direction and idea I threw at them would come back at my camera lens with their own personal twist. When a couple has as much interest in the art of photography as you do it tends to add a little accelerant to the creative fire in your  heart. 

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Adrian immediately let me know that she wanted the end result to be something out of a Wes Anderson film. She requested lots of color with a developed on film feel. Jesse on the other hand took on working the art of posing, a skill he had learned as a child model. To make their creative engagement session dreams come true I made sure to capture the two of them in colorful settings and unusual poses. You can most clearly see the fruit of our collective labor in their stoic poses outside the Saguaro Hotel and the far off shots of them dancing on an Old Town Scottsdale sidewalk.

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We had planned to create these photos together long before the onset of COVID-19 and due to the restrictions in place here in Arizona, Old Town Scottsdale was assuming the look of a ghost town. The indoor setting of Sugar Bowl Ice Cream Parlor that we had originally planned to involve in our shoot was closed down to the public. I had to make sure to keep myself at a distance from Jesse and Adrian and not get too deeply swept up in the dance of making creative engagement photos that I forgot the reality of our situation. 

That being said, this opportunity to create collaborative art with an intrinsically creative couple like Adrian and Jesse was a welcome reprieve from the monotony of #quarantinelife. I think all three of us left the session with our minds a little clearer to the possibility of brighter days ahead, and after all is that not what creating is all about? Is it not, at its core, a coping mechanism, a way of capturing the human experience, that traces its roots all the way back to even the first humans long, long ago?

I look forward to capturing your own unique human experience, wherever you are… whenever you are ready.