About Me & Why I Believe Elopements are the Best Way to Get Married…

Whether you want to hike to a remote location at sunrise or drive to an overlook in a Jeep at sunset, adventurous elopements can be anything you want them to be. Witnessing you both commit your lives to each other is such a huge privilege for me. Adventurous elopements aren’t something I just do, my life is an adventure.

You can find me hiking mountain passes, rock climbing, planning another trip to Mexico, nose buried in some travel guides, looking up cheap flights to Australia, or off on some crazy 3 week long road trip to the Canadian Rockies with my cousins. I will help guide you through the entire process of planning an amazing experience. You can trust me with your wedding day dreams & will give you my all in planning out every little detail for your elopement.

LEARN MORE ABOUT WHY COUPLES ELOPE

“Better Than We Could Have Imagined”

“Malachi made our elopement experience even better than we could have imagined. Like many, 2020 threw a wrench in our original wedding plans. We feel so lucky to have our ‘back up’ be an amazing Ouray sunrise hike with just the 2 of us, our pup and the support of Malachi. Not only are the pictures stunning, the entire day was filled with the adventure we craved. We were in trusting hands from the moment we described the ambiguous moment we hoped to experience. And Malachi took it from there and was able to capture in detail exactly what we did not even imagine for ourselves!”
Jolene & Adam

What I’m All About

My name is Malachi Lewis & I’m a full-time wedding & elopement photographer currently living right along the border of western Colorado & eastern Utah. I cannot believe that I am now a professional photographer, and I LOVE it! I love traveling, birds, dogs, & pretty much anything that takes me outside.

I grew up outside around nature, & the natural world definitely inspires me. My style could be said to be based off of nature. I love the warm, bright light of the sun & the vibrant colors of birds and flowers. 

Traveling near & far has been something that I’ve always enjoyed. I have traveled to Mexico, Panama, Canada, Ukraine, Germany, & to 45 of the 50 states in the US. I love finding unique places & make new friends wherever I go.

Nature has always been a huge part of my life, & I currently share my space with my dog Bunji, my cat Asher, 6 parrots, & 200+ plants!

Some of My Skills & What I Will Help You With…

Location & Timeline Planning for Elopements

Helping you find the best locations, times of year, & times of day for your adventure elopement to make your elopement experience amazing!

Not Just a Photographer, I’m an Avid Outdoorsman

Photography is the easy part for me! I grew up with a camera in my hands but also grew up with a lot of outdoor experience & skills. I’m here to help with what to wear, how to prepare, & other helpful tips.

Getting Permits for Various Locations

Permits can be confusing if you don’t know what you’re doing or what kinds of questions to ask. I can help fill out the forms & guide you.

Wilderness First Aid & Outdoor Experience

Adventure elopements are a whole lot different than a wedding! I am NOT a paramedic but have some basic training & carry various equipment & supplies in case of an emergency while we are adventuring outdoors.

Marriage Licenses & Knowing Local Laws

If you need help with marriage licenses or how to get legally married, I’m here to help you navigate the process & answer your questions.

Outdoor, Landscape, Nature, & Wildlife Photography

Adventure elopement photography is more than just photographing a couple out in nature. Landscape photography taught me different photography skills from weddings that I apply to elopements.

Malachi Lewis, a photographer in Colorado with his dog.

IN A DIFFERENT LIFE I WOULD HAVE BEEN A PARK RANGER OR ADVENTURE GUIDE…

I’m Always Down for A Little or A Lot of Adventuring!

I LOVE a good adventure & I’m not afraid of getting my feet wet or hands dirty. I’m ready for the heat or the cold. Whatever Mother Nature throws at me, I’m here for it!

Think of me as your personal park ranger or adventure guide on the day of your elopement. I know not everyone has had the opportunities to get the same outdoor experience that I do, so I’m here to help you along the way however you need.

An adventure elopement is quite different than a traditional wedding & let me guide you so you can have an incredible experience in the outdoors together!

A Few Things About Me…

My Dog Bunji Goes with Me Everywhere

Bunji is my best bud & comes with me whenever he can. He’s pretty chill like me & LOVES long hikes.

Leave No Trace & Reducing My Impact

I’m passionate about leave no trace, reducing my impact, & caring for the environment.

Calling Me Birdbrain is a Compliment

Malachi Lewis of Shell Creek Photography with a parrot on a camera.

Birds are my favorite animals & you could say that I am just a little obsessed with birds! I have 6 parrots at home.

“Malachi is a Cool, Easy to Talk to, Chill Guy”

“My fiancé & I got engaged in Rocky Mountain National Park & it has been such a big part of our story. I knew the moment we started planning I would love to have pictures that captured our joy of hiking & adventure but still wanted the nice dressed photos. Not knowing where to start, how we would get these great photos, or when the best time was to get the colors I wanted, I did some research. That’s when I found Malachi & I’m SO HAPPY I did! From the first time reaching out, he was quick at responses, clear about pricing, best times to go (for us it was sunrise, which I highly recommend), he allows as many changes as time permits, & asking us questions that would help him capture our personalities on camera. The day of, he picked us up promptly at 4am, when we got to the trailhead, he had headlamps, iced coffees, & snack bars (a thoughtful touch as we were consumed with remembering outfits), & guided us at our pace, while keeping an eye out for the sunrise & getting the photos we now LOVE! Malachi is a really cool, easy to talk to, chill guy which made the whole thing less awkward & more fun. He directed us when needed, laid in freezing snow to get the perfect shot, & provided us with pictures we will cherish forever. If you’re considering an adventure engagement shoot or adventure elopement, I could not recommend Malachi more. It was an experience we’ll never forget!”
SHelby & Zach

“Where Do You Travel?”

I travel anywhere you want to elope! My base packages include all of my travel so I “ship for free” to Colorado, Utah, & parts of Arizona, New Mexico, Idaho, & Wyoming! If you want to elope outside these areas, I have packages that include my travel to other parts of the U.S. or even other countries. There are no extra fees & you just have to get yourselves there, no need for you to worry about me!

Ready to Talk More?

Finding a good fit in a photographer is important. Reach out & we can schedule a time to talk more!

Contact Me

Before I started photographing people, I was learning light, color, composition, & more by going out & photographing nature. Check out my print shop for a wide variety of my work with landscapes & nature!

VISIT PRINT SHOP