Helpful Articles & Elopement Planning Tips

Elopements are becoming a bit more mainstream but planning an amazing elopement is still an unfamiliar process to many people. If you’re wondering how to elope, you’re in the right place! As an elopement photographer, I specialize in helping couples find amazing locations out in…

A commitment ceremony is similar to a wedding ceremony, except for the fact that this kind of ceremony is not legally binding. A commitment ceremony is not the same as a marriage but it can be a part of your elopement day & having a…

Looking for the best wedding venues & other places to get married in Telluride? This guide covers both more traditional wedding venues as well as other locations such as vacation rentals & elopement locations in Telluride in the national forest areas. If you want more…

Colorado elopements have become a bit more common & that’s a GREAT thing! It means that more & more couples are having a day for just them. It means that couples aren’t afraid of breaking free from wedding traditions & are having the best wedding days…

Arches National Park is really an amazing display of nature. The massive arches & sandstone canyons are evidence of what beauty wind & water can create over time. And did you know there are over 2,000 (yes, two THOUSAND) natural stone arches in Arches National…

Yes, there is a difference in hiring an elopement photographer instead of just hiring a photographer for your elopement. Is it really worth it to hire a specialized elopement photographer? And what really is the difference in hiring an elopement photographer verses hiring a photographer…

Moab elopements are some of my favorites because of the epic scenery, wide open spaces, cliffs, canyons, arches, mountains, lakes, waterfalls, & more. This Moab elopement guide goes over just about everything you need to know for eloping in Moab. As a Moab elopement photographer,…

There seems to be a HUGE misconception about an elopement not being as special as a larger, more traditional wedding. But an elopement can be so special, even more special than a larger wedding! How can you make an elopement special? These ideas will help…

Are you looking for the best places to stay in Moab? Look no further! I’ve compiled a list of the best Moab AirBnBs, Vrbo properties, condos, ranches, cabins, hotels, & pet-friendly places to stay at while you are exploring the Moab area. Moab is home…

One of the most common questions I get asked is: “What amount of hours should I book for elopement photography?“ I just need to say this & yes, I am going to shout at you (via caps lock). I want more people to know that…

As a wedding & elopement photographer, I’ve seen a huge variety of weddings & elopements. Have you ever wondered how other couples get married & what they like, love, or regret about the way they got married? I asked a group of my peers if…

So why the name Shell Creek Photography? I’ve had many times over the years that I’ve thought about rebranding & completely changing my business name to something else. But I could just never let go why? The name Shell Creek Photography is about connection for…

Are you getting married in Colorado? In order to make your marriage official & legal, you need to follow local regulations & laws & make sure you get your marriage license. Did you know you can also self solemnize in Colorado? This means that an…

Glacier National Park is one of those amazing locations that looks like something out of another world. It’s a “heaven on earth” kind of place where you fall in love with the location instantly. The snow-capped mountains, lush green valleys, & clear, blue waters make…

The San Juan Mountains in western Colorado are a unique & beautiful location for an elopement in Colorado. While areas such as Rocky Mountain National Park tend to be very popular, the San Juans are a much less visited place while offering even more unique…

It can be a little overwhelming in knowing where to start planning your elopement! After all, you’ve probably seen a few weddings, maybe even helped planned some but elopements are just so different. I’ve put together my 6 best tips for eloping in this blog…

If you’re an outdoor enthusiast like me, you’ve probably at least heard of leave no trace. Leave no trace (LNT) is a set of guidelines for outdoors ethics set in place by the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics. According to their website, 9…

Elopements are usually a very private event. You might invite your parents or a handful of your closest friends. A lot of times, you might still want to celebrate in some way after your elopement. An after elopement reception is a great way to include…

Cross country skiing & snowshoeing are two of my favorite activities to do here in Colorado throughout the winter. There are SO MANY trails to check out! Great trails exist in the San Juan Mountains around Ouray & Telluride, in the Mount Sneffels Wilderness, Rocky…

The Ouray Ice Festival is an annual event held each year in the little mountain town of Ouray, Colorado, located in western Colorado in the San Juan Mountains.  Although I usually specialize in adventure weddings & elopements, I also love to occasionally photograph adventure sports….

As photographer specializing in small weddings & elopements, I’ve seen many benefits to the weddings with a smaller guest list. Elopements & intimate weddings allow you the chance to celebrate your love in a different way than a big, traditional wedding. Sometimes couples just aren’t…

Getting married in a national park allows you to enjoy some of the best & most unique views in the world in one of the many of the various national parks all around the world. Most national parks have some sort of permit that is…

Recently I made a trip down to Savannah & stumbled across the work & paintings of Alix Baptiste. His work was very inspiring for me. If you take a look at his work, it is very colorful, vibrant, upbeat, & happy. But his life wasn’t…

I was finally able to make my way back down to Arizona again when I shot Nathan & Janet’s wedding in Tucson. My best friends & I made a road trip out of it & were able to visit a few amazing places along the…

What does elope mean? What first comes to your mind when you hear the word elope or elopement? Maybe you think of a bride & groom running away from family, getting quickly married in a thoughtless way to go & live their life away from…

I absolutely love albums! I think they are one of the best ways to show off your photos. You can have a large amount of photos in a smaller amount of space & you can leave an album sitting out on a nightstand or coffee…

Last May I went on a road trip with my 4 best friends who I happen to be related to. Hanna & Isaac are my brother & sister, Gaven & Mali are my cousins. We had been planning it for awhile. Gaven & I even…

A lot of you have read a little about me, or maybe have even met me in person. But I wanted to go a little more in depth into film photography & my love of birds, orchids, & travel with this blog post. The San…

Your wedding day can bring a lot of stress, both before and during the big day. But I’ve been to enough weddings to know that as long as you say ‘I do’ everything will turn out fine. Just remember the most important thing about your…

I know how much goes into a wedding and it can be a lot of work. But it can be overwhelming to know where to start! This is long and it doesn’t cover absolutely everything but it should definitely help. Hopefully this checklist will help you…

“Are engagement sessions really that important? Why do I need one?” Are you engaged & making wedding or elopement plans? Ready to book your photographer? No matter who you book for your wedding photographer, read more about why I recommend that you get engagement pictures…