David + Deanna :: Simple Mountain Styled Elopement

David and Deanna spent the day with me back in April. We drove around getting ready for the shoot and then drove up to Flattop Mountain in Anchorage, where we entered into an unexpected blizzard that only added to the magic of the session. It was a collaboration between me and a few other vendors (listed at the end of the blog post) and I can’t thank everyone enough for contributing to this beauty!

These two weren’t able to have a professional photographer at their wedding, so I was honored to be able to take bride and groom style photos for them TEN YEARS and three children later. I can only hope to be as in love and good looking as they are after ten years married! We had so many beautiful moments where I could see them making eyes at each other, and it was a deep kind of best friendship and love that can only come from having weathered many years and adventures together.

So without further adieu, David and Deanna!

Gown and Hair Accessories: Anderson’s Bride https://www.andersonsbride.com

Florals: Tanya Val http://www.tanyaval.com

Hair: Crystal at Opal Hair https://www.instagram.com/opalhair_/

Makeup: Rachelle Enters

interested in your own anniversary session or elopement?

I’d love to help you make it a reality!

Alex + Jessie - Intimate Fall Wedding

Intimate Autumn Camp Wedding

I’m going to steal an instagram caption from one of the bridesmaids of this wedding to describe it.

Alex and Jessie: “We don’t really care about perfection.”

Alex and Jessie: *have literally perfect wedding*

these two had a simple but emotion filled wedding at Lacawac Sanctuary up near the Poconos Mountains. we carved out time for an intimate first look for them before heading down to their ceremony on the lake. everyone spent the rest of the evening enjoying incredible food (and CAKE, oh my) and incredible company. Alex and Jessie are intentional, kind, and above-and-beyond individuals - which makes them an incredible pair, and I am so honored to have been their photographer.

enjoy: the Padron wedding.

(p.s. see how they felt about their photos at the end of this post!)

“Rachel was everything we hoped for in a photographer. She was professional, calming, and super easy to get along with. She is amazing at working with the vibe you’re going for in the photos, while also imbedding her creative vision for each shot.

We wholeheartedly recommend her for anyone looking for a photographer!

-thank you for everything, these photos mean so much to us.”

if you are also looking for a professional, calming, creative photographer, message me here!

Josh & Kilina - Alyeska Resort Girdwood, Alaska First Look

Earlier this year, Kilina sent me a message saying that although she and her fiancé Josh were getting married out in Anchor Point, AK later that summer, she had always dreamed of doing a first look up the tram at Alyeska. I love first looks and I love Alyeska, so I was all in.

Josh is from New Jersey, and Kilina is from Alaska. The two of them met at school in South Carolina where they returned after their wedding as Josh pursues a medical career!

I can tell from their interactions during our session that these two are going to be amazing life partners for each other. They’re a wonderful mix of laughter, confidence, and tenderness. Thanks for riding the tram with me you two!

we were trying to catch the run of the tram so we got ready on the way!

we also had no blindfold so we improvised with Kilina’s leggings. LOL. so good.

Josh had written Kilina a letter to read to her as a surprise. I didn’t hear what it said, but it made me emotional watching them.

when I asked them to dip, they started laughing and said “we just practiced this yesterday!”

Alyeska is so beautiful, and I love it even more in the rain to be honest.

I could NOT get over her skirt draped the bench!

I’ve never done a first look session before, but obviously, I loved it. If you want to do a first look, day before, or day after your wedding session, contact me! I also love riding the tram at Alyeska, so hit me up for that too. (:

Alaska Adventure Engagement Session

Getting to know Kyle and Logan has been one of the biggest blessings of the past year! We’d only met a couple times before their engagement session but I loved that both Kyle and Logan were invested and asked real questions while inquiring with me. I like to think that they had so much fun during their engagement session that they hired me for their wedding in Texas 6 months later (wait till you see it) because well, I had so much fun. These two are fun loving, kind, humble, loyal.

We started our adventure for the evening at Jitters in Eagle River, one of my favorite places. They spent many hours there getting to know each other and working on homework. The four of us (my husband Ben assisted me at this shoot) headed out to Eklutna Lake, where Kyle had proposed on a hike that summer!

healthy adventuring encouraged, always

such affection.

classy outfit change (yeah they changed in the smelly park bathrooms - #worthit)

this progression of photos captures one of my favorite engagement photo session experiences. I wish you could’ve been there to hear how it went down, but at least you get to see it.

girl was HUSTLING in those heels, we were all losing it (and I have it on video thanks to my dude).

Ben getting that #BTS gold LOL

everything about Logan’s dress + ring + hair = heart eyes

tune in sometime soon to see these two tie the knot in Texas!

did you just get engaged? CONGRATS.

shoot me a message and we’ll go on an adventure engagement session tailored to YOU.

New Year's Eve Intimate Alaskan Winter Elopement

when Raven shared with me that she and her high school sweetheart were planning on eloping new year’s eve, I was THRILLED. not only did I love the fact that we had chosen the same day to get married (my husband and I got married that afternoon!), but I’ve shot with Raven and Wyatt before - they are adventurous, kind to others and to each other, and as you’ll see in these photos - so very in love. We met and hiked out to Thunderbird falls for the ceremony. Raven wore her grandmother’s fur coat and Wyatt wore his nice sneakers, and they both laughed and radiated love the entire morning.

Raven was beaming as she barreled past me to her groom.

since I had some leftover flowers from my bouquet I threw a couple together as a gift for Raven - she hid behind them for most of the ceremony because she was crying so much haha!

Wyatt made fun of her after the ceremony for blubbering during their vows, but we have proof that he was JUST as emotional as she was.

they had a short, sweet ceremony officiated by a friend with a few other close friends in attendance, and went out to lunch afterward.

JUST MARRIED LIKE WHAAT?!

there was a windstorm the night before so we had some obstacles getting to and from the location at Thunderbird Falls, but honestly, that just added to the excitement of it.

ALSO WE RAN INTO THIS PUPPY

also guys - he VOLUNTEERED to take his socks and shoes off, walk through ice cold rocky stream, and take his bride closer to the frozen waterfall for photos. can we say groom goals?!

Raven bought her lovely dress at Nordstrom - the mud from our climb over just made it more beautiful.

true love in action, folks

I could not resist ending it on this note. happy marriage, you two.

are you planning an elopement? send me a message, I’d love to be your photographer!