Aaron + Caroline | Alaska Wedding Photographer

Okay can we talk about this wedding!? Because wow, what a day.

Not only was Aaron + Caroline’s big day full of personal details, it was SO FUN. They got ready with their closest friends and family (and Murphy the dog!), and got married in an intimate ceremony on the property that they’re going to build their house on, surrounded by mountains. How special is that?!

Then I stole the newlyweds away and we took creative portraits by the creek together. We took photos in their planes before they took off for the reception (yep, they flew to their reception). It’s not every day I get to shoot with a bride and groom with airplanes, but since Aaron is a pilot, it was a perfect opportunity. AND their reception was in a freakin’ airplane hanger. It all made sense.

They had a beautifully dramatic first dance and the most eventful “cake cutting” I’ve ever seen - hard to beat a piñata cake! The photos of these two hitting it and finally getting the candy out are GEMS. Make sure to scroll to the end to see them haha.

Aaron + Caroline, thank you for including me in your special day! I loved working with the two of you!

Looking for a photographer for your Alaska wedding? More info HERE.

First Look or No First Look?

what’s the deal with first looks?

Let’s start with the basics - what is a first look?!

Traditionally, the first moment a the groom sees the bride is when she walks down the aisle at the beginning of the ceremony. A first look is when you and your partner take a moment to see each other before the ceremony. There are pros and cons to both options - let’s chat and see which is the best option for you and your partner!

reasons couples choose a first look

Here are a few reasons a couple may choose to see each other before the ceremony.

• Schedule wise, it often creates more space in the timeline to get photos of the bride and groom and the wedding party.

• More space in the timeline creates the opportunity to get more creative portraits because there is less rush, and it takes one thing off the agenda after the ceremony so the couple can start the reception sooner!

• It creates a private moment for the bride and groom. There can be a lot of eyes on you during the bride’s procession down the aisle and for some people, that makes it harder to show your true emotions!

• There can be a lot of jitters on a wedding day morning, and I’ve had a lot of couples say that their nerves immediately calmed down for the rest of the day once they saw their partner, which allowed them to enjoy the rest of the day even more.

here’s why I chose a first look!

I know first looks are not for everyone, but it is a game changer for some people and I am one of them.

Despite your best laid plains, you are the only thing you’re really in control of once you get to the day you get married. I had made schedules and I had dreamed dreams but I couldn’t force anyone to be on time or in a good mood.

But the moment when we saw each other for the first time? That moment was ours. To take deep breaths, feel our feelings, hold hands and soak it in. It felt like stealing back the day, pausing the spinning, and being free before jumping back into the rest.

I wrote Ben a sentimental letter that would’ve made me feel very exposed if I read it in front of all our guests but truly expressed what I wanted to share with him on our day, and I am so grateful I had that sacred moment to read it in.

That’s why having a private first look before the ceremony was the best decision for us. But like I said, I know it’s not for everyone!

reasons couples choose the “aisle moment”

• The biggest reason couples choose not to see each other before the ceremony is because they want to save the moment for seeing each other when they walk down the aisle!

• A lot of people have dreamt of that experience on the day they get married for years, and I believe you should have the moment that you dreamt of.

• If you tend to have a more extroverted personality, having that moment in front of your guests might make it more special for you.

• There’s no denying that the build up of suspense and the emotions of the music playing while you walk down the aisle can add to the magic of the moment!

If this sounds like you, save it! It’s your day - your photographer will work with you to make sure you have time for portraits other times in the schedule. I would rather you make decisions based off of how you want to remember your wedding day rather than the photos you’ll get, ya know?

that being said

- if you do choose a first look, the aisle moment will still be special. You might not get the same reaction, or it might be even more emotional, like this aisle moment below!

at the end of the day,

it’s between you and your person.

I know it seems like I have more “reasons” for a first look than not - but that doesn’t matter. No, really. Picture the day you get married the best you can - which makes you the most excited, the most peaceful?

At the end of the day, what you want is what matters and as your photographer, I work hard to make sure that you feel supported no matter what you choose!

if you have thoughts or need help talking through this decision, please don’t hesitate to reach out on instagram or on my website!

and if you’re looking for a supportive photographer for the day you get married, I’d love to chat (:

Eddie + Ashley | Alaska Wedding Photographer

On Eddie & Ashley's first inquiry call they said they liked to have marshmallows around the fire in the evenings for fun, and we immediately clicked - totally my kind of people! Their love is such a best-friendship, and their whole day was just FUN.

They were both so laid back, and focused on what was truly important to them.

The wedding was held in Eddie's parents backyard where he grew up, right on the Knik River in Palmer, Alaska. Talk about STUNNING. (Scroll to the couples portraits, and you'll know what I mean!) Plus the fog that rolled in for that portrait time was surreal and so on brand for them, I was freaking out the whole time.

They nailed the details throughout the day from personalized cups to a custom banner, and the black and red theme was perfectly dramatic.

Eddie & Ashley, thank you for choosing me to document your day. I loved celebrating with you and capturing your love.

Looking for a photographer for your intimate wedding?

Inquire HERE and let’s chat!

Jennifer + Carlton | Alaska Wedding Photographer

Okay, WOW. Carlton and Jennifer had the *sweetest* wedding.

When Ben and I arrived, Carlton saw us first and aggressively waved - “You guys wanna go to a wedding?!” To which we responded, “That’s what we’re here for!” The rest of the day followed suit. These two were so thrilled to be marrying their best friend and that feeling encompassed the entire day.

You’ll see in the photos how much love and laughter these two have in their lives and their little family! They planned an intimate wedding and got married here in Alaska at The Gathering Place with the mountains as a beautiful backdrop to their ceremony. Lily of the Valley Floral supplied the florals for their gorgeous autumn themed wedding! From the toasts to the thanksgiving style meal to the sweet dances, the whole day felt like the special, chill, love focused gathering that they dreamed of. They wrapped up their day with a joyful sparkler exit that their son especially loved!

Okay I’ll stop talking now: enjoy the photos!!

Looking for a photographer for your intimate wedding? Inquire HERE and let’s chat!

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Wedding Venue: The Gathering Place

Florist: Lily of the Valley

Taylor + Amber's Intimate Girdwood Alaska Wedding

Guys. This day had everything. Gorgeous venue. Beautiful weather. SWEETEST couple. Most supportive friends and family. You’re going to want to scroll through these photos for the cliff notes story of Taylor and Amber’s intimate wedding at Crow Creek Mine!

I met Amber at the wedding fair in January of 2020 and I like to think that we connected because we value kindness and beauty. Their wedding day (and the photos we took) was full of those two things. From the fun morning with their wedding party, to an emotional walk down the aisle and ceremony, a special portrait time with just the two of them and a reception that felt like one big family hanging out - they went for quality over quantity and nailed it.

See if you can find the photo of them hydrating - I documented it because I was proud of them 😂

Wedding Dresses for Your Intimate Wedding or Elopement

Anybody else out here googling “bridal gowns for under $1000” or “bridal gowns for under $500”?

Tbh, that was me when I got married! I wasn’t going to settle for a dress I didn’t feel beautiful in, but we were young and in college so I had a smaller budget for my dress (and a larger budget for photography LOL).

So if that’s the boat that you find yourself in, or similar, here are some options for you! The individual dresses are linked in the photos, but the stores are linked in bold ☺️

- this gown was under $400 off of ASOS, linked below! (click on this photo to see the rest of the images from this elopement day)

BALTIC BORN has some dreamy dresses in a lot of beautiful colors, if you were interested in a different colored gown!

They also have some dresses that would be gorgeous for engagement sessions 😍

LULUS has an entire bridal shop! They also have bridal lingerie, bridal shoes and accessories, and bridesmaid dresses as well.

They also have a great “try on”/return policy - when I was dress shopping I was able to try on a dress at home to see how it fit and how it felt and decide if I liked it or not, and then easily send it back!

ASOS also has a bridal selection! They have a lot of unique, modern, sleek options like this gorgeous gown (look at the skirt! can you imagine twirling in that 😍).

Last but very much not least, we have BHLDN - my go to for all things bridal.

They have both a “wedding dresses under $1000” and a “wedding dresses under $500” tab option! Another thing that I love is they have different skirts and tops that you can pair together to kind of create your own look (like the photo here!) if none of the other gowns are speaking to you.

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Who knew there were so many options? My hope for this blog post is that it saves you lots of time googling, stress trying to find options, and money that you can spend on other things for your wedding day.

If it was helpful or you end up finding your gown on one of these websites, I would LOVE to hear about it!! Shoot me a message on instagram - I can’t wait to hear from you 😍

Trenton + Kayla's Girdwood Alaska Elopement Day

What a FUN day. And so beautiful. Kayla messaged me on instagram and said that basically, she and her fiancé had decided to get married sometime in the couple weeks and they hoped I was available 😂 luckily, because it was November, I was.

They didn’t have a plan really set so I shared a couple location ideas and they settled on Moose Meadows in Girdwood! We traveled out to the field, they repeated their vows (they got married at the courthouse before to sign papers! always an option), shotgunned PBRs and then headed back to their Airbnb to eat pizza, drink beer and relax with their pups.

An absolutely perfect, special, relaxed day all about the two of them and their relationship ♡ and Alaska showed OFF with a hazy sunset. Felt like we were in a storybook!

sound like a dream come true for your wedding? let’s make it happen.

message me on instagram or inquire here!

Garrett + Madeline :: Anchorage Alaska Intimate Wedding

Everything with Garrett and Maddy just clicked - from the first phone call, to the wedding day. These two had already rescheduled and replanned their wedding twice so as Maddy said, at this point in the process they were just going with the flow 😂 and it worked out perfectly.

They had an intimate wedding in Anchorage, Alaska with their closest friends and fam, and a laid back attitude about everything. I’m convinced that’s why there were so many sweet moments throughout the day. I was able to photograph their relaxed morning getting ready, the windy but awesome first look and photo time at Beluga Point, their emotional ceremony at the Airmen’s Association in Anchorage (with planes flying by in the background haha), and a beautifully fun and sentimental reception at 49th State Brewing Co.

See if you can find the photo of the bride’s veil deciding to blow away 😂 their day was so perfect and I am so honored to have been their photographer! They have a baby girl on the way now and I get emotional thinking about them showing her these photos in the future ♡

If this is what you’re hoping for your wedding day photos, send me an inquiry here! Or if you just want to hangout and see more pretty photos like this + occasional videos of my dogs and coffee, follow along on instagram ♡

Caleb + Makenzie :: Eklutna Lake Winter Engagement Session

Ahh what a fun day! We planned a fun little adventure activity for these two’s engagement session.

I met them at Eklutna Lake where we took some fun photos on the ice, slid around a bit more than we anticipated, did a little dance by the frozen lake and then headed to make a little campfire!

We were so close to getting it started, but the combination of the wind and both lighters freezing prevented the flames from getting going enough 😂 so we pivoted and they drank some coffee to warm up the fingers that were frozen at that point and cuddled in a blanket. The end of the session was half photo ideas and the other half just keeping warm haha!

Despite the foiled campfire attempt, we had sooo much fun and also ran into a cute puppy 😍 so all is well that ends well. Also, I just want to appreciate their awesome outfits. It is not an easy task to be warm and this fashionable at the same time so I applaud them 👏🏼

if you’re looking to have a little adventure for your engagement session, send me a message HERE or on instagram (click the photos below!)

Sam + Jerica :: Palmer Alaska Mountain Cabin Wedding

Sam + Jerica :: Palmer Alaska Mountain Cabin Wedding

Sam and Jerica were married at the gorgeous Sunderland Ranch in Palmer, AK on a perfect sunny day this past summer.

The morning was full of special moments as everyone got ready in the beautiful cabin. Jerica’s style was so simple and gorgeous, and she had the best crew of girls with her. Sam’s reaction when she walked down the aisle was perfect. Their ceremony was short and sweet, and the reception after was such a party. Also, I am obsessed with their little fishing cake topper! These two live life to the fullest, love each other fiercely and I feel so honored to have photographed their incredible wedding day.

I had the most difficult time narrowing down what images to share for this blog post but this will give you at least a taste of the day!

Venue: Sunderland Ranch

Makeup: Chance Droege

Hair: Raven’s Hair Studio

Gown: Anderson’s Bride

Florals: Cedar’s Wholesale Flowers, Champion Peonies

If you are getting married in Alaska and looking for a photographer that makes you feel comfortable, captures the beauty of your day and celebrates you as a couple, you can message me HERE or even shoot me a DM on instagram below to start chatting!

Jack + Allie :: Denali National Park Engagement

When Jack first contacted me saying that he and his girlfriend were flying to Alaska from New York and he was going to propose, I was SO excited. We hopped on the phone to discuss their travel plans and their destination engagement session in her dream location, Denali National Park! I knew exactly the spot to take them to - Savage River.

The weather pushed proposal plans but we made it work! Ben and I got up at 3am to drive to Denali to meet them for a 7am session before they drove straight to the airport to fly out of AK.

Denali was foggy and gorgeous - we felt like we were walking around in middle earth 😍 Her red dress was such an incredible pop of color in the moody mountain landscape.

Jack and Allie were infectiously happy, newly engaged, and an absolute delight to work with. I wish we would’ve had more time, but I am in LOVE with the images we created together! Scroll to the end to see what Jack and Allie had to say about their photos ♡

When I sent them their gallery, Jack texted back:

“Allie and I looked at these photos and they are just amazing!

We are blown away!

Thank you so much for the care and detailed work you do. The shoot was so much fun and and will always be in our memories.”

If you’re looking for this kind of experience for your destination engagement session, alaska engagement session, elopement, wedding - inquire here or send me a message on instagram!

how to elope in alaska

Okay guys, tell me if this speaks to you:

You’re engaged, and you’ve jumped headfirst into wedding planning. It’s becoming clear that there is way more to planning a wedding than you’ve thought. What’s more, you’re beginning to wonder if it’s worth it to plan a big party for people you don’t know super well (that’s a lot of people watching you walk down the aisle). You’ve heard someone mention eloping and the idea sounds fun but like -

where do you start? how do you elope? where should you elope? what do you do on an elopement day? how much does it cost to elope?

- valid questions. You’re going to want to keep reading.

A photographer friend and I were talking about how there are a lot of epic portraits from elopements swimming around the internet, but wouldn’t it be so cool if we could create something to give engaged couples an idea of what the start to finish of an elopement day would look like?

So we teamed up with some incredible vendors to not only give you an idea of what an elopement ceremony in Alaska in the winter could look like, but ALSO what vendors you could book, how much it would cost, what details you could include, and how the day could flow.

THAT BEING SAID. Scroll through the photos of Stephen & Alexa’s (9 year anniversary) elopement day 😉 and then check out the team and the details toward the end!

the day

getting ready

hair, makeup, the works! you can get ready with your fiancé if you like, or do it separately and preserve the element of surprise! there are no rules here (:

there are lots of incredible venues in alaska but if you’re looking to keep it super simple, finding yourself a cozy airbnb will NOT disappoint (and I can help you find one!). that’s what these two did! it was perfect for getting ready in the morning and then for their private dinner later!

details

writing vows

ceremony

the sky is the limit when you keep it simple. there are SO many beautiful places in alaska where you and your person can say your vows to each other! fields, oceans, mountains, rivers, streams, cabins - take your pick!

the ceremony set up for these two was so simple but stunning - the floral pieces and a blanket/rug to stand on! easy to transport but made it special.

portrait time

these two took shots off a hockey stick because that’s how they met in college 😉 how did you meet? when did you know you loved your person? include it in your day!

afternoon alyeska tram adventure

take your newly wedded selves on an adventure! take a tram to an amazing view, cozy up by the fire and play cards, take a drive to your favorite view, spend time with close family members if that’s how your day rolls, sing songs - take both of your favorite things to do together and make it happen. what better way to spend the afternoon?

dinner reception

there are so many options for your evening after the ceremony and photos! go out to a nice dinner, order your favorite takeout, have your wedding planner set you up with an Alaskan charcuterie board and magical candles, cut the cake (if you want one!), get pizza and go out for beers after - whatever makes your heart happy!

the team

The incredible team that made this day happen! (links are in italics):

Models: Stephen & Lex of The Hitched Hiker

Florist: Natasha of Paper Peony

HMUA: Liz of EBA907

Wedding Planner: Yvette of Wedding Creative Design

Cake: Anita of Midnight Sun Cakery

Gown: ASOS

Invitation Suite: Christine of Grey Meets Gold

Earrings: Akimbo

Photographer/organizers: Me & Theresa of Theresa McDonald Photography

Videographer (yes, there’s a video coming!!): Ben Struve of Rachel Struve Photography

Location/Venue: Airbnb in Girdwood, AK

“Reception” : Girdwood Brewing Co

the cost

I know that one of the reasons some couples choose to elope is because they have a smaller budget. If that’s you, great! A smaller budget CAN go a longer way with a smaller celebration, without losing out on the details that you’ve always dreamed of. (If you haven’t thought through your budget priorities, check out this blog post). If you’re looking for an idea of what an elopement like the one featured in this post could cost, look no further! (JK obviously, reach out to the vendors you want to work with because everyone’s prices are different).

Florals $400-$900

HMUA $140-$200

Wedding Planner $600-$1500 (depends on customization of services!)

Cake $170-$245

Gown: $300-$1200 (I know this is a wide range - everyone has different priorities! If you’re looking for gowns on the lower end, check my blog next week 😉)

Earrings $30-$50

Photography $2400-$3800

Videography $1400-$1900

Invitation Suite $300-$600

Location/Venue (Airbnb) $600-800

Pizza & Beer $50-$100

Overall, you could pull off a day like the one you just scrolled through for around 5-7k, depending on what you want included! Compare that to the cost of the average wedding folks - you are in GOOD shape for such an incredible and personal adventure.

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So there you have it! A full elopement DAY.

Now you can let your imagination run wild!

If this information was helpful for you, I would LOVE to hear from you. Shoot me a message on instagram! Or if you know someone that it could help, send it their way!

Thankful for you! Hope this rocks your socks off!

-Rachel

Aaron + Caroline :: Magical Anchorage Winter Engagement Session

What a FUN session. Caroline told me halfway through that she had never seen Aaron in a suit before and that made me feel super special 😂

We traveled up to Flattop/Glen Alps in Anchorage for a wintery engagement session! The sunshine was MAGICAL and these two looked incredible in their fancy first outfit 🔥 We moved quickly because it was chilly out (and Caroline was a boss on those heels) but still had a blast and got some beautiful, fun photographs that I’m still obsessing over.

Scroll through to see!!

Aaaand bam, outfit switch! When I was posing them for these next shots, I said “Okay, you wouldn’t usually do this in real life but it makes for great photos.” I proceeded to tell Aaron to give her a piggy back ride but also give it a little bounce - to which Caroline replied, “Oh we would totally do that in real life.” 😂 Which made it even more incredible hahaha.

Also - turns out that champagne doesn’t quite spray the same way in the winter, or at least it didn’t for these guys lol. Still made for some incredible photos, and a fun beverage to hold in their mugs!

Caroline went shopping for a blanket that day and could only find a tablecloth, which worked out perfectly for the photos - but when they sat down in the snow she was like “Oooooh this is definitely a thin table cloth and not a blanket” 😂

I also asked them to tell each other what made them most excited to be married to each other and she replied, “LIFE INSURANCE” immediately.

I cannot WAIT for these two’s intimate wedding this August!

Are you looking for a fun time and magical engagement photos?

Message me on instagram or inquire here - I’ve got you!

Wedding Day Timeline Tips

I once had a bride tell me, “I don’t even know where to start with my timeline.” If that’s you, I I got you! You’ve probably never planned a wedding before, but I have planned and photograph so many that I have a good grasp on how long things take and the general order. This blog post will help you visualize and prepare your wedding day timeline! Thinking about your timeline early on in the game will help streamline the rest of your planning process as well, so let’s get into it!

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This is how long each phase of an average wedding day generally takes, and a few things you should take into account when nailing down your timeline.

Getting Ready: Okay, estimate how much time you think you’ll need to get ready depending on the bride’s hair and makeup, and how many of the bridesmaids are getting their hair and makeup done as well (however long the bride and bridesmaids takes to get ready is usually plenty of time for the groom and groomsmen to get ready as well).

Got it?

Now - add a half hour at the beginning and the end, at least 😂 If you end up sitting around ready early, that’s awesome. You can chill or even get some additional portraits with the extra time! You would rather do that than be rushing if hair or makeup takes longer than expected.

Portraits:

Bride and Groom: I would recommend having at least 30 minutes blocked out for uninterupted bride and groom portrait time, whether it’s at the first look or later in the schedule. We might not even be taking photos the whole time - the goal is to take fun, beautiful, intimate portraits AND savor some alone time together away from the crazy of the day.

Wedding Party: Bridesmaid, Groomsmen, and full wedding party photos take about a half hour to run through! If these are a high priority to you and you want to get a little more creative, I would add 15 minutes to that.

Family: Because I’ll be working off of a list that we confirm before the wedding day and I work pretty quickly, family photos should only take 15-20 minutes (as long as everyone is present on time) so making sure everyone knows when and where they need to be will help us stick.

Sample Timelines

Here are a couple sample timelines of a typical wedding day if the ceremony was at 5pm! You can shift these times around your ceremony time.

*tip -sunset into consideration when picking your ceremony times (especially if you’re having an outdoor ceremony), as that will affect your portraits. Ask your photographer if you' need help figuring this part out!

Here is what a sample timeline with a first look would look like:

10:00am Start Getting Ready

12:00pm/1:00pm

2:15 Bride Get Dressed/Bridal Portraits

2:30 Leave for First Look

2:45 First Look

3:00 Bride and Groom Portraits

3:30 Wedding Party Portraits

4:00 Finish Photos/Return to Ceremony Venue

5:00 Ceremony

5:30/45 Family Portraits

6:00 Reception

<dinner, first dance, parent dances, toasts, dancing, cake cutting etc.>

9:00pm Send Off

Here is what a sample timeline without a first look would look like:

10:00/11:00am Start Getting Ready

12:00/1:00pm

2:30 Bride Get Dressed

3:00 Bride/Bridesmaid Portraits

3:30 Groom/Groomsmen Portraits

4:00 Finish Photos/Return to Ceremony Venue

5:00 Ceremony

5:30/45 Family Portraits

6:00 Cocktail Hour/Wedding Party Portraits

6:30 Bride and Groom Portraits

7:00 Reception

<dinner, first dance, parent dances, toasts, dancing, cake cutting etc.>

10:00 Send Off

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What's in My Bag: Recommended Equipment by Rachel Struve Photography

When I first started doing photography, I did a lot of googling, “What camera should I buy?” “What lens should I buy?” to try and figure out what camera equipment to invest in. There are so many options and I know it can be overwhelming!

So to save you hours of googling and get you pointed in the right direction, I’m going to share the gear that I’ve come to love and depend on. The bold words are links to the item! (I shoot Canon, but I am including some Nikon equivalents at the bottom of the page for those of you who want to go that route!)

CAMERA BODIES

Let’s start off with camera bodies! I currently shoot on two camera bodies, a Canon 5D Mark IV and a Canon R6. The R6 is my main camera that I use on a regular basis, and it’s my lead camera on wedding days (on wedding days, I have two cameras so that a) I can have two prime lenses at once and b) so that I have a backup in case something goes wrong with one of the cameras). The Mark IV has served me SO well (tbh, sometimes I miss it) but I’ll be upgrading her to a second R6 body for next wedding season!

If you are just starting out, I would recommend the Canon t7i. I learned how to shoot in manual on my Canon t2i (that makes me feel old guys) and if you’re into taking photos for fun, this is a perfect option. If you are looking for a full frame option and interested in photography as a career, the Canon 6D was my first full frame upgrade and I loved it! (Nikon equivalent of a Canon 6D at the bottom of the page!)

LENSES

Okay let’s talk lenses! I have two lenses that I shoot on a majority of the time, and they’re prime lenses. The difference between prime lenses and zoom lenses is prime lenses have a fixed focal length, whereas zoom lenses you can zoom in and out!

My go to lenses are the 35mm, 50mm, and the 85mm. The Sigma 35mm 1.4 is a dream! I love 35mms for capturing a wider scene such as a the wedding party or a couple in front of mountains. The 85mm is great for weddings when I want to get clear shots of the bride or groom without being up in their faces!

If you aren’t photographing weddings or can’t shell out the cash for one of the lenses I just mentioned, the Canon 50mm 1.8 or Canon 50mm 1.4 are a perfect first upgrade from a kit lens. I have a Sigma 50mm 1.4 that I LOVE. 50mms produce wonderfully sharp images, are great for low light and the depth of field (which creates bokeh/blurry backgrounds) is great for portraits especially.

If you are planning on photographing mainly landscapes, a Canon 24mm Lens would be a great investment for you - it’s a wide lens that will capture more of the scene!

Additional Gear

A couple other things I always have on me:

• Batteries/Charger. I use the basic Canon - I would 10/10 NOT recommend using off brand batteries, I had one as an extra once and accidentally popped it in my backup camera body. The camera started malfunctioning on a wedding day until my assistant switched the battery (which is why I have extras of batteries AND cameras). Save yourself the trouble and get the official battery for your camera body, whether it’s Canon or Nikon etc.

• SD cards - kind of a big deal! I mainly use SanDisk 64GB 128GB and SD cards and haven’t had any issues! As with any gear, I would make sure that you have fresh cards every year or two because the older the card is, the higher the chance for corruption. You’re going to want to make sure that they have the highest write speed possible so that your camera doesn’t have to pause to record images in between shots!

• Camera Harness - my sweet husband bought me a Coiro Harness for Christmas and it is the BEST on wedding days. I have one camera + lens setup on one side and the second on the other and I can use whichever I need at a moment’s notice! And it’s classy, which I love, cuz we like to serve looks on wedding days.

• Lens Cleaner Wipes- this lil guy clears up the glass on my lenses from when I photograph in somewhat adventurous conditions! Small investment to take care of a big investment 👌🏼

I hope this list helped point you in the right direction as you purchase gear! It’s a very brief dive into the wonderful world of camera equipment. To be open and honest with you as I always strive to be, if you purchase your gear from these links, I get a small commission at no extra cost to you. I would be so honored to be a part of your photography in that way!

If you have additional questions or just want to share your excitement about the equipment you decided to invest in, head over to instagram and shoot me a message 😍

love, Rach

Nikon Starter Camera - Nikon D3500

Good Nikon upgrade to full frame Camera - Nikon D750

Sigma 35mm for Nikon

Nikon 50mm 1.8

Alternative Fall Wedding Styled Session

I photographed Paige and TJ’s wedding a few years ago, and loved being able to hang out with them again for this autumn elopement styled session!

There is something so refreshing and inspiring about the changing colors of fall, and we fully embraced the dusk of the evening.

Don’t get me wrong… I am a huge fan of laughter and sunshine, but sometimes it’s so fun to bask in the more moody, artistic, expressive side of things. This styled shoot made me fall more in love (no pun intended) with the idea of non-traditional gowns! How beautiful and elegant is a black gown on an intimate wedding day?

Huge thank you to Prose Floral Studio for this beautiful Fall bouquet and to Solid Werks Jewelry for the gorgeous jewelry pieces!

Scott + Kari :: Adventurous Lakeside Wedding in Seward Alaska

Oh man. Where do I even being with this adventurous couple?!

Scott and Kari both work in healthcare and have been dating for about ten years. They took a full year to travel the world together, so to say they love adventure is an understatement.

Kari and Scott felt like the perfect fit, since I also love a good adventure! They got ready in cabins at the Renfrose Lakeside Retreat, and we followed them through the rain and the mud, and took portraits three different times. Though it rained during their ceremony, everyone grabbed their umbrellas and rolled with it with the best attitudes!

Oh, and before you keep scrolling, I’ll let you in on a little secret. Kari got her beautiful skirt off of Amazon… for only fifty dollars!

Ok, now you can continue scrolling to check out their amazing, adventurous day.

Brittany + Brandon :: Intimate Hatcher Pass Wedding

These two! Their joy was so contagious on their wedding day, it was incredible to witness.

Brittany and Brandon had initially planned for a big wedding, but experienced a change of plans due to COVID. However, that did NOT stop the happy couple from having the best day ever. Not only did the bride feel as though it was less stressful, but she also got to experience an intimate wedding at one of their favorite places… Hatcher Pass! The rain held off just long enough to capture the wedding day portraits they dreamed of.

Oh, and just wait until you see their send-off, in true Alaska style!

Chance + Caitlyn :: Intimate Whittier Alaska Beach Wedding

Personal opinion: rainy days wedding days make the best memories, and incredibly beautiful photos.

On a blustery Saturday in June, Chase and Caitlyn eloped on the beach in Whittier! We hiked out to a little cove for their gorgeous first look - Caitlyn changed into her gown in a little makeshift closet in the rocks - before heading back to their ceremony. If you want to hike on your day - the answer is always yes, and always worth it.

They celebrated with their family, a few close friends, and even their cute pup (if you’re wondering, yes, you should include your dogs in your wedding day).

Caitlyn chose The Teal Door AK to create her florals, including the most lovely and intricate flower crown. Keep scrolling to see the sweet and special moments of their day!

Looking to elope in Alaska and have photos like these?

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Nathan + Charity :: Intimate North Carolina Beach Wedding

Nathan and Charity had a beautiful, unique story and I was so honored to be a part of their wedding weekend.

Nathan’s family is in North Carolina, and Charity’s is in Korea. The two of them met in a missions program in New York City and after months of prayer and pursuing each other, decided to tie the knot! They had an intimate wedding in North Carolina that I was able to photograph, and a second one back in Korea. Incredible couple surrounded by incredible people.

Scroll through to enjoy the meaningful moments, special details, beautiful beach ceremony, and gorgeous couple!