How My Divorce Made Me a Better Elopement Photographer

It might sound strange, but my divorce is one of the biggest reasons I show up so fully and intentionally for the couples I work with today.

I didn’t always plan to photograph elopements. I didn’t always know how meaningful and emotional they could be. But after walking through a chapter of my life (….or quite a few chapters) that didn’t end the way I expected, I started seeing love, and weddings, through a completely different lens. Literally and figuratively.

A Shift in Perspective

Divorce has a way of stripping things down to what truly matters. It forces you to look at love in its most raw, vulnerable form. And for me, it taught me that connection isn’t about the flowers, the dress, the venue, or the number of guests. It’s about two people choosing each other. Intentionally, wholeheartedly, and sometimes imperfectly.

That’s why elopements resonate so deeply with me. They’re about presence, not performance. About promises, not production. About creating space to feel everything without distractions or inturuptions.

What I Bring to Your Day (Because of My Story)

When I show up to document your elopement, I’m not just thinking about light, angles, or composition. I’m watching how you look at each other when no one’s talking. I’m noticing the way your fingers reach for theirs instinctively. I’m holding space for the moments that aren’t posed, but powerful.

My experience has given me:

• Empathy. I know relationships take work, grace, and intention. I carry that understanding into every interaction with my couples.
• Sensitivity. I pay attention to the little things. The unspoken. The sacred. The stuff you’ll want to remember when marriage gets real.
• Purpose. I don’t photograph elopements because they’re trendy. I photograph them because they feel true.

Love, Refined

I’m not jaded about love. I’m refined by it. I believe in the kind of love that whispers in quiet moments, that laughs through tears, that chooses presence over perfection. That’s what I aim to capture. Not just pretty photos—but photos that feel like you.

And if my story helps you feel more seen, more understood, or more confident in doing your day your way—then I know I’m doing something right.