An elopement exploring Brookings, OR and Samuel H. Boardman on the Oregon Coast.
Capturing this light ray was no coincidence or happy accident. I spent several years exploring this beach that was near my house at the time and began to spot patterns between the tides, seasons, and sunset corresponding with the low tide. This photo can only be captured a few days a year (if the weather and wave action cooperates) which means it’s only possible if you plan the date around it from the beginning. Not to toot my own horn, but this is why hiring a local for your elopement makes all the difference. There’s a different level of knowledge comes with living where you work versus just visiting. Even though I had found this location years prior, it took all that time to figure out how to capture this moment.
I chat more about the process of capturing this image in this interview with Rangefinder Magazine.
So many parts of this elopement day was complete magic. Starting with that crazy light in the photo above! These two put so much thought and effort into each part of their day. They are fellow photographers which made their day like hanging out with your photographer friends and having a great day taking photos. Except even better because they got to get married while they were at it!
They took the time to make their own accessories, bring their favorite film themed cooler for their picnic, exchange vows entirely privately with only the waves listening, and so much more. They wanted a day they could relive over and over and that’s exactly what they got.
Kind words from the couple:
Miki from Venturing Vows blew our expectations out of Oregon coastal waters, turning our elopement vision into something dreams are made of. As fellow photographers, we understand the importance of connecting with your photographer/videographer, and we were thrilled to be among the first to benefit from the collaboration between Venturing Vows and Lilli Productions.
Miki helped us plan an elopement that felt true to us as a couple. We expressed the locations we wanted to visit for our photo adventure elopement, and Miki helped us pick locations, plan timeline logistics, and was willing to incorporate film photography and even try to capture some astrophotography shots with us. Miki’s meticulous planning ensured a stress-free day, with punctuality and attention to detail that made our elopement a success. Miki even treated us to an impromptu tide pool lesson, adding an unexpected and memorable dimension to our adventure.
Working with Miki made the day above and beyond what we could have ever hoped to experience. The resulting photographs were more than mere images; they stand as extraordinary works of art, encapsulating authentic moments and eloquently telling the story of our beautiful elopement experience. Words cannot express how incredible our elopement photos turned out, and we couldn’t be happier with our choice to hire Miki.
We are forever grateful for Miki’s extraordinary talent and her willingness to make our elopement completely catered to us. We wholeheartedly recommend her for an elopement experience that is both unforgettable and seamlessly executed. Thank you, Miki, for sharing your talent with us and capturing memories beyond the limits of our imagination!
I got to work this alongside Sabrina Fitz Photo and Film for video! Sabrina is my go-to videographer to recommend to all my couples. Here’s the video she made from their elopement day:
Oregon Forest Hike
Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor Elopement
Oregon Coast Picnic and Ceremony
This glorious beam of light was no accident. This is a unique moment at this beach. The sunset and tide have to correspond and the tide has to be especially low to get close enough for the photos we got. They wanted a completely private ceremony so all of the ceremony photos are entirely candid! No posing or direction, just the two of them in their moment.
Blue Hour and Night Photos
Your day doesn’t have to end once the sun goes down! I always recommend staying at least a bit after sunset for the fun colors of blue hour. We tried for star photos but the ocean fog had another idea. We decided to get creative instead and have some fun with lanterns!
Elopement Photos on Film
A recent addition to all my elopements is film! This couple are film enthusiasts themselves so I put a special effort into making sure I captured lots on film. Film photos get to capture the day in such a unique way. Here’s a handful of the film photos from this beautiful day:
Photos from this elopement are featured on my winning Rangefinder 30 Rising Stars submission!
For more information, check out my elopement packages or contact me to start planning your day!
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