Las Vegas Anniversary Session at Nelson Ghost Town

Recently, my bestie and her family came out to visit us in Vegas! Some of you may already know Ashleigh from your weddings and/or engagement shoots with us, and you know what a gem of a human being she is. She and her husband celebrated their 13th anniversary in October, and what better way to celebrate Lucky 13 than with a session in Vegas?! We scouted out a ton of locations, but eventually landed on Nelson Ghost Town (it felt right with it being their 13th - sPoOoOkY, right?). Also known as Eldorado Canyon, it’s an easy, super scenic 50-minute drive from the strip. I absolutely love shooting there! The owners are so nice, and the scenery is really unmatched. You can get married on their property, book photo sessions, or just visit and check it out. You can also book a mine tour through their website!

The property is full of historic buildings and artifacts, vintage cars, incredible cholla cacti, and the light is amazing. Please keep in mind that Eldorado Canyon / Nelson Ghost Town DOES require a permit & fee for all photo sessions and events. If you choose to visit, please be respectful and follow all of the owners’ guidelines.

We had such a blast exploring the property with our families, and even had enough time to catch the sunset looking over Lake Mead. It was a really, really good day. I can’t wait to squeeze them again soon!

If you’re interested in booking your own elopement or session at Nelson Ghost Town, I’d love to help.
Reach out to book now!

Joshua Tree Sunset Anniversary Session

Aubrey and I met Allison & Blake several years ago when we did their engagement session in/around Asheville NC, and it wound up being a kind of pivotal session for my career. I knew that I loved bringing people to my favorite places and immersing them in the magic of the forest, the smell of the trees, and the feel of the mountain air. But it wasn’t until I took Allison & Blake all around the Blue Ridge Parkway that I realized that’s what I want to do for ALL of my couples. Something clicked with me that day, and it was one of the first times I had the feeling that I could do sessions like theirs forever.

We shot their gorgeous wedding in Atlanta the following year, and we’ve stayed in touch on social media since then. When I announced we were relocating to Las Vegas, Allison reached out to see if I’d be up for an anniversary session in Joshua Tree during their vacation, and I’m not sure I’ve ever said yes so quickly!

I love these two - they are a couple of the easiest people to photograph and just to be with, in general. Not to mention, Joshua Tree is an absolute must-have, bucket-list location. You just can’t even fathom how amazing it is until you see it. The light: unreal. The landscape: otherworldly. The night sky?! ridiculous. We were able to hang out a little while past dark for some night shots, which was so rad (and also took a lot of patience - thanks again, y’all)! I will gladly do anniversary sessions for them every single year that they want them.

Planning a Joshua Tree elopement or engagement session? I can help! Joshua Tree requires a photography permit, and I take care of securing all of that for my couples. I also help with planning, finding great vendors, and making sure that everyone knows and adheres to Leave No Trace ethics while we’re out. Reach out to plan your session!

Santa Cruz California Adventure Session at Shark Fin Cove

So… I’m not exactly known for being an extrovert.

I am super comfortable and outgoing around the people I already know and love, but when it comes to meeting new people, ESPECIALLY approaching strangers, I’m usually so shy. I’ve been trying to get more out of my comfort zone, because hello - breaking into a new market across the country and getting your business re-established means you have to be uncomfy sometimes. So when I saw this adorable couple on the beach in Santa Cruz and they asked me to take a photo for them with their camera, I decided to face my fears and ask them if they would like a little beach sesh with me.

I am SO glad that I did, because Kristen & Cisco were so sweet and so fun to work with - I wish we’d had time for a full session, but we wound up with only 5-10 minutes and it was still amazing.

Santa Cruz is a place I’ve wanted to visit for years, and it was an absolute out-of-body experience to be able to shoot at Shark Fin Cove. It’s unreal. I could’ve spent the entire day there (and I really wish we’d been there to catch a sunset, although we actually caught sunset that night at Steamer Lane, which was another bucket-list experience for me. Maybe I’ll share some surf photos sometime?)!

Please note that this location is rocky, the walk down from the parking lot is pretty steep, and the tide can be sketchy and dangerous at times. As always, if you choose to visit, please follow all Leave No Trace principles and be respectful.

Many thanks again to Kristen & Cisco for taking a chance on a stranger and letting me spend some time with them that afternoon!