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Kaleb + Malachi from Malachi Lewis on Vimeo.

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A white dress is classic, but how about added a little gold shimmer. ✨ Just here to say, west what you really want to for your wedding day— colorful suits, capes, colored dresses, jumpsuits, you name it! Your wedding attire should reflect who you are. (at Joshua Tree National Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqPYZs6uqkK/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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It’s officially spring— that means it’s desert season & lets just say I’m excited! 🙌🏼 #desertelopement #moabelopement #moabelopementphotographer #utahunique #utahelopement (at Moab, Utah) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqJgUi1P_kO/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Your wedding day doesn’t have to be like anyone else’s. You can laugh during your vows instead of emotional crying, you can hike up into the mountains instead of walking down an aisle, you can ditch any traditions you want, keep any you love, & make up your own way of getting married. No matter what way you choose to get married, I always tell couples to do whatever is true to them. If you’re eloping, you don’t have to have a massive adventure. If you’re having a more traditional wedding, you don’t have to invite everyone you’ve ever known. However you choose to get married, you’re going to offend someone & someone is always going to have a different opinion. So just do you! (at Boulder, Colorado) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqBbjD6vh8a/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Spring is almost here! Right?! Not so fast! At least not if you’re eloping in the mountains. In fact, if you’re thinking about a spring wildflower elopement in the mountains, a lot of mountains don’t even get any spring wildflowers until maybe mid June. 🌼 Summer is actually the best time for wildflowers in the high elevation mountains of Colorado, Washington, Montana, Wyoming, & other high elevation mountainous states. It���s super important to do a little digging & learn about the location(s) you’re thinking about eloping in. Location research can be fun for you to do together & having a photographer to help with things like that always helps too! 😉 Want to elope in the wildflowers! I have availability in July for the San Juan Mountains of Western Colorado or in August for Washington state & Glacier National Park. 🏔️ (at Telluride, Colorado) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp8JMEYvxpK/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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I've said this before, but I'II happily repeat it - elopements can be MORE THAN JUST 1-2 HOURS! It is important to me that couples realize how special their elopement day is & that it's worth investing your time in! It's your wedding day - you deserve a unique, adventurous experience that is so much more than a brief ceremony & a little photoshoot. Wondering how long you should book for elopement photography? Most of my couples book me for a full day. I understand this might sound like a long time, & you may be asking yourself how an elopement can last all day. But, honestly, if you plan a fantastic day with various activities (like canyoneering in Moab!), it is not hard to do. When planning your elopement day, start by thinking about what your ideal day looks like from start to finish. Then, ask yourselves what you want to do on your elopement day. You really are not limited to a certain number of meaningful experiences or activities you can add to your day. Whatever you decide to do, make sure it sounds perfect to the two of you! Keep in mind that as much as you plan for your big day, it will pass much faster than you could ever anticipate. For this reason, one of the most important things I encourage you to make time for is those sacred, fleeting moments throughout your day. Moments like right after you wake up & realize that today is the beginning of your greatest adventure, or the moments right after you say "I do", when you look into the eyes of your person for the first time in a beautiful new light. Be intentional with these moments. Close your eyes, take a deep breath & take it all because these in-between moments make all the difference in the world - these are the ones you'll hold on to forever. Head over to my blog for more insights on how you can plan your elopement! (at Moab, Utah) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp5XL5VLbmB/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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First looks can be a magical little moment for you to both see each other all dressed up for the first time before your big day. Some time to just breath together before you get married. Want to know why I always recommend a first look & some portraits BEFORE your ceremony? (This specific advice only applies to sunrise ceremonies though.) At sunrise, the light changes fast! Especially with alpenglow on the mountains, but even out in the desert or along the coast, you just have a limited amount of time. Sometimes I may want to move you around or get some portraits at that perfect time. I don’t want to interrupt your sunrise ceremony just to move you around. That’s why I always recommend a first look & some portraits right at sunrise just before your ceremony. (at Grand Teton National Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp2wXV2ra9A/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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When you can be with your person in nature & feel so relaxed & at peace, I think all wedding days should be like this! 🙌🏼 (at Colorado) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp0r4h_P2S7/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Let’s talk about star photos! This year I have more couples asking about taking photos with the stars, the Milky Way, or even full moon photos. There are allllll sorts of ways to take these kinds of photos whether you do them before sunrise or after sunset. But the important thing to know is that they take time. And if you want more than just star photos (such as photos with the core of the Milky Way or photos with a full moon) we can’t just go anywhere at anytime. I use all sorts of tools like Google Earth, @photopills, & even in-person location scouting to plan out the best locations & the best times. ✨ Want some cool night time photos? Let’s talk! 🌌 (at Silverton, Colorado) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpapzGKrdGY/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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I am SO STOKED for all of the elopements this year! Do you want to know why I chose the name Shell Creek Photography for my business? It’s because I never wanted my business to be about me. It’s why I just couldn’t bring myself to name it after me. Shell Creek is the name of a little creek where I grew up & there are so many things, so many connections there that made me who I am. So I wanted my business to be about connecting people together & also connecting people with nature through photography. Where am I going this year? March → Moab & California (booked) April → Moab & California (1 spot open) May → California & Colorado (3 spots open) June → Colorado (1-2 spots open) July → Colorado (3 spots open) August → PNW & Glacier (2-3 spots open) September → western Colorado (4 spots open) October → Colorado & Arizona (3 spots open) November → Death Valley, Sierra Nevadas, Joshua Tree (2 spots open) If you want to talk about other areas, this isn’t set in stone & sometimes I add on new locations depending on where I get booked! (at Lone Pine, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpN6R13LvK1/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Moab has so many popular spots such as Arches, Canyonlands, & Dead Horse Point. But if you want your session, proposal, or elopement to take place in an area with privacy but still has those stunning views, I definitely recommend venturing off the beaten path! Being local to Moab, I can help direct you to some of the most beautiful parts of Moab that you’ve probably never heard of before. Reach out to me & let’s talk about Moab! (at Moab, Utah) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpLIY5YLbfw/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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You know what I love? I love when couples just let go of what “should be” & just have fun together! Not all your photos have to be perfect & proper & posed. When you just let go & have fun together, your personalities can really shine & you’ll get photos you’ll love. (at Muddy Puddles) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpDUOcJLaQQ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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You know what I love about these kinds of tiny people, but landscape photographs? This can be ART for your home! Let me explain. You may not want massive wedding photos hanging everywhere in your home with your big face (but idk, maybe you do). These kinds of photos though allow you to show off the beautiful landscapes you got married in with yourselves in it, without it screaming ‘wedding photo’. Think of it as a more timeless piece of art that can hang in your home for a long time. Print these BIG & show the epic time you had! 🙌🏼 (at Moab, Utah) https://www.instagram.com/p/Co-Tsy4LTcZ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Ghaith & Adriana really wanted not only an an amazing location for their elopement but they wanted something that they could look back & say: “Wow! I can’t believe we did that!” Ghaith & Adriana had a few sets of clothes. First we started at the beaches of Olympic in some dressy but still more casual clothes that they didn’t mind getting all wet & sandy. Then they had his & hers T-shirts they wore on this crazy hike we did up to the top of a peak that overlooked this lake with incredible views at sunset. This hike wasn’t for the faint of heart & they both did an amazing job at doing something incredible for their wedding day, a day they could look back on for a long time & remember this incredible adventure! (at Olympic National Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/Coz21IPL7Hj/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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While this may look similar to Moab, this is actually Colorado National Monument near Grand Junction. If you want easy to access cliffside views, red rocks, greenery, & interesting desert formations, Colorado National Monument could be the elopement location for you! (at Colorado National Monument) https://www.instagram.com/p/CoyKwAas_8S/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Want to know something I really excel at? Finding “hidden gem” types of locations like this! I’ve had clients send me requests for what they want in a location or even photos of an exact location that they wanted & have been able to come up with all sorts of amazing spots for couples. This doesn’t just apply to where I am here in Colorado but having these skills, I can find hidden gems anywhere. From the deserts of Moab to the mountains of Washington, in popular places like Yosemite or pointing you to other places you may not have considered like the Sierra Nevadas. THIS is why you hire a specialized elopement photographer! (at Colorado) https://www.instagram.com/p/CovrlUmsViT/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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How can you include family in your elopement or intimate wedding day? • Of course you could invite them there to your ceremony. They don’t have to spend the whole day with you, you could choose to have the ceremony somewhere easily accessible & then adventure off with just the two of you. • You can include them by calling them via video chat if you have cell service, or if you don’t, record a little video saying hi to everyone right after you get married! • You could also plan a picnic or dinner with your family. It could be something super simple or something more elaborate if you’d like. Hire a private chef if you don’t want to leave your Airbnb & have everything taken care of for you! • You could also have a private ceremony one day & then do a more fun reception for everyone else the next day, or you could even do it in one day. I get it, you may not want to say what you really want to say in front of a larger group of people. I’ve even shot some ceremonies with a long lens from a great distance away to give couples the most privacy. There isn’t any one way to plan your elopement or intimate wedding day. Want to talk about options & other ideas? I LOVE this part of the process, so reach out & let’s talk! (at Crested Butte, Colorado) https://www.instagram.com/p/ConQcPxPowM/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=