Meet Your Adventure Elopement Photographer
Hey! My name's Kathleen and I'm an adventure wedding and elopement photographer photographing elopements across Washington, Arizona, and Utah.
I believe in spontaneity and doing the things in life that feel outside of your comfort zone or even a little bit wild. When you're uncomfortable or scared that's always when you experience the most growth.
I believe a little dirt (or rain for that matter) never hurt anybody- and feel most alive & at peace when I'm surrounded by nature. A perfect day for me includes some combination of hiking outside, being with my dog (and #1 adventure buddy) Ranger, hanging out with my awesome husband, and ending the day on the couch with some really good food.
I grew up and spent most of my life in Arizona where I explored around the desert and camped often with my family. Then, after a spontaneous decision made on a road trip, my husband and I moved to Washington. In the last 3 years, I've absolutely adored hiking and adventuring around my new home. The mountains have always been enchanting to me, and the PNW is full of so many beautiful places to explore. However, I absolutely still love and miss the desert so I've come to the exciting decision to move back to the desert and focus on elopements in Arizona & Utah from October-May and elopements in Washington from June-September.
You can check out the specific details of my travel schedule here.
I've fallen in love with being a storyteller. In my life experiences, I've had to confront the fact that life is short and every moment is precious. Your elopement day is one of the most important days of your life and it only happens once. I believe that not only are adventure elopements the best way to get married, but that they deserve to be celebrated! I want to tell the story of your day because it matters. Every little detail, the emotions, the landscape that you chose to get married in, the people you chose to bring with you, how you felt during each moment- I want you to be able to remember it all and to relive that experience over and over again.
Fun Facts About Me:
Favorite Hiking Memory: When I backpacked with Ranger to one of my favorite trails outside of Mount Rainier NP and had the summit to ourselves for sunset/sunrise. It's a grueling hike, but so worth it!
Worst Hiking Memory: I have lots of misadventures (Type 2 fun amirite?), but probably spraining my ankle at Colchuck Lake was the least fun!
Top Travel List Destinations: Svalbard, Namibia, Patagonia, & Iceland
Bucketlist Adventures: BASE jumping in Moab & kayaking in a glacier lagoon in Alaska
Favorite Place I've Traveled: Alaska
Favorite TV Show: The Office (I've honestly lost count of how many times I've watched it now)
Favorite Foods: Teriyaki, sushi & chai! But really I just like all food.
My favorite part(s) of an elopement day: It's so hard to pick! But I always love the actual ceremony- something about watching two people say their vows completely surrounded by nature (or with their closest loved ones) is so magical. A close second is catching the couple admiring their rings on one another's fingers and talking about how crazy it is that they're actually married. It almost *always* happens and it's so sweet! And lastly, I love seeing the dirt "ombre" that wedding dresses will get after our adventure. I think it adds to your story & uniqueness of your day!
My favorite thing about this job? It is SO much more than the photos. It's the people- the relationships we build and the experiences we have together. It's experiencing epic places with new friends, and witnessing two people commit their lives to each other. One of my favorite things in the world is getting to adventure with a couple in an beautiful place and document them getting married. It is such an honor to be a part of an elopement day, and a responsibility I don't take lightly. I promise not only to take beautiful photos, but I will capture your wedding day in an authentic way that showcases your relationship and personalities.
When you work with me, I'm not just your photographer. I'll help you every step along the way, giving you advice and tons of planning guidance. I'll help you find your dream elopement spot by sending you customized location scouting lists made just for you. I'll also help you acquire any permits needed for your elopement day, give you vendor recommendations, help create a timeline full of all your fun activities, and help with anything else you may need.
As Seen On: Wandering Weddings x2 x3 x4 x5 x6 // Insider// Wedventure// Rangefinder x2 x3 x4 // Exploring Washington State Podcast// Seattle Refined // West Coast Wedding Awards // Southwest Wed // Mountainside Bride // Dancing With Them //
What Couples are Saying:
"Kathleen went above and beyond for our adventure elopement day and we are over the moon with how the photos turned out as well! She is so personable and easygoing it was an absolute joy to work with her! She made our day a truly magical adventure!" -Holly & Kody
"We honestly had no idea how to plan our elopement, we only knew that we wanted epic views and the chance to express how much we love each other. Kathleen handled EVERYTHING and made our experience phenomenal and unforgettable! She is the absolute perfect choice to capture the love and magic of your elopement day!! She was so much fun to adventure with and not only did she have great and creative ideas of her own, she was open to all of our ideas and exploring new areas on the fly! We could not have asked for a better experience. All of our photos are gorgeous and exactly what we had pictured!
If you want to feel like you are spending the day with the love of your life and also with a friend who wants to capture the very best for you, then I would absolutely recommend that you hire Kathleen Elizabeth Photography to capture your special day!!." -Kara & Nate
"Kathleen was so amazing to work with. Planning our elopement in a place we had never been to could have easily been an overwhelming experience, but Kathleen helped us at every step of the process. You can tell that she not only has a passion for her work, but also for the outdoors. She was so flexible and easy to work with and we were never stressed at any point in the planning." -Kaitlin & Derek
"We had such a great experience with Kathleen! My partner (and now wife) and I were looking to elope during the pandemic. We wanted a fun, sweet, adventurous wedding day. We needed someone who would be a helpful, informative, and confident presence throughout the process and who has a knack for capturing those special moments on camera. We found all of this and more with Kathleen.
We reached out to Kathleen just weeks before our proposed elopement date and she immediately got us set up with a consultation appointment with her. Kathleen was a flexible and supportive partner in the process, from working around the logistics we had planned, to encouraging our imaginations for how we could make our special day uniquely ours. Kathleen used her knowledge of the area to recommend several locations based on the ideas we brainstormed and she also provided guidance for the preparation and materials we'd need for the day. Some of our favorite memories of the day--playing board games, exploring the coast, and an impromptu dance party--stem from the inspiration Kathleen gave us that allowed us to be ourselves and celebrate who we are as a couple.
On the day of, Kathleen arrived on time and ready to help, equipped with extra snacks and hand-warmers. She gave suggestions when we asked and otherwise gave us the space to be vulnerable, silly, and focus on one another. Throughout, she was a steady, encouraging, and quiet presence.
We are thrilled with our pictures and how Kathleen captured so many special moments—the emotions on each of our faces, the little ways my partner and I relate to each other, and the beauty of our chosen locations and activities. We especially appreciate the sneak peak Kathleen sent us the day after to help us share our joy with family and friends.
We felt safe and comfortable in Kathleen's adaptable, capable, and competent professionalism, and we would recommend her to all of our friends and family.
Thank you Kathleen for helping make our day so special!" -Chellie & Blake
"Kathleen is an amazing photographer and elopement planner (& officiant) - she does it all! On our very first call with her she was already able to articulate her vision of our day down to the feelings we'd feel and the sights we could see. We were able to visualize it ourselves! The whole planning period, Kathleen provided resources, timelines and all the support we needed. She responded quickly to any questions we had a long the process. By the time we got to meet her I felt like we had already known her for awhile - she was a friend - which made it easy to forget she was even taking photos." -Beth & Andrew
"Kathleen did an absolutely amazing job turning our elopement into a truly unforgettable day. Not only did she take amazing photographs, but she helped with every aspect of elopement planning. I had questions about legal/logistic aspects of elopement and marriage and she was able to answer those questions easily and make my husband and I feel like we were entering the day with confidence. During the elopement day, she let us go at our own pace and choose our ideal moment for vows. We were open with her regarding our hopes for privacy for the elopement and she couldn’t have delivered better than she did. She’s also a lovely person in general, easy to communicate with, and very organized and professional. We’re truly thankful that we found her and I would highly recommend her services to any couple who wants an elopement photographer willing to work with them to plan their ideal day." -Emily
Not only do I practice Leave No Trace principles in my every day life, I make sure to educate all couples about LNT principles and how to incorporate environmentally friendly practices into their elopement! Additionally, a portion of my proceeds at the end of the year will go towards maintaining & protecting the trails and public lands I love & regularly recreate in!
I believe that your experience comes first. I will do whatever I possibly can to ensure you have the absolute BEST day and experience possible, no matter what. Whether that means flexing on the time/date for better weather, staying up late to come up with a Plan B (or C), packing up extra things that wouldn't fit in your bag, cheering on your guests during the hike up, bringing all the snacks & emergency kits just in case- whatever. You come first. Always.
I am an avid hiker, backpacker, and adventurer who loves to explore every chance I get. I am also CPR/First-Aid certified with years of medical experience. I am an over-preparer and will be by your side for your whole adventure!
I believe that love is love. Simple as that. I will provide a safe, comfortable space for all and document an elopement for any couple in love regardless of sexual orientation, race, or religion.
I am an ordained officiant. Meaning, I can legally sign your marriage license (in most states in the U.S.) in order to keep your day as intimate as possible. For more details on how this works, feel free to reach out!
2023 Travel Schedule
If you want to elope or have an adventure session in one of these places, reach out to me today and we can talk more about your day! I'm also available to add other destinations outside the U.S. if there's somewhere else you want to elope that is not on this list. Reach out to me today and we can get started planning your dream elopement!
July
Alaska
August & September
Washington
October- December
Sedona
Northern Arizona
Southern Utah
Moab
April
Sedona
Northern Arizona
Southern Utah
Moab
May *BOOKED*
Italy
Puerto Rico
June *BOOKED*
Washington
