When I first started photography, I wanted to be a badass adventure elopement photographer because backpacking, scrambling, getting dirty was my jam – all I did for my early twenties was backpack and travel! I wanted to keep that spirit alive inside of me, thankfully I can continue to do that with photography! Here are the top three destinations I traveled to this past year to document intimate memories in no particular order.

Providence Canyon State Park

The park is an intimate, tucked-away gem of the southeast located in Lumpkin, Georgia. As you drive towards the park, all you see are long roads, tall trees, and one gas station. It’s not until you park your car and walk towards the rim of the canyon that you see how beautiful this special place in Georiga is. Unlike the Grand Canyon in Arizona – Providence Canyon is a quick hike to the bottom. As you descend the trail leading to the slot canyons, the trees start to thin, and the dirt turns into red clay. The first three canyons have small hikes to towering canyon walls. After that, the real gems are a little farther back.

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New Orleans, Lousiana

We drove Highway 10 through Gulf Shore into New Orleans – the white sand, blue skies, and endless ocean undoubtedly established the scene for a weekend in New Orleans, Lousiana. The city was full of vibrate life, color, and food. There were many great places to visit that showered you with history. Our weekend in NOLA was filled with a bridal session the day we arrived, rehearsal dinner, and then an entire wedding the next day. I feel like I was able to capture the soul of NOLA in just a few days. Morgann and Jake used vibrant colors, florals, and details to tell their NOLA love story at The Margaret Place Hotel. From throwing beads off the balcony after their first kiss, having a live band with a soulful saxophone, and a classic beignet exchange at the end of the night.

This wedding has been featured on the My New Orleans Wedding Blog.

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Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park is jaw-dropping, awe-inspiring, and pure magic. Jenelle and Tom held their ceremony at Glacier Point, overlooking Half Dome in the high afternoon. Half Dome is one of the most iconic rock formations in all National Parks; half dome rises 8,800 feet above sea level and has a round dome from the valley floor. I was lucky enough to complete the 18+ mile round hike to the base of Half Dome and take eight steps onto the edge of half dome on the deadly “cables” just a few days before following Jenelle and Tom around Yosemite National park. Destination wedding photography is rewarding when you see how happy your couples are when they reach the vista of the trail to play and create unforgettable memories. I was honored to be able to document this day, it is every photogphers dreams to be able to photograph inside Yosmeite.

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Take this as a sign to book a destination wedding, or a destinate couples session. Make the most out of your travel and spend some extra time to document the love you share with your partner.