When the opportunity came to photograph this elopement, I knew I couldn’t pass it up. It’s definitely been a dream of mine to shoot at a waterfall, and it was honestly everything I had hoped it would be. Even though Kierstin + Curtis are local to the area, it was their first time experiencing these falls together as a couple.

Back home, Jay + Navya had a traditional Indian Wedding — including a whopping 1,500 person guest count. It wasn’t an intimate experience, they didn’t get the photos they wanted, and the day has now just become a blur in their memory. While it was an incredibly happy day, it was void of deep emotion and intimacy. This is where the idea of an intimate elopement in Yosemite National Park came in.

Something I’ve been learning more and more is that every couple is vastly different, in the way that they choose to celebrate their love. Some want to do a 10-mile hike, on a secluded mountain for their engagement. Others want to just relax on the beach together, with a glass of wine. Some want it to be just the two of them, while others have loved ones (or fur babies) that they just can’t celebrate without.