As winter sets in in the beautiful PNW, I’m sitting writing this with rain pouring down my windows and a cup of coffee I’ve reheated at least three times. Covid living is a temporal mystery, with hours stretching into full afternoons and many toddler requests on repeat. I’m grateful for our health and safety, but very ready for a sense of normalcy to return.

With this year looking so incredibly different than most, I’ve been able to harness my creativity and explore new worlds that previously I just didn’t have the time for. My biggest and most exciting foray of the last 12 months has been in introducing film to my work. I began my photography journey just as the industry was making the switch from analog to digital, and I feel like I missed out on the foundational darkroom training that was such a rite of passage for many photographers. Though my analog journey takes me only so far as sending rolls off to a lab to be developed and scanned, I’m excited for the vastness of this unexplored medium and the incredible addition it’s bringing into my work.

For as long as I can remember, my mission has been to invoke some magic of human connection in my work. Whether it’s between the subjects in the frame, or a direct and subtle communication from me as an artist to my viewer, I want my photos to reach people at a soul level, not to just simply document. Film has brought a new set of tools in invoking nostalgia, embracing imperfection, and giving up an element of control in a tech-heavy world. I plan on using analog 35mm film in all of my wedding work (and likely lifestyle work) going forward. It’s the blend of digital and film that is so magical in telling a full story.

The shoot I’m sharing in this post was born of a need to create freely. I first met Sammy & Alejandro, the “models,” when they reached out to me for an engagement session earlier this year. I loved working with them, witnessing their love, and knew it wouldn’t be the end! They’re planning a destination wedding and I asked them to come out to the coast to create with us, and I’m so glad they agreed. Shooting a creative editorial is such an opportunity to dig into new ideas, work with a talented and like-minded vendor team, and push yourself into new growth. It wouldn’t be the same if the models weren’t truly in love or actually getting married, it really makes a difference.

We set our location to Kalaloch Beach on the Washington Coast. It’s a truly magical place for me, as I’ve been going yearly with my husband to camp. It’s just down the road from the more-popular Ruby Beach, but since that area gets so much attention, we wanted to celebrate the beauty and solitude that Kalaloch has to offer. We stayed in their beachside cabins and truly immersed in the environment to create this shoot. A highlight memory was a bonfire overlooking the darkening ocean and sky after the shoot with the team.

The team:

I did the planning, along with my friend Marnie Cornell, who also did makeup. I did the hair! We wanted to keep it simple and easy, wanted to sip coffee and chat together while getting ready, and make it an experience for all of us to enjoy.

The florals: Colibri Blooms

The stationery: Sablewood Paper Co.

Dress: Lulus

Groomswear: H&M

Venue: Kalaloch Beach & Kalaloch Lodge

Film (Fuji & Kodak) developed by Indie Film Lab

The following is a mix of digital, film and instant film: