If you've already been perusing my journal a bit, you might have already seen Jing and Alan's wedding at Grass Room LA in Los Angeles, CA. You might have even seen a few repeat couples on my journal who I shot both weddings and elopements for. While that's not usually the norm, 2020 was a weird year, and it meant that a lot of couples I was booked for had to postpone their weddings, but they knew they didn't want to wait to get married either. So, the couple would reach out to me, let me know their new wedding date, and ask if they could sneak in an elopement shoot sometime in the near future as well. Being always down for an adventure, you know I was stoked to travel with them to whatever far away destination they had in mind.
Jing and Alan were one of those cases, but actually in the opposite order. They wanted to have their intimate wedding at Grass Room LA, which was safely within the COVID guidelines that year, but they knew they also wanted to have an elopement as a time just for them. No crowds, no family or friends, just the two of them, their vows, and the beauty of good ol' mother nature to surround them.
So we did just that. We started at their AirBnb in Joshua Tree, California, about a 15 minute drive from the park entrance. They began with writing their vows in different rooms, crafting love letters they would share with one another later on. Then we exchanged their letters, with Jing reading Alan's letter in the bedroom and Alan coming in soon to join her. We captured the two of them together there before making our way to the living room. And finally, we ventured out to the park for their elopement.
Arch Rock is and always will be one of my absolute favorite spots in Joshua Tree. For those of you who don't know, I called Joshua Tree my home for a year around 2020, and was lucky enough to explore much of the park while I was there. Arch Rock is one of those spots that just captivated my heart in such a way, and I was so excited to share it with Jing and Alan. The sharp contrast between sun and shadow surrounded by impossible boulders and an endless landscape made the perfect setting for their story. I'm a lover of composition above all, and I feel like the rocks have a way of embracing a couple, making them the pin point of the photograph in a way I just can't describe.
We traversed the incredible landscape at Arch Rock before setting up a blanket and watching the final minutes of the sunset. Then, with what twilight we had left, we found our way back to our cars, and set out for one final adventure, lantern in hand. This part of the shoot is actually my favorite because it embodies the journey Jing and Alan were embarking on together: the two of them, facing the world, the future, and whatever may come, and doing so together. Here's to Jing and Alan -- thank you for letting me document your story.
Make sure to watch their elopement film here when you're done (scroll to the end of the page). Enjoy!
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