I first met Taylre and Marty at a wedding and immediately felt drawn to their energy. They were warm, kind, and couldn’t stop laughing with each other. If you know me, that’s basically my dream couple!
So I pulled Taylre aside and (nervously) asked if she’d ever consider modeling an elopement with me in Glacier National Park. She was caught off guard at first — like, wait…what? — but then smiled and said yes. Later, during her dress fitting, she told me that Marty was telling everyone he knew that he was now a model. And honestly? He was the most excited “model” I’ve ever worked with. Honor of a lifetime.
Glacier was feeling moody and dramatic in the best way! Driving up into the mountains, there were places on Going to the Sun Road where you could barely see 10 feet ahead of you. Taylre later admitted she doesn’t love driving into the mountains, but she did it for the shoot and it made the whole thing feel even more special.
From the second we started shooting, I could tell that these two were magic. Marty’s a little goofy and totally unbothered by the rain or the wind, the kind of guy who can make you laugh even when you’re cold and damp and standing on a rock. And Taylre? She lights up every time he looks at her. When they laugh together, it’s like the whole park changes. Everything softens. They glow.
We started high up on the rocks, hoping for a view — but Glacier had other plans. It was raining, cold, and the visibility was close to nothing, so we shifted gears. I told them I might stop abruptly if I saw a perfect spot and sure enough, a few minutes later, I pulled the car over fast when I caught a glimpse of this misty, otherworldly overlook. I ran across the road (dodging cars and wiping off my lens mid-shot) and captured one of my favorite moments of the entire evening. It looked exactly like a scene out of Twilight — you know the one, cue the “hoa hoa” vampire song.
We kept chasing the light, pulling out an umbrella for some giggly portraits in the rain. I asked Marty to kiss Taylre’s shoulder, and that sent her into the happiest little fit of laughter. Those are always my favorite, when the prompts become real. Not posed. Just them.
We wrapped up the night at Lake McDonald, and at this point we were soaked. Not “cute rain aesthetic” soaked. Like wet dog soaked. But even then, they let me take just a few more portraits because the lake was insane — the clouds hanging low over the water, the light breaking through just enough to make everything feel dreamy and surreal.
These two aren’t engaged yet — but you’d never know it from their connection. They showed up for each other, trusted a random photographer, and made the kind of memories you can’t script.
So grateful they took a chance on me. So grateful Glacier showed up in all her dramatic glory.
Thinking about eloping in Glacier National Park?
If you’re dreaming of a moody, romantic, rain-or-shine kind of day — I’d be so honored to help you bring it to life. Whether you’re planning a full elopement or just want an adventure session that feels like you, reach out and let’s talk.
Comment Below