Because we love

Experiences too

 

Welcome to Adventure Elopement Experience, the adventure elopement and wedding photographer team of Shawn Reeder & Brittany Colt. We specialize in destination weddings and adventure elopements in Yosemite, Mammoth Lakes, the Eastern Sierra, Desert Southwest, Pacific Coast and beyond. Living a Sierra lifestyle has helped us get to know this mountain range quite intimately and it is certainly our home at heart. Yet we also LOVE to explore and photograph new locations. Our Mission is to give you an amazing experience in some of the most beautiful locations on earth, because we LOVE experiences too.

 

Adventure Elopement Experience was created to serve couples who share our love for adventure, travel, unique experiences, and the outdoors. We understand that your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life, and we're here to help you capture the spirit of it in a way that reflects your own uniqueness. Whether climbing a mountain with just us, hiking into the backcountry with a small group of close family & friends, having an intimate wedding at a destination with the whole family, or a more elaborate affair somewhere like the Ahwahnee, we love all experiences surrounded by nature and culture, and are up for as much of an adventure as you are.

Perhaps like many of you who either already have or are going to soon have your own Sierra love story, we also have our own. As a couple who met and fell in love in Yosemite and the Eastern Sierra, we have a deep and personal connection to this stunning landscape. Our own love story began and continues to flourish here, and we know firsthand the magic and beauty that the Sierra holds.

Our experience living an outdoor and travel centric lifestyle helps us to understand and relate to our wedding photography clients who are coming to Yosemite and the Eastern Sierra, or are meeting us in some far flung location. We're passionate about capturing the essence of our clients' special day in a way that reflects their unique connection synergizing with the natural beauty of Mother Earth. We strive to create images that capture the magic and romance of being in love, give you an amazing experience, and help our couples create memories that will last a lifetime.

Shawn Reeder

Shawn Reeder standing and smiling on the summit of Cathedral peak in Yosemite at sunset.
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Shawn has a deep love for the earth and our relationship with it, especially the beauty of wild places. Whether in the awe-inspiring presence of the mountains, the grand vistas and intimate canyons of the desert, or the utter magic of the ocean, Shawn feels at home both viscerally and creatively traveling and in nature. Shawn loves photographing couples in love, filming beautiful landscapes, and capturing humanities' interaction and relationship with nature, yet his favorite art is admittedly the all encompassing art of life.

 

Shawn first came to Yosemite when he was 18. He won a trip to California and chose to explore Yosemite. Yup, you read that right, he “won” a trip. Maybe ask him about that when you’re out photographing together. It changed his life forever and he moved to Yosemite the following summer. Living in Yosemite in the mid 90’s into the early 2000’s was a special time. You could actually fully immerse in the nature and be outside of society in a way that just seems rarer and rarer in today’s hyper connected digital world. The ability to truly get lost in nature and find yourself before we all had cell phones and the internet was such a gift in retrospect.

 

 

Throughout the 2000’s Shawn spent his days hiking, climbing, and exploring one of the world’s greatest playgrounds for outdoor adventure lovers, always with his camera in tow. It wasn’t long before Shawn had befriended some of the greatest rock climbers of all time, and visionary first ascentionists exploring some of the most outrageous locations in Yosemite and the High Sierra. For over a decade Shawn would go on to photograph climbers pushing their limits and creating art in the Sierra and beyond. He was regularly published with Patagonia, Prana, Black Diamond, Climbing Magazine, Rock and Ice, and many other leading outdoor brands.

 

It was also during this time in the mid to late 2000’s when Shawn found a love for photographing couples in love. At the time there weren’t very many photographers focusing on shooting weddings in Yosemite, and as he started to transition out of the outdoor industry his passion for photographing people in nature remained. Shawn saw an opportunity for a business that would serve outdoor lovers like himself in a very special and sacred way. And thus Yosemite Wedding Photography was born, which continues to grow and thrive to this very day.

 

By the early 2010’s Shawn had found a new love and he went all in to learn the art of Timelapse and showing the beauty of nature through motion picture. Shawn spent most of the decade perfecting the art of motion control Timelapse and aerial filming to show nature in a spectacular way that we just don’t see every day. Many days out in nature and nights under the stars ensued as Shawn created over a dozen stunning short films showing us just how beautiful Mother Earth and the Night Sky really is. During this time Shawn worked with many high end clients and ad agencies delivering high resolution footage and edited video to clients like Samsung, Philips, Sony and other premium electronics manufacturers. Shawn also worked on some incredible films that afforded him the opportunity to travel and see some of the most beautiful locations on earth.

 

 

The end of the 2010’s into the 2020’s brought Shawn back to his roots so to say in the most unexpected and delightful way. With adventure elopements becoming all the rage through social media apps like Instagram showing just how awesome they can be, and Shawn coming back to a focus on working with couples in love, a new era for Yosemite Wedding Photography was born. While we still love photographing weddings, especially at places like the Ahwahnee in Yosemite, Mammoth Lakes, and Convict Lake, adventure elopements in the Sierra and beyond have become our primary focus.

 

And Yosemite and the Sierra in general is tailor built for an adventure elopement or intimate wedding. There’s nothing like having only you and your partner, or those you’re closest with, and finding a beautiful bit of nature to share your sacred ceremony. And THE PHOTOS!!! I mean that is why you’re here, isn’t it. We absolutely LOVE capturing moments and creating stunning images together, and having a small intimate wedding or adventure elopement allows you so much more flexibility and options to create a magical wedding day that is perfect for you.

 

 

Check out below one of Shawn's favorite nature films showing the stunning landscapes of the American West.

 

 

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Brittany Colt

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Brittany is a gifted artist and visionary photographer with a deep connection to nature who has an impeccable eye for details and the subtle nuances of light. Giving up everything in her life 5 years ago, she listened to her soul’s whispers urging her to leave the city and her old life behind and start fresh in some of the beautiful nature on Earth, Yosemite National Park. Brittany courageously followed her heart and the divine timing she was presented with and got a job as a staff photographer at one of the most esteemed Photography Galleries anywhere, The Ansel Adams Gallery. That started a whole new chapter for her where she fully immersed herself into the art of photography and the creative process amidst the healing nature of Yosemite.

 

While photography has been an important and driving part of Brittany’s life for over 15 years now, her life as a creative started much earlier. As a young child she loved to create with her hands and was surrounded by friends and family who loved to take on creative projects. It set the stage for her to see life in her own unique way. And to say that Brittany sees in a unique way would be an understatement. Being blind on one eye means that she’s always seen the world different than you or I.

 

 

Perhaps it helps explain why she is drawn to abstract and intimate scenes, and photographs them in such a way that really captures their spirit. She certainly has vision, and it is so beautifully apparent in her striking landscape photography . After living in Yosemite for only a little over 4 years, you'd think she's spent an entire lifetime living there with amount of stunning & unique "I've never seen that before" images she has in her Portfolio. If you want to see the Valley like you've never seen before make sure to check out her Yosemite and Black and White portfolios.

 

Years working in the film industry has left its impact on Brittany's approach to photography as well. She did everything from work as a production assistant, to help with costumes and wardrobes, to work as a camera assistant, and with cameras and lighting, to eventually producing a film. Living in Portland during a time when the city was filled with creative independent artists and filmmakers was supremely inspiring and helped Brittany develop her cinematic eye.

 

Also evident in Brittany's work is her love and appreciation for design. Her many years of studying graphic design have certainly influenced how she sees the world, and her use of leading lines, layers, texture and negative space is exquisite. This leads to visually striking images that really set themselves apart. You "know" when it's a Brittany Colt image. She has a style and eye all her own.

 

 

After a decade of building her foundation as an artist on so many different levels, life serendipitously threw a curve ball into Brittany's life. Selling everything that she couldn't fit into her Kia Spectra, Brittany left her life and everything she knew and ventured into the unknown. She packed her bags and made her way to Yosemite like so many other soul searchers feeling the call of nature and a simpler life. Brittany accepted a highly coveted job as a staff photographer for The Ansel Adams Gallery and a new chapter begun.

 

At the Ansel Adams Gallery, Brittany worked for years as their Education Coordinator and learned a tremendous amount about the art of photography and the beauty of Yosemite. She ran the workshop program and led hundreds of classes and private workshops, helping people of all levels to capture stunning images of Yosemite's breathtaking landscapes. She gained an intimate understanding of Yosemite's magic and learned how to help people have an amazing experience while immersing in the creative process. The healing energy of Yosemite left its mark on her, and the time she dedicated to exploring and photographing built her a stunning body of work.

 

Yet the winds of change blew into her life once again whispering to her it was time to up level yet again. This brought her into the present where she now lives in the Eastern Sierra with Shawn, and together we couldn't be more excited to serve you though Yosemite Wedding Photography. Thanks for being here, we can't wait to meet you.

 

 

Check out this video below to get to know Brittany in this beautiful film her and Shawn created together.

 

 

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Adventure Elopement Experience Artists

Our mission is to provide you with an authentic and personalized photography experience. We can dream up something together right here in Yosemite and The Eastern Sierra. Or we can travel to some of Earth’s most beautiful destinations. We’re also happy to help you actualize your own wedding or elopement vision, whatever it may be.

We believe that your wedding day should be captured in a way that is true to who you are and the love that you share. We want to help you personalize your entire experience in a way that feels special to you. This allows us to create images that are truly meaningful and reflect your own unique connection & beauty.

Your wedding is an expression of love and commitment like no one else’s. And we wouldn’t treat it any other way. You may choose from one of our Wedding or Elopement Photography offerings. Or we’ll work together to create something custom that truly represents you. You deserve nothing less.

Thank you so much for taking some time to get to know us. We hope you’ll also enjoy going through our site and perusing the photos. And be sure to watch the videos above if you love being out in awe-inspiring nature as much as we do.

Shawn’s video “Soaring” is a stunning example of the beautiful locations that we love to share with our couples. And it’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to showcasing his stunning timelapse photography and aerial filming. Be sure and check out Shawn’s nature films and photography at ShawnReeder.com.

And Brittany’s video really captures her love for being creative in nature. And the joy it brings her to share in special experiences with others outdoors. It also highlights her stunning fine art landscape photography, which you should certainly check out on her website BrittanyColt.com.

As well as their private landscape photography workshop offerings at Outdoor Photo Experience.

We absolutely love helping our couples preserve those precious memories from their wedding day through photography. Whether you’re going big or keeping it very intimate, we’ll be there to capture moments that you can cherish for a lifetime.

Please be in touch through the Contact Page. We’d love to discuss your wedding or adventure elopement vision and how we can be of service to help you bring your vision to life.

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