Lindsay Cunningham: Winter Elopement in Yosemite
CALEB SCHAFTLEIN,
1. Could you please give us a little introduction and tell us about your first experience with photography? Who or what inspired you to begin photography?
My inspiration to begin learning photography came in the spring of 2021. Sheltering at home with my two young children month after month had me feeling very stagnant, depressed and uninspired. My husband had just purchased a camera for me as a Christmas gift and it became a tool to get me out of the house and into nature. It felt so good to be learning something new and creating art. I shot a maternity session for my best friend in April and she encouraged me to keep going and keep growing. Fast forward to today and I am building a portrait photography business specializing in lifestyle family and maternity as well as destination elopements.
2. From your point of view, what are the most exciting aspects of professional photography?
I love developing a vision for a session and then seeing it come to life through styling, composition, and post-production. I also really enjoy experimenting with different lighting and learning new ways to improve my editing.
3. As the expert you are, what distinguishes your work from other photographers?
As a portrait photographer, I feel that I bring a very creative eye to my sessions. I always aim to create photos for my clients that are a little different from what everyone around me is doing, whether it be through wardrobe styling, unique angles/perspectives, or my use of light. Customer service is also extremely important to me, and I am very responsive and hands-on with all of my clients.
4. What are your goals for the next year with your photography business?
My goals for the coming year are to book more travel elopements, create beautiful albums for my clients, and grow my social media following. An elopement in the Dolomites would be a bucket list location for me!
5. Are there any other photographers you look up to? Who?
I love Stormy Solis and her storytelling style of portrait photography. She inspires me to create raw, real, and emotive images. For adventure elopements, I also love the work of Henry Thieu. His double-exposure photographs and breathtaking landscape views are so inspiring.
6. Can you walk us through your planning process for this photoshoot and how you went about conducting it?
For this photoshoot, I knew I wanted to tell the story of an intimate elopement in Yosemite National Park from a different perspective than what I usually see. Most of the sessions I see from the park are during the spring or fall and take place at Taft and Glacier Point, which are currently inaccessible by road due to closures. I wanted to capture the quiet beauty of Yosemite Valley in wintertime, accentuated with beautiful nostalgic styling.
I contacted my models, Cambry and Dylan, and discussed my vision with them. We worked together to create a vintage-inspired wardrobe, coupled with stunning dried florals from Love Her Madly to incorporate a pop of color into the photos.
I reached out to the parks department to determine the permit requirements and from there went about planning a family camping trip so that my husband and children could also experience the beauty of the park.
Photographer: @amongthewildflowersphoto
7. What are your upcoming projects?
I am excited about a destination elopement on Catalina Island that I will be capturing in October as well as a trip to Joshua Tree National Park in November.
8. Where can we see more of your works and get connected with you?
You can see more of my work on my website amongthewildflowersphoto.com and connect with me on my Instagram at @amongthewildflowersphoto.
Credits:
Photographer: @amongthewildflowersphoto
Models: @cambryjade, @daggeredhearts
Florist: @lovehermadlylb
