If you had told me a few months ago that I would be photographing weddings and standing in front of couples saying, “Repeat after me…” I probably would have laughed.
And yet, here we are.
Photography has taken up a pretty big part of my life lately. I’ve been shooting more, experimenting more, learning more, and figuring out what kind of photographer I actually want to be. And somewhere in the middle of all of that, another little idea started taking shape.
I became ordained quite a while ago, mostly because it was one of those things I thought might be useful someday. Turns out, someday showed up.
Recently, I had the opportunity to officiate my first wedding here in Florida. It was small and simple—exactly the kind of wedding that made me realize there might actually be a place for what I can offer.
No huge venue. No elaborate production. No months of planning.
Just two people who wanted to get married.
After I pronounced them married and signed the paperwork, I put down my officiant hat (figuratively, because let’s be honest, there was no hat) and picked up my camera.
And I loved it.
There’s something really special about small weddings and elopements. Without all the schedules, decorations, seating charts, and dozens—or hundreds—of people, there’s room to pay attention to the reason everyone is there in the first place.
Two people are getting married.
That’s kind of a big deal all by itself.
So I Made It Official…Again
I’ve now officially added intimate elopements to what I’m doing through Simply Sina.
Couples can choose a very simple ceremony for $50—short, meaningful, repeat-after-me vows, rings if they want them, and the all-important signing of the marriage license.
For couples who want their ceremony to feel more like their ceremony, I’m also offering a $100 personalized option, where I can incorporate their story, personalized wording, personal vows, readings, prayers, or other meaningful elements.
And because I apparently can’t go anywhere without eventually reaching for my camera, either ceremony can have a $50 mini wedding photo session added afterward.
I officiate first.
Then we make it legal.
Then I grab the camera.
Honestly, it feels very me.
Photography Is Changing, Too
The funny thing is, I don’t think I would have been ready to do this a year ago.
The more seriously I’ve taken photography, the more I’ve realized that I’m drawn to photographs that tell me something.
Sometimes that’s a carefully constructed fine-art photograph.
Sometimes it’s something I spot through a car window.
Sometimes it’s a portrait.
And apparently, sometimes it’s two newly married people standing together five minutes after saying “I do.”
I’ve added Weddings & Elopements to my photography portfolio now, alongside my fine-art and documentary work. Seeing those photographs sitting there as an actual collection feels a little surreal.
This thing that started as I really love taking pictures keeps growing new branches.
I’m not entirely sure where all of them are going yet.
And maybe that’s okay.
There’s Already Another One Coming
The even crazier part?
My first elopement wasn’t a one-time thing.
I already have another couple booked.
So apparently this wasn’t just an idea I threw onto the internet to see what happened. 😂
I’m keeping it intentionally small and simple. I’m not trying to become a giant wedding company or spend my Saturdays coordinating 200-person weddings.
That’s not what this is.
I want to be an option for the people who say:
We don’t want a big wedding.
We don’t want to spend thousands of dollars.
We just want to get married.
Those people?
I can do that.
And if they want some beautiful photographs afterward so they have something to remember it by?
Well…
I’ve got a camera, too. ❤️
Here’s to seeing where this newest Simply Sina adventure goes.
