It was a dewey and peaceful 5am when we met up with Jennifer and James at their Airbnb in Mill Valley, CA. They had brought us on to capture their very intimate and very personal elopement in Muir woods and Muir beach. For a couple who seemed to speak volumes without any words, and share emotions of the utmost depth, it seemed perfect. Capturing their daily morning rituals, followed by the marriage preparation had the calmness of an old man fishing on a dock. Present, relaxed, winsome.

Each item is chosen to reflect personal beliefs and loyalties. Shared values as well as individual choices brought together to form a union.  The first look on a rooftop as the sun rose above the treetops, was as planned as it was charming. It coalesced with the mood as though the moments were made for each other.

The drive into Muir Woods is filled with curvy roads and steep hills. Roll down your windows and enjoy the mountain air. It’s only a short drive from the bustling streets of San Francisco, but it feels like a different world. Muir Woods has a rich and varied history, from its use by the Coast Miwok people to its early days of tourism and the Mount Tamalpais Mill Valley Scenic Railway, to an era of conservation, to modern preservation.

Being surrounded by the immense forrest and all that it carries, one can’t help but be present to themselves and those around them. The significance of actions both big and small. Walk among old-growth coast redwoods, cooling their roots in the fresh water of Redwood Creek and lifting their crowns to reach the sun and fog. Federally protected as a National Monument since 1908, this primeval forest is both refuge and laboratory, revealing our relationship with the living landscape.