JESS + PHIL’S ARIZONA DESERT ADVENTURE SESSION | SAGUARO NATIONAL PARK ADVENTURE ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER | TUCSON, ARIZONA

There’s nothing quite as magical as an Arizona adventure session at sunset. Arizona sunsets are world famous for good reason. The intense color with the wild but soft abstract shapes of the clouds turns the sky over the Saguaros into a masterpiece.  And during Jess & Phil’s adventure session the desert put on quite a show!

But let me introduce you to these two first. I met Jess the first day we started grad school at the University of Arizona together. We formed an instant friendship, and spent the next few years doing everything together. Hiking, running, camping, trying unsuccessfully to be triathletes, singing, dancing, church groups, volunteering, you name it, but mostly homework. Somewhere in the midst of all that cool stuff hanging out with me, she met Phil. As someone who watched their relationship bloom from the beginning, I had a spidey-sense he was the one. They were a perfect match!

Phil asked Jess to marry him as they hiked through the autumn colored trees in Sedona on a camping trip. The next year they married in the magical, Narnia-like Minnesota winter of Jess’ home town (yes I froze my tail off…). Fast forward a couple years. These two now have several more degrees to their names and have launched their successful individual careers – all while still getting out to soak in the natural wonders of their desert home.

Feeling called to the next adventure, these two are packing up and moving across the country. To celebrate their marriage, their first home, where they met and fell in love, we headed out to Saguaro National Park for an adventure session. These two were bouldering in their nice clothes within minutes, and the crazy wind that day did little to deter their fun. Needless to say, I love these guys and I’m so lucky to call them my friends! Spending an evening laughing with them in the desert witnessing one of the most epic sunset shows I’ve seen yet was truly one for the books. Wishing you both all the best on this next exciting chapter!

Adventure sessions, especially Arizona adventure sessions, are seriously some of my favorite to photograph. It’s just us having an awesome time in the great outdoors celebrating with photos and adventure just because we can. Want to come explore the desert with me? I’m so down – let’s get your adventure session on the schedule!