A Sunset Backyard Wedding in the Catalina Foothills, Tucson
Karina and Jake got married in the backyard of Jake’s family home in the Catalina Foothills, surrounded by their closest family and the mountains they’ve known as the backdrop to so many other ordinary days. Except this one was a little different. Their plans were intentionally small, with a ceremony timed around sunset and an evening that gave them plenty of room to simply be together.
I met Karina and Jake when I arrived that day and was immediately greeted by their family. Before anything else, Jake got Benji, their dog, ready for his moment in front of the camera and we started with portraits of the three of them. From there, we wandered around the backyard for photos of Karina and Jake before bringing everyone together for family portraits.
What I loved about their timeline was how much time they actually got to spend together. Because they weren’t planning around a first look or trying to avoid seeing each other before the ceremony, there wasn’t this invisible line dividing their wedding day into before and after. They could be with their families, take photos together and watch the evening unfold at the same time. Especially for a wedding this intimate, it felt completely natural.
We stayed around the backyard and pool as the sun dropped behind the Catalina Foothills, fitting in more portraits before Karina changed from her Odd Muse dress into her mom’s vintage wedding dress for the ceremony. The warm sunset light had started disappearing and the mountains were settling into blue hour, completely changing the look of the backyard just in time for everyone to gather.
Their ceremony happened in that soft blue light with their family surrounding them. Karina and Jake saved their personal vows for their wedding in Mexico, so this ceremony was traditional, with a simple “I do” making everything official. Afterward, they each asked one of their grandfathers to sign their marriage license as a witness, making their family part of the moment in an even more personal way.
There’s one photograph from that part of the night that means even more now to them. I caught Jake’s grandfather from behind as he held up his cellphone to take his own photo of Karina and Jake. He passed away only a month after their wedding. It wasn’t a photograph anyone planned or asked for, just something I noticed happening while everyone was together. Now it holds a piece of the evening that their family gets to keep.
We ended the night with toasts and cake inside their home. Karina and Jake were able to spend the whole evening together, surrounded by their family, instead of being pulled in a dozen different directions. They could take their time with photos, be part of everything happening around them, and actually enjoy those few hours with the people they chose to have there. Smaller weddings have a way of making space for that kind of presence.
FROM THE BRIDE & GROOM
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR VISION FOR THE WEDDING?
A modern, backyard sunset-style wedding that felt intimate, effortless, and timeless.
WHAT DETAILS OR MOMENTS WERE MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU?
We felt it was important to capture the candid moments in-between with each other, our grandparents and families.
WHAT MOMENT FROM THE DAY STILL STICKS IN YOUR MIND THE MOST?
Just how present and happy everyone felt. We were on cloud nine; it was calm, intimate, just us, surrounded by love, exactly how it was meant to be!
WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF HAVING ME AS YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER?
How comfortable you made us feel! Even if something didn’t feel natural to us, you knew exactly how it would turn out – and the gallery speaks for itself! Your guidance and direction helped us feel confident and we knew we could just have fun with it! You also captured moments we didn’t even realize were happening, which we’ll cherish forever!
WHY DID YOU CHOSE TO WORK WITH ME?
I came across your profile and immediately knew I’d want you to capture the day! Your photography style was exactly what I had envisioned for our day and the pictures turned out even better than I could have imagined!
HOW DID YOU FEEL IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA?
Very comfortable! Once we got the hang of it, we were just having fun. It never felt like we were just “posing for pictures”; we were enjoying our day and you captured it perfectly!
LOOKING BACK
WHEN YOU LOOK AT YOUR PHOTOS NOW, WHAT STANDS OUT THE MOST?
How real and intimate everything felt. It was the perfect setting, surrounded by loved ones. We were all just living in the moment. I love the softness to everything: the light, the colors, all the details.
WHATS ONE MOMENT YOU’RE SO GLAD WAS CAPTURED?
So many but the first one that comes to mind is the photo you took behind Jake’s grandfather taking a photo of us on his cellphone. Unfortunately, he passed away a month after our wedding so there’s something so sweet and emotional about that; he was so proud and happy to be there as one of our witnesses.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE ANOTHER COUPLE PLANNING THEIR WEDDING?
Specifically for any civil wedding or elopement style ceremony; keep it simple and intentional! You don’t need a huge production for it to be meaningful; focus on what matters to you as a couple; who you want there, where you want it, etc. and like any big day – it goes by fast so enjoy every little moment!
“It never felt like we were just posing for pictures, we were enjoying our day and you captured it perfectly!”
Karina and Jake
THE RESULTS
The result is a gallery that holds more than just how the evening looked. It holds the people who were there, the way their family gathered around them, and the little moments that only become more meaningful with time. Photos have a way of becoming more important as life moves forward, preserving not only one of the biggest days of their lives, but the people who made it feel so special.
START
YOUR STORY, YOUR WAY
Your wedding doesn’t have to feel like a production. It can be simple, intentional, and completely yours. If that’s the kind of day you’re planning, I’d love to capture it for you.
