The Honeymoon

There’s a backstory.

Rex and I had been talking about getting married for a while. Early on, he asked me the very important question, “When it comes to a wedding, what’s important to you?” and after much thinking I responded with, “Being married to you, and having pretty pictures that can live on our walls forever.”

In February of this year Rex proposed, and we began talking about what our wedding would look like. We decided we’d get married at our kitchen table and head out on a road trip through California with a trailer we were going to build specifically for the trip. Along the way, we planned on hiring a couple different photographers to capture us in the beautiful places. When we got back, we planned to throw a huge party with all of our friends and families, where we’d display all the pictures from our trip, and celebrate our marriage with the important people in our lives. Obviously the world had different plans and we ended up moving our celebration to next year. After the pandemic hit the States, forcing 3 reschedule attempts, we were able to make our road trip dreams come true.

The Trip

SLC > Sacramento (approximately 700 miles)

Rex spent the day on Thursday (June 30) prepping food and packing up the trailer while I worked. As soon as my work day was over, we hopped in the truck and began our drive to Sacramento. I spent a lot of the drive listening to business law lectures and preparing for my final exam. Rex was a champ about talking through all of the topics with me. We were projected to get into Sacramento at 1:00am, but ended up peeling off in Fernley, NV to sleep in the Walmart parking lot before continuing our journey the next morning.

I spent the morning studying and took my last final for the semester while Rex relaxed and road his bike around the town. Once I finished my exam, Rex and I hung out and rode bikes until our friends were off work. We went to a local restaurant, ate delicious pizza, and reminisced with our friends. The next morning, Rex and I planned on leaving by 9:00am to head to Guerneville. We decided to take a quick dip at the pool owned by our friends HOA. The 15 minute swim turned into hours, and we ended up grabbing lunch (and the most delicious chocolate chai tea shakes EVER) before heading out of town around 2:00pm. Worth it!

Sacramento > Guerneville (Approximately 120 miles)

The drive to Guerneville was through wine country in Sonoma County. Miles and miles of rolling hills with vineyards on either side. We made a pit stop in Santa Rosa to buy boots for Rex to wear in our photos. He’d had his mind set on a pair that they didn’t have, but landed on Blundstones, just like the ones he bought for me and used to propose to me. Turning off the freeway to the two-lane highway that took us to Guerneville was a dream. A windy road with redwood trees on both sides for the 30 minute drive to our destination. My favorite part of this whole drive was the very real and vulnerable conversations Rex and I had the whole way.

We drove up to Armstrong Forrest, and began to explore.

This was my first time in a redwood forrest. I’d never seen anything like it! Rex seemed excited to show me this place he’d been excited about during his time in California. We spent a couple hours walking around the park and gawking at the giant trees before heading out to find camp and make dinner.

We decided to run into town to the Safeway for a few items and ended up coming across an old school bus full of free souls who were parked and hosting a jam session. They placed music that reminded me somewhat of old blues music. Rex and I parked, opened the back doors to the trailer, made dinner and had a beer. We ended up listening for hours before taking off and parking on the side of the road for the night. The next morning, we grabbed some overly expensive breakfast sandwiches and drip coffee from The Market in town before making out way down the coast.

Guerneville > Point Reyes (approximately 60 miles)

We came across so many cute towns on the way to the coast. We pulled off in Monte Rio to check out a surf shop that was set up in a quonset, walked across a bridge to find people below having fun and playing on the beaches. If you find yourself in this area, stop by and check it out!

We took our time on this drive. Stopping to take in all the sites.

After we reached camp, our friends from Sacramento made the drive out to meet us for dinner. We drove up the PCH to Nick’s Cove in the Tomales Bay area. I had my first Pliney the Elder beer (Rex’s favorite beer from College). We ate oysters, walked onto the pier, and enjoyed each others company.

After they headed back home, we decided to drive into the park to check it out before the sunset. We got a peak at the Cypress Tree Tunnel and gave us all the excitement we could have wanted before meeting our photographer the next morning.

We woke up at 4am to start the drive to Mclure’s Beach. We had no idea the road to the beach would buck our trailer around like crazy. After getting to the parking lot we opened the door to our trailer to see that everything inside had been tossed around. The time I planned to spend getting ready turned into time cleaning up the water that’d spilled everywhere. I threw up my hair, grabbed my dress, and we headed to the beach. We had the beach completely to ourselves, the weather was AMAZING, and our photographer was a complete sweetheart. If you’re in the Bay area looking for someone to capture your moments, reach out to @danashularphotography on instagram!

I was excited about the idea of having beautiful photos, but having this experience with Rex was more than I could have hoped for.

After a few truly magical hours, we left Point Reyes and headed toward Yosemite.

Point Reyes > Yosemite (approximately 300 miles)

We pulled off in Olema to make some roadside breakfast burritos and jetboil coffee before beginning the long drive to Yosemite. After driving over the Golden Gate Bridge, and up the steep streets of San Francisco with our trailer in tow, we found ourselves in Hayward. Rex took me by Chabot Park where he used to play disc golf with his friends. By Roxanne Ave, where he lived in college. Through Cal State East Bay’s campus, and to the baseball field. We ate at Branco Billy’s pizza, and I loved seeing the places that helped shape him.

We pulled into Summerdale Campground at 8:30pm, sick as hell of being in the truck. We kicked off our shoes, laid in our traveling bed and went to sleep.

The next morning Rex fished the stream that flowed past camp while I used an extension cord outside of the camp hosts trailer to straighten my hair, and soon it was time to head into the park with rad photographer, @forrestblakephoto.

Coming around the corner and seeing Yosemite for the first time, my mind was completely blown. It was hard to comprehend. We spent some time in The Valley, and then made the drive to Glacier Point before hiking to Taft Point. The hike was just over 2 miles round trip, and I was soaking in every minute of its beauty!

Although we were not the only ones up there, we found our own rock to perch on and have a couple beers while Mother Nature gave us a show.

It was an experience we’ll never forget. The next morning, we spent some time fishing the Merced River in The Valley before heading off to Tuolumne Meadows. The drive through the park is so under rated. Everyone focuses on The Valley, but the park surrounded The Valley is just as majestic.

We spent the evening fishing in Tuolumne Meadows. We knew this was our last evening to take it all in before making our trek home. Filled with gratitude and fresh air, I watch Rex pluck fish out of this beautiful river and reflected on the trip of a lifetime.

Yosemite > Home (approximately 625 miles)

Home. After an all day drive, we made it back home. We concluded that:

• We will be going back to Yosemite to spend more time and rock climb

• We spent more time driving than we’d prefer, but the company, conversation, and experiences along the way made it all worth it

• We are somehow not sick of Surfaces or Forrest. yet (check them out on Spotify!)

• This time in our lives is one we will never forget

If you’re still reading and not sick of this story yet, check out our montage to see some of these things yourself!

Scottie Doesn't Know

I had promised my boyfriend a guided trip down the Green River, below the Flaming Gorge Dam, for his birthday in April.  When I asked a buddy from the gym when we should go, he suggested to wait until the fish were feeding on dry flies.  So we waited, and waited, and waited, until August 5th, when I was told the fishing should be epic.  

We camped Friday, and woke up Saturday ready to hit the river.  We rolled up to the meeting place for our guide service, and this white Toyota 4Runner rolls into the parking lot with a drift boat painted like a trout with the Spinner Fall guide company logo marked on the front.  If I'm being honest, when Scottie stepped out of the car, I didn't know what to expect.  When we asked what the plan was, his response was, "I dunno, I figured I'd meet you guys and see what you wanna do..".  In my mind, I thought, "uh, catch really big fish."  

We drive down to Little Hole, and as Scottie started dropping to boat into the river, Rex sets my fly rod up with a brand new leader.  Not even 2 minute later, Scottie's nipping it off sayin, "I want something a little more robust."  

We start down the river, and it becomes real...we're in for an epic day.  We turned on some music, started jamming Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, and Led Zepelin.  It wasn't too long before Rex starts slaying the trout, and we knew we were paired with the sickest guide on the river. 

It wasn't long before I started casting myself.  We roll down a set of uneventful class 3 rapids and Scottie pulls us up behind this boulder, saying, "Alright Kristin, you ever caught a fish to Tupac before?".  Spoiler alert, now I've caught a few fish to Tupac, and I couldn't be more pumped.  Shortly after, Scottie hops out of the boat and starts walking the boat up river.  This guy wasn't messing around. 

We pulled off at a campground for lunch where he set us up with some delicious chicken caesar wraps, pickled veggies, carrots, celery, nuts, you name it.  Before we knew it, we were back to floatin, and slaying fish. Rex hooked into a rad brown trout with a gnarly scar on his back from being swooped out of the river by a local bird of prey. 

We float into the C-section, and anchor up waiting for a gust of wind to quit giving us grief, when Rex noticed a fish feeding by the bank.  Scottie mentioned it might be the same huge Brownie he'd tried hunting on a guide trip just one day before us.  He ties Rex up with a single dry fly beetle, and WAM, the fish slams it.  Needless to say, Scottie and Rex shared the highest of fives. 

We were one of the first boats on the river that morning, and we had so much fun, we were nearly one of the last ones off the river that evening. Scotties rowed us down that river and against the wind for around 10 hours that day, and gave us one of our favorite fishing experiences to date.

If you're looking to float The Green, call Spinner Fall guide service, and if you're lucky, you might be paired with Scott Barrus. 

- K 

White Dress, Tan Sand.

I don't advertise that I shoot weddings (or bridals, or engagements, or any life event for that matter).  But occasionally I am asked to do it anyway, and I'm almost always happy to say yes.  This particular time, I was delighted.  

My friends Tucker and Sierra had contacted me to shoot their not-so-standard wedding in Moab, Ut, last June.  They'd made it clear, it was to be close friends and family, informal, on some red rock somewhere.  We were all going to camp, drink, dance, hike, and celebrate their union with those closest to them.  Basically a big ol' fam/friend party, doing what we all love to do anyway. 

Of course, that meant their "photo needs" were minimal.  So, when I asked the question, "Do you want Bridals?", Sierra wasn't sure it was necessary.  WHAT?! THAT'S THE FUNNEST PART!  With a little arm-twisting, we agreed to shoot a few bridals, for funzies, while Sierra's Mom and Sister were in town. 

After Sierra's bridal shower just weeks before the wedding, the four of us hopped in the car and drove nearly 2 hours to the Little Sahara Sand Dunes.  I'd heard of this place, I'd seen photos, but I didn't actually know where I was going or how easy it would be to find a place to shoot.  The drive there felt like eternity, but, eventually we made it and boy did we fall in love. 

We rolled up, popped a bottle of champagne, and let the good times roll.  We laughed, so, hard.  We each took our turns falling in the sand.  Sierra got more sand/dirt/debris on her dress than any bride would ever want before their wedding day, and didn't bat an eye.  

I'm so grateful at the opportunity to shoot this beautiful girl, and her amazing family.  As it turns out, shooting life events ain't half bad. 

With love,
- K

A Day on a Sled

You know, I consider myself to be very fortunate for the amount of traveling I've been able to put under my belt in the last year.  I also consider myself lucky (and unlucky, because I miss her) that my sister lives in one of the most beautiful states I have ever been to.  My third, yes, THIRD, visit to Alaska this year brought with it the opportunity to shoot a new friend, Alex, and his Ski-Doo Summit 800 154', aka his snow machine.  I was incredibly excited. Really. 

We drove up to Hatcher Pass, and took off into the backcountry.  If you don't know me, understand this: I. LOVE. ADRENALINE.  Of course my heart started pumped when Alex hit the throttle, and the ski's went flying into the air.  Boy, I get giddy just thinking of it.  

Sure enough, we found a few powder fields/faces that had yet to be touched.  He'd take off to test them, to make sure we weren't in any danger of avalanches, and come back to get me into position.  That's when the real fun started.  I could tell he was having a blast, carving left, wheeling up mountains, you name it.  Then he offered to let me ride his sled.  My answer?  YES. 

Now, I ride motorcycles all the time, but this was a completely different feeling.  I couldn't quite adjust to the idea that if you fall off, you're not going to be shredded by pavement &/or ran over by traffic.  You just kind of get tossed into fluffy snow, and then you get back on and keep going.  I'm sure that's not always the case, but this day it was, and it was awesome. A few minutes into me riding around, Alex stops me and says, "Go over there, come to a complete stop, then slam the throttle".  The kid is trying to get me to do wheelies on my first day!  Well, of course I try it, and I felt like I was straight up and down. WHAT A RUSH.  Shortly after, I saw a video he took.  Believe me, it was nothing impressive.  But, it was a blast. 

We rode around for a while, stopping a few different times to shoot photos. I could not have asked for a better experience.  Not only was I in a completely gorgeous place, with good company, trying new things, doing something I love...but I was challenged. Have you tried shooting action in snow?  It's not the easiest.

Thanks, Alex, for everything.