Adventurous Elopement Photoshoot on the Oregon Coast

January 26, 2026

during their elopement photoshoot, a couple stands hand in hand in the forest while looking in opposite direction, framed by foliage

This genuine, living-in-the-moment elopement photoshoot meant driving up and down the coast of Oregon, running along beaches, and exploring woodlands. And experiencing it all together. All while creating the wedding photos they never had.

a couple stands in the forest with their dog in front of them during their elopement photoshoot

a woman crouches down to pet her dog as her husband looks toward her as they stand in the forest

a woman sways while standing in the forest with her husband who faces her in the foreground

a woman rests her arm on her husband's shoulder while they stand in the forest during their elopement photoshoot

a woman in a white dress walks in the forest with her dog who walks with his tongue hanging out of his mouth during his parents' elopement photoshoot

a couple walk on a paved path through a forest with their dog walking next to them during their elopement photoshoot

An Adventurous Elopement Photoshoot

Brendalyn and Mykal have been married. For a few years now. Their wedding was small and quick because Mykal was entering the military and they wanted to get married before he left. They never actually had wedding photos taken at all. So, we got to give them a wedding photo do-over on the gorgeous Oregon Coast.

I’m Anika (like Monica), a Michigan based and traveling elopement photographer. I love embracing the genuine moments and wonderful weirdness of couples in a cinematic, storytelling driven way. Because your story of love is a work of art.

Brendalyn found me on TikTok—they are based in Washington State and I am in Grand Rapids, Michigan! It is wild and astonishing how the internet brings us together sometimes. None of us had ever been to the Oregon Coast and it felt like the perfect place to them for their elopement photoshoot. First we explored the Oregon forests, then we landed on the beach.

a black and white photo of a couple standing hand in hand while leaning against a lighthouse during their elopement photoshoot on the oregon coast

a couple stand a few feet apart on a lookout over the ocean leaning against a railing

a could look at each other while leaning against a lighthouse during their elopement photoshoot

The Oregon Coast & Location Research

We (loosely) planned an entire day—I think we spent 8 hours together?—for their elopement photoshoot driving up and down the coast of Oregon. We stopped at all the fun places we could find. I’d done TONS of research before the trip. I love researching locations—I kind of go into psycho mode learning about all the places out there. Custom location research is something I offer to my clients—whether it is an elopement photoshoot or an engagement session. Trying to figure out locations can be a lot—there are so many factors. Lighting situation, aesthetics, accessibility, public vs. private property, safety, it is a lot to take into consideration. I love getting to handle that for my people. <3

Essentially telling a client “I can plan this for you” and watching as that weight falls away from them LIVE in the moment is kind of like crack for me. I love when the planning of a shoot is a collaboration. I get to go down my psycho little research rabbit hole and come back to you with informed options. It tends to be a win-win.

a couple look at each other as they lean against a railing in front of a cliff in front of the ocean during their elopement photoshoot

a woman stands against a railing on the edge of a cliff in front of the ocean while her husband who frames the shot out of focus faces her during their elopement photoshoot

For Brendalyn and Mykal, we ended up at a mix of planned and spontaneous stops since that is what they were down for! The iconic Cannon Beach was a must, but we also explored some woodlands first. They started in their SLAY fits and changed into their comfies when we got to the beach with the cold and the wind. The matching sweatsuits are kind of everything. AND THEIR DOG’S YELLOW RAIN JACKET??? Iconic.

waves crash on rock formations on the oregon coast with two tiny figures standing far away in the distance from their oregon elopement photographer

a woman crouches down on rocks in front of oregon waves as her husband stands behind her

a woman smiles while sitting on a rock on the beach with her husband who faces her framing the shot during their elopement photoshoot

a couple sits next to each other on the rocks in front of the ocean with their oregon elopement photographer behind them

a couple sits together on the rocks in front of the ocean

a woman smiles while walking on the beach with her husband in matching sweatsuits during their elopement photoshoot

The Beach Part

Brendalyn and Mykal really wanted to focus more on having a fun, chill adventure and less on portraits and posing. To live in the moment and create genuine photos that really felt like the real Brendalyn and Mykal. They didn’t show up with posing or any shots in mind. We just let the day unfold. They really prioritized getting to experience this together. They brought their pup with them—who is SUPER cute. We planned all of this to be super genuine and altogether them.

Yes, this was an elopement photoshoot, but there was no ceremony. It was more a celebration of them being married. It was so cool and unique because there were no rules. Brendalyn and Mykal’s elopement photoshoot got to be exactly what they wanted. They just wanted to see new things and bring a photographer along with them. For me, that was amazing to see. It was so chill. There was no pressure, I just got to be creative and let them do whatever it is they wanted.

a woman sits on a rock and looks toward her husband that stands on another rock during their elopement photoshoot

a woman touches her face while resting an arm on her husband's shoulder as they stand on the beach in matching sweatsuits during their elopement photoshoot

a couple walks on the beach with their dog while holding hands and looking toward him

a couple holds hands wearing matching sweatsuits on the oregon coast with their dog, wearing a yellow rain jacket, who walks between them

a motion blur portrait of a couple in an embrace during a shoot with their oregon elopement photographer

a couple stand together in front of a cliff on the beach

a motion blur portrait featuring a couple running toward the beach in matching sweatsuits

a couple stands in front of the ocean with their dog who wears a rain jacket

a woman stands on a rock next to her husband in front of the ocean during their elopement photoshoot

a man carries his wife over his shoulder while walking on the beach in matching sweatsuits

All in all, Brendalyn and Mykal’s elopement photoshoot was so many of my favorite things. The Oregon Coast (I would love, love, love—can’t even use the word love enough to describe how much I would love—to go back), photography, being creative, adventuring, location research, documenting a couple’s story down to their genuine essence, dogs at photoshoots, traveling, matching sweatsuits, slaying in the forest (and not the murder-y kind), this list could keep going on and on but I will spare you.

a motion blur portrait of a man giving his wife a piggy back ride on an oregon beach during their elopement photoshoot

a black and white motion blur portrait of a could hugging on an oregon beach during their elopement photoshoot

a couple explores the rocky beach in front of oregon waves during, she crouches down to point at something as her husband looks down at her

an orange starfish stuck to a rock formation

a couple stands together holding hands while facing each other in front of a waterfall during their elopement photoshoot

a heart shaped cake with frosting the spells 'been married

a couple laughs while holding up a heart shaped cake in front of the sea for their oregon elopement photographer

during their elopement photoshoot, a couple laughs as they take bites out of a heart shaped cake with the sea behind them

during their elopement photoshoot, a couple sits at a picnic bench in front of the seaside looking down at a heart shaped cake

Traveling Wedding + Elopement Photographer

I will leave you with this: your elopement photoshoot or wedding, hell even your life, gets to be what you want. You get to pick. Most of the time, the rules aren’t even real. Okay, a lot of rules are real, but the limit of what you do on your wedding day or to celebrate your wedding does not exist. You can climb a mountain or run across a beach or eat Jimmy John’s (real life example), or have your ceremony in a bowling alley (they can actually photograph better than you might think), or whatever it is that feels authentic to you. Who fricken cares what anyone else thinks. This day is about you and the person you love. Annnndddddddd if you want cinematic, genuine, creative photos of it, I got you—wherever you are. Peek at investment details and fill out an inquiry form. <3

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a couple holds hands on the beach on a rainy day wearing matching sweatsuits in this cropped photo from their elopement photoshoot

p.s. I’d love to hang out with you on IG! Come hang with me @anikabphotography!