We share your values of sustainability and preservation and that's why, I can proudly say that since 2022, I am La Crosse, Wisconsin area's only Leave No Trace Aware Certified Photographer. I am proudly dedicated to preserving the natural beauty of our surroundings while capturing your most precious moments.

As a Leave No Trace Certified Photographer, I understand the importance of minimizing our impact on the environment, especially in the pristine locations often chosen for weddings, elopements, and engagement sessions. With this commitment at the forefront of my practice, you can trust that your love story will be captured with the utmost respect for our surroundings.

Choosing me as your photographer means choosing a partner who is passionate about preserving the landscapes that serve as the backdrop to your special day. From our local bluff lands to Mexican beaches, no matter where we go, I am committed to ensuring that these natural wonders remain unspoiled for generations to come.

Certified
Leave no trace aware photographer

If you’re getting married outside, it’s probably because you’re drawn to nature’s beauty (same goes for those of you who crave those gorgeous outdoor engagement photos our area has to offer).

And the way we keep nature beautiful, so that we can continue to come back to these gorgeous spots time & time again, is to make sure that we enjoy them sustainably and responsibly.

Weddings, elopements, and photo sessions can have a big cumulative impact on the environment—and without following Leave No Trace, this is what could happen:

Why should I care about Leave No Trace when it comes to my photos?

- Locations that are currently available for weddings, & elopements could become off-limits for special events and professional photography—meaning it could become impossible to come back to a location for a vow-renewal or anniversary session in 5 years.

- The spot that you said your vows or had your memorable engagement session could get so badly damaged, destroyed, or trashed that it needs to be closed for restoration, and won’t look the same at all when you want to come back in the future.

- The prevalence and costs of special event permits could spike, causing it to become very difficult to have any kind of events on public lands.

So whether you find the outdoors peaceful, serene, awe-inspiring, or whatever’s drawing you to getting married in nature, we’re all in this together.

And together we believe it is possible to have the BEST day, while also protecting our natural world for future visitors.

By reducing our impact as we visit, photograph, and celebrate outdoors, we can protect these places we love! You don’t have to limit your celebration to reduce your impact–this guide will help you each step of the way as you plan, prepare, and finally get married somewhere beautiful!

how complicated is it to protect our lands while we shoot together?

Overall, protecting our lands is pretty simple when we work together. I'll help us abide by the Leave No Trace principles by following just a few simple steps.

Leave Everything You Find: While it may seem like a fun idea to take mementos of your day from the environment, it’s best to leave it as it is. If you see something you want to remember, take a photo of it instead of taking it with you.

Avoid Confetti, Seeds, & Rice: we avoid leaving or throwing anything on the ground and it’s generally not a good idea—even biodegradable confetti. Some sustainable alternatives are to sustainably collect local native leaves or use ribbon sticks, glow sticks, or snowballs to celebrate instead.

Be Careful with Fire: I always check for fire bans in the area before using smoke bombs or sparklers. A quick search online will tell us if there are any bans. 

Popping Champagne: Sugar in champagne can be harmful to certain fragile environments so I generally recommend sparkling water as a great alternative that looks the same in an image!

Respecting Local Vegetation: picking wildflowers is illegal in the state of Wisconsin and in many other states. To enjoy them in our photos, we will use them in our backgrounds and avoid going off trail and not walking on, picking, or laying in them in a way that would be damaging to them.

Going off-trail is not only is troublesome for the growth of our natural vegetation including wildflowers, it encourages erosion and disturbs the natural ecology over time. Popular off-trail areas used by hikers and other photography sessions create satellite trails which are then create continued use by others, further creating more damage and disturbing the natural landscape beauty. 

Pets: I LOVE it when couples bring their dogs along to our sessions. It's a great way to make the session much more personal to you. It's important to note however that wildlife can be strongly affected by the presence of our furry companions and vice versa-- I would hate to see a couple need to chase down their dog who runs down a deer at our engagement session. Because of this,  be sure to only bring dogs in places they are allowed, and then keep them on-leash and under control. Just let me know before our session if you plan to bring your pets and I'll verify they are allowed.

If you're ready to embark on a photography journey that honors both your love story and the natural world around us, I invite you to reach out to me today. Let's work together to create timeless images that celebrate your love while leaving a positive impact on the planet.

Welcome to a new era of wedding photography – where beauty meets responsibility, and every moment captured leaves no trace behind.

Are you ready to embark on a journey where your love story unfolds against the backdrop of stunning landscapes, where every image tells your story for the world around us? If so, then allow me to introduce you to Leave No Trace Aware Photography – a revolutionary approach that not only captures the magic of your wedding day but does so with a deep respect for the environment.