Sara + Chris’ Elopement at The Santa Barbara Courthouse, CA on 35mm Film
Chris reached out to me last summer asking if I would capture his elopement with Sara on film in Santa Barbara, California. After walking me through his vision for their wedding getaway, I was so excited to help him make their elopement one to remember. He and Sara met in Toronto, Canada through mutual friends while he was traveling for work. As an actress, Sara is often living between Toronto and Los Angeles, so their whirlwind romance started and led them to this dream elopementin Santa Barbara. Chris' vision was for two locations over two days with different outfits and vibes to capture their spunk and chemistry as a couple.
The first day of their elopement sessions with me centered around the Santa Barbara Courthouse with both of them dressed elegantly for their wedding ceremony before the city clerk. They were SO easy to capture around the courthouse on 35mm film after their vows! We met in the morning around 10am and started our session with mist and fog, but by the end of the session it was bright and sunny. The weather conditions were a film photographer's DREAM because we were able to catch different lighting and angles around the courthouse.
Shooting weddings and elopements at the Santa Barbara Courthouse are my favorite because there is so much texture, color, plant life and physical objects to play with in posing couples. Spanish style architecture dominates a lanscape of immaculate gardens with various flowers in bloom depending on the season you visit. Public access to the interior labyrinth of hallways, staircases, mural rooms, and clock tower rooftop makes this venue an absolute gem! The multiple staircases, archways, doorways, lawns, garden nooks, sweeping curves and epic frescoed walls and ceilings make for the perfect, elegant wedding set. We took full advantage of all these features and explored the entire courthouse, taking pictures of Sara and Chris along the way.
Sara wore a blue silk dress and held a boquet of tropical birds of paradise and palm fronds that contrasted perfectly with her pink amythest engagement ring. She also wore an intricately embroidered long kimono jacket to reflect the colors and textures of her latin heritage and I was floored by how beautifully it all came together! Chris complimented Sara with a navy blue suit that perfectly paired with her light baby blue silk and colorful embroidered kimono combo. What I love most about their gallery is how much life and love ooze from each shot. They were melting into each other the entire time and their photos reflect the magic of their chemistry as a couple.
Follow along with Sara + Chris' Santa Barbara elopement on 35mm film in my next blog for part two of their elopement weekend in the Santa Barbara Hills overlooking the pacific ocean. In the meantime, enjoy perusing their courthouse gallery here!
