Wild Elements Photography

Wild Elements Photography Maryland-based Documentary Destination Wedding and Elopement Photographer | Film & Digital | Worldwide Wedding and Elopement Packages Available.

I fear I’m still in disbelief it took me THIS long, (nearly 2 years 😱), to share any of these photos from one of the mos...
05/11/2026

I fear I’m still in disbelief it took me THIS long, (nearly 2 years 😱), to share any of these photos from one of the most gorgeous outings on the lake with A & W.

So, without further ado, I’m gonna leave these gems right here while I daydream about all of the other engagements I get to celebrate this year…the excitement is REAL!

(I’m also gonna daydream about being better at sharing the full scope of stories I’ve got sitting in my archives more often 😬)

Wishing you all the best start to your week 🫶🏼

Back by popular demand, I’ve created another mini-guide detailing something so near and dear to my heart - the act of st...
05/08/2026

Back by popular demand, I’ve created another mini-guide detailing something so near and dear to my heart - the act of storyboarding, and how this concept can be applied to the elopement planning process!

In my experience, I’ve found that most couples plan their elopement by immediately asking, “where should we go?”, or “what should we do?”. More often than not, they end up feeling stuck because they just don’t have answers to these things yet - and that can feel discouraging.

By doing this, they’re overlooking a more crucial, (and more useful), question that will take them 10x farther in planning their elopement than anything else:

They should start with, “what do we want this to feel like?”.

And this is precisely where storyboarding begins!

It’s how we take something that’s intangible, like a feeling, a relationship, or a season of life, and translate it into something that we can *actually* live out in the form of an experience.

If you eliminate the checklists and the poses, and you forget about copying what someone else did, you give yourselves the power to lead with an emotional direction that’s grounded in your wants, values, and authenticity.

When you know how you want your day to feel, what moments matter most, and kind of landscapes that naturally accentuate your story, planning becomes clearer, more engaging, and less stressful.

While this carousel is only a condensed version of the approach I walk couples through inside of my planning process, it’s a great starting point for any couple interested in exploring what’s possible for their elopement day(s).

If you want to go deeper, you already know where to find me. Send me a message, and we can get started.

You know what I feel when I look at these photos?I feel the free-spirited nature of two people who are ridiculously exci...
05/06/2026

You know what I feel when I look at these photos?

I feel the free-spirited nature of two people who are ridiculously excited about the way they’ve chosen to begin married life together.

I feel the joyfully overwhelming warmth generated by the adoration they carry for each other.

I feel the kind of atmospheric buzz that can only be born when unconditional love and heaps of celebration gracefully collide.

And you know what’s crazy?

None of these feelings bound to this experience would have existed if M & D hadn’t decided to follow their hearts, and turned their elopement day into a true reflection of their relationship.

Think about how different things would have been if they stuck to the traditional narrative of weddings and elopements - what a beautiful gift they decided to give themselves, and the handful of friends and family they invited into their day.

So, here’s your not-so-subtle reminder:

The world is wide and the years are short, so why do anything other than what YOU want to do on the day you get married?!

I had the honor and the privilege of kick-starting my season with this epic couple in one of the most beautiful places t...
04/24/2026

I had the honor and the privilege of kick-starting my season with this epic couple in one of the most beautiful places to explore right here in my home state of Maryland.

The weather, the light, the time of year, the scenery, and all of the little things came together, dare I say, perfectly.

But, little would anyone know, the story of how we got here didn’t start very glamorously.

If you’re local to the east coast, then you are painstakingly aware of the tumultuous moods Mother Nature graced us with from January to March. Snowstorms, ice storms, hazardous driving conditions, freezing rain galore, and even some record-breaking cold temperatures.

Because of these factors, A & H’s day had to be rescheduled a whopping FOUR times. Each time we mutually decided to pick another day, it felt unbelievably disappointing - but at the same time, it felt like the universe was dousing us with the right amount of hope that when the big day did finally come around, all of this time in between would be worth it ten times over.

And I don’t know if you can tell from the photos or not, but let me reassure you, it 100% was. This, my friends, is why investing in your experience with the right person is of paramount importance!

Being an elopement photographer AND planner comes with a skillset that is equal parts odd, unconventional, and creative, as it is logistical, sometimes scientific, and data-driven.

Most people would have been totally discouraged at the challenges the start of the year bestowed upon us, but these two had faith in the process and, (most importantly), faith in our ability to adapt to the situation to still help them live out a day they’ll never forget.

Are all elopements like this? Absolutely not. But each of them come with their own stories and tales, and as crazy as it sounds, this is part of the reason I fell in love with elopements to begin with - the spontaneity, the pivoting, the unpredictable, the challenges, and the sense of adventure all have me in a chokehold.

If you’re curious about the world of elopements, send me a message, and we’ll start chatting about all of the possibilities floating around.

The week ahead is long, exciting, and full of to-dos, which means I’ve ultimately decided to set the tone for the week w...
04/20/2026

The week ahead is long, exciting, and full of to-dos, which means I’ve ultimately decided to set the tone for the week with these candid, high-energy dance floor photos from this lively summer celebration at .

Out of the 20 spaces I open up for elopements and weddings each year, I only allot 5 of them for local weddings that are larger, or more traditionally-structured. And every year, the people who fill these spots are utterly amazing.

This year is proving to be no different.

The couples who’ve entrusted me to document their days are creative, witty, caring, compassionate, driven, and unfathomably unique. So if you’re one of my 2026 wedding couples, and you’re reading this, I am unapologetically bragging on you because you give me so much to look forward to.

All of this to say that I’m grateful. I’m grateful that this career and the alignment of the stars have perpetually worked together to connect me with some of the best people out there.

Wishing you all a wonderful week, and looking forward to the adventures that await!

(Oh and another reminder: if you’re still looking for a photographer for your 2026 wedding or elopement, I’ve only got 3 spots left for the year!!!)

Whether you’ve been hanging around these parts for a while, or you’re brand new here, I wanted to take a moment to quick...
04/17/2026

Whether you’ve been hanging around these parts for a while, or you’re brand new here, I wanted to take a moment to quickly reintroduce myself and reconnect with familiar faces.

For those that don’t know me, (yet😉), my name is Ciana - I’m a destination elopement & wedding photographer based right here on the East Coast. I’ve got a knack for helping experience-driven and adventurous couples navigate the way to their dream celebrations all over the world, and I would love to do the same for you!

You see, time and time again, I’ve been asked, “why do you do this kind of work?”. If I’m being honest, it wasn’t until about 6 years ago that I had an answer. Everything, (and I mean EVERYTHING), changed the moment I realized the kinds of experiences and celebrations I now proudly co-create with my couples were even possible. And now, in hindsight, that feels absolutely mind-blowing to admit.

Fast forward through years of constant learning and innovating, my partner and I presently work with our couples to map out their visions in entirety. From the first conversation to the final gallery delivery, we’re there as both photographers and advocates, making sure each couple feels supported through every decision, and through every step of the way.

This process is personal, which means one of our top priorities is ensuring every one of our couples have the full scale of our heart, soul, and creative energy. Because of this, we only ever work with 20 couples a year. To us, this job isn’t a “numbers game” - it’s rooted in the importance of the experience, and we believe that you deserve to have someone ready to show up for you in totality.

We only have a handful of dates open next year, and only THREE, (yes 3!!!), remaining spots for the 2026 season. Will you become one of our Wild Elements couples? I sure hope so! Visit my website to send your inquiry, or DM me and I’ll send you the link directly.

Here’s to all of the stories and adventures that await! 🫶🏼

You wanna know the secret to creating engagement photos that are full of life, sentimental, and wildly original to you a...
04/10/2026

You wanna know the secret to creating engagement photos that are full of life, sentimental, and wildly original to you and your partner?

Do something you love together.

It really is that simple, (and no I’m not just making that up).

Let me explain ⤵️

Professional photography can feel daunting to those who’ve never been in front of a camera before, and for those people that ARE photographed often, sometimes that nervousness never really goes away despite all of their experience.

As much as we photographers tell you to “forget about the camera” and try to help you relax, it’s really difficult to *actually* do that, (especially if you have no practice). So, how do you combat that anxious or uncomfortable feeling?

Well for me, there’s two things that come to mind:

1. You want to work with a photographer that you connect with. A good photographer will be able to direct you in a way that eliminates any worry you have about looking awkward in your photos, and they’ll be able to deliver an experience that’s personal, intuitive, and fairly comfortable.

2. As I mentioned before, you do something you love WITH the person you love! Let me put it this way; if you opt to integrate something you love into your engagement photos, you’re shifting your focus away from the camera and into simply just being with your partner. This tends to be where you’ll find the most genuine emotional exchanges, and where the originality of your photos sincerely live.

So if you’re planning your engagement session, don’t start with looking up poses or drowning in Pinterest inspo - start with the question, “what really feels like us?”, or “what’s a staple of our relationship?”, and go from there! The more it feels like you, the less you’ll be thinking about the camera, (I promise).

Oh and one more thing…if I can be totally honest with you, the photos you’ll revisit years from now will be the ones where you can feel the moment again - and that can really only happen when you let yourselves actually live it, (just some food for thought).

So, what is an elopement?Although the definition of eloping has drastically evolved throughout the years, it hasn’t been...
04/06/2026

So, what is an elopement?

Although the definition of eloping has drastically evolved throughout the years, it hasn’t been until fairly recently that people have begun to explore the modern day meaning of elopements and intimate weddings.

Elopements create space for couples to break free from the “one-size-fits-all” narrative we’ve been conditioned to accept as the only way to get married. It challenges the outdated ideas and preconceived notions couples often carry with them as they set out on their wedding planning journey.

Eloping allows you to create a day that genuinely reflects who you are – it’s not about what you’re skipping, but what you’re choosing instead.

Contrary to the once popular belief that elopements had to be these impromptu and elusive affairs, they are now characterized by the freedom to focus solely on your connection. In fact, if you still look up the official definition of eloping on Google, you’ll find this:

“To run away secretly in order to get married, especially without parental consent.”

While this may be the written definition provided by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary or Oxford Languages, it couldn’t be farther from the truth.

Gone are the days when eloping meant secretly slipping away to Las Vegas to hide a decision that needed justification.

The modern elopement is rich with creativity, emotion, and sentiment. As couples reevaluate what really matters to them, the world has seen a beautiful shift: from weddings rooted in misaligned tradition and performance to celebrations that reciprocate a couple’s lifestyle, story, and values.

Eloping has transformed into a form of empowerment, a way to reclaim how marriage is celebrated.

If you have any questions about eloping, or you simply want to know what’s possible, my DMs are always open 🫶🏽

A few weeks ago, you might remember seeing a reel I posted about how to care for Polaroids with these five specific tips...
03/31/2026

A few weeks ago, you might remember seeing a reel I posted about how to care for Polaroids with these five specific tips. The feedback I received from sharing that video was overwhelmingly positive, so much so, that I decided to add even more detail, and give this topic a permanent place to live on the grid!

With film photo mediums making their way back into the spotlight, it’s important to know how to care for them - which is exactly why I wanted to make this information accessible in a fun and exciting way!

Tip 1: Polaroids DO NOT like extreme temperatures! It’s important to store them, before and after use, in a mild environment. Just like film, you can keep unopened packs of Polaroids in the refrigerator at an appropriate temp, (it usually tells you on the box).

Tip 2: Let your Polaroids cure on a flat surface for 30 days! The internal chemical process that occurs is called opacification, which is when the opacifier spreads throughout the photo. The internal layers need this time to fully dry and stabilize.

Tip 3: Protect your Polaroids from UV exposure! This can damage them pretty quickly, and they’ll lose a lot of their longevity. Display them in areas outside of direct sunlight, or use frames with UV protection.

Tip 4: Use protective albums, boxes, and sleeves for long-term storage. I’ve found a number of great options online, most available through Amazon, Target, or the official Polaroid website.

Tip 5: Create digital copies of your Polaroids through the Polaroid app! The app has a built-in scanning feature that makes it incredibly easy to store them on your phone. Lay your polaroids on a flat surface, try to find an angle without a glare, and make sure your camera lens is clean before scanning your photo.

If you like this “mini-guide” format, be sure to let me know! Also, if there are specific questions or subjects you want answers compiled in a carousel like this, comment below or send me a DM!

03/25/2026

Maybe you’ve been thinking about the idea of eloping, or perhaps you’ve already decided with certainty that an elopement is for you - either way, it’s okay (and totally normal) if you’re feeling a little nervous about sharing the news with loved ones.

This can feel especially daunting if you already know that your vision doesn’t align with the strongly opinionated members of your family. However, I want you to remember this: you don’t need to justify your decision to anyone. Your elopement day is about you.

Here are 3 things you can do to confidently inform friends and family of such an exciting time in your lives:

1. Speak from the heart, and include your values. In other words, explain your why from an emotional standpoint, (not a logistical one). Share your vision with them, and why this kind of celebration feels so right for you. You can use phrases like, “we wanted our wedding to reflect the way we live”, or “we feel most like ourselves planning something intimate and grounded”.

2. Choose a calm and quiet moment to privately break the news. Be purposeful about setting aside time to speak with parents or close family members one-on-one. Give them an opportunity to ask questions, seek clarity, and share in your anticipation!

3. Offer them a role, but only if that’s what you and your partner want. Reassure them that they still matter to you, and that you plan on including them in special ways, even if they aren’t physically present.

Looking for more ways to tell your family you’re eloping? Check out the link in my bio - I’ve put together a full blog post that dives into not only how to deliver the news, but ways you can include your friends and family before, during, or even after you’re elopement!

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