If there is one thing we absolutely love at Palm Springs Wedding House it is an intimate photo-shoot full of laughs and candid moments. Honestly, checking out photos of two people in love and having a kick ass time together really never gets old for our team. And it does not matter if the setting is at the sand dunes at Algodones Dunes or just the streets of Palm Springs. That is why our editors were excited when AshGabes Photography tagged our Instagram profile of a really rad couples session out in Joshua Tree, California. Joshua Tree is an amazing location that really eliminates many of the distractions a photographer and couple would face in a more urban environment. However, it is precisely because of that simplicity that photos can have so much more authenticity, warmth and “All The Feels”. Don’t believe us? Well check out the smiles on Taryn and Kirkland in the Joshua Tree photos below!
This was my second time visiting Joshua Tree and I really wish I could buy a plot of land and just live out there! Joshua Tree is absolutely magical, and I love the “locals only” vibe of the town. They really have an awesome creative hub over there, but my favorite thing about shooting in Joshua Tree is the signature look of the landscape. The trees, endless rock formations and cholla cactus are such a unique characteristic of the park. Joshua Tree is the perfect playground for photographers. From the moment you enter, you can’t help but run wild under the desert sky!
Taryn and Kirkland are the love birds in these photos. We all grew up in the same town, and met through mutual friends. They are (currently) not engaged or married, but they are deeply in love, and huge fans of Joshua Tree National Park. Here is what the couple had to say about how they met, and why they wanted to do a couples photo session at Joshua Tree.
“We met at a party… which sounds silly to me because we aren’t really party people. He’s told me many times that when he saw me walking down the stairs as he entered the party is when he knew I was something special. But for me, it wasn’t until the next day when I invited him to watch a meteor shower with me on a hilltop by my house that I knew something was different about him. We talked all night long & just gazed at the stars! From there, our love of being outdoors grew. Joshua Tree is so beautiful and special to us because it was the first national park we visited together! The sunrises and sunsets, the gorgeous landscape, the fresh open air; you get a sense of freedom there that you just don’t find anywhere else! We were hooked after just one visit.”
It is difficult to pick just one moment from the Joshua Tree shoot, but the middle of the road photos had me swooning pretty hard! I love how the wind really picked up, making Taryn’s hair and dress fly. I felt this portion of our shoot was also the most fun for the couple. I really took a step back and just let them be them. It was a beautiful seeing Taryn and Kirkland got lost in their love. They really know how to make each other laugh, and are true kids at heart. Guess that’s what happens after 7 years of dating someone.
My name is Ash, and I run AshGabes Photography! This will be my third year as a wedding photographer, and I am totally mind blown by it. Photographing weddings is SO MUCH fun; its unreal sometimes that I get to do this for a living. I fell into photography pretty randomly! Before leaving for a study aboard trip to Barcelona, my grandpa gifted me a Canon Rebel. From the moment I landed I could not put it down. I took pictures of everything and everyone that crossed my lens. When I got home, I continued to take photos and over time people took interest in my work. It was not long before someone asked me to photographer their wedding, and I have been hooked ever since. When I am not taking photos, you will find me binge-watching the Office or planning my next adventure. I have a personal goal to travel more this year! Seattle, Nashville and the Philippines are just a few of my stops.