07/28/2026
Fernanda & Kris found me through a Yosemite elopement page, and we instantly clicked. From day one, I knew we were meant to work together.
Before their wedding, we met for the first time in Sedona, where they modeled a bridal session for me. It was such an adventure and the beginning of a friendship I'll always cherish. I'm so grateful our paths crossed and that I had the honor of documenting their love story.
Their wedding day didn't go as anyone expected.
Between sunrise photos and their ceremony, their sweet son became so sick that they had to rush him to urgent care and then to the hospital. Doctors found he was severely dehydrated, gave him IV fluids and pain medication, and somehow, they still made it back in time to exchange vows in one of Yosemite's beautiful, secluded locations.
A few days later, Fernanda reached out with heartbreaking news. They had taken their son to a larger hospital, where doctors found what they feared could be a brain tumor. Their world was turned upside down. The next day, he underwent brain surgery.
So many people prayed.
When the surgeon came out, she had a smile on her face. It wasn't cancer. Instead, they discovered he had a cavernoma—a cluster of abnormal blood vessels—that had been slowly bleeding for months.
God is so good.
He's still recovering in a California hospital, but he's doing well, and soon they'll be heading home to Arizona to continue his healing journey.
One moment from their wedding day will stay with me forever. Even though he wasn't feeling his best, he still found the strength to walk his mom down the aisle. Looking back now, knowing everything he was carrying that day, that moment feels even more powerful.
Yosemite has always held a special place in my heart, but this experience reminded me that these days are about so much more than beautiful views. They're about love, faith, family, and the resilience of the human spirit.
Fernanda & Kris, thank you for trusting me with your story. I'm continuing to pray for your sweet boy and you.
Hair and makeup: The Magic is in the Makeup
Second shooter: Temecula Photographer | Annissa 🪩
