A silhouetted bride and groom stand close, illuminated by warm light against a misty mountain backdrop. The text reads, "the ART of ADVENTURE WEDDINGS & ELOPEMENTS." The scene is atmospheric and romantic.

Celebrating our ART Course Graduates

Meet the creative storytellers redefining adventure weddings & elopements

A silhouetted bride and groom stand close, illuminated by warm light against a misty mountain backdrop. The text reads, "the ART of ADVENTURE WEDDINGS & ELOPEMENTS." The scene is atmospheric and romantic.

From Maddie Mae

Co-Creator of the ART Course  @adventureinstead

“The Woman Who Helped Spark The Adventure Elopement Trend” – Forbes

Hello and welcome! I’m Maddie Mae—founder of Adventure Instead and Adventure Instead Academy, and co-creator of The Art of Adventure Weddings & Elopements program. I’ve been photographing weddings and elopements for over 14 years, traveled to 41 countries and all 7 continents, and have been recognized by Forbes magazine as “the woman who helped spark the adventure elopement trend.” I’m passionate about helping photographers master both the technical and emotional aspects of this craft—so they can create deeply moving, story-rich images while delivering unforgettable experiences for their clients

From Maddie Mae

FOUNDER OF ADVENTURE INSTEAD

Gold circular badge with a scalloped edge reads "Rising Stars of Wedding Photography 2018" around the border and "30" prominently in the center.

Rangefinder
30 Rising Stars
of Wedding Photography, 2018

Circular logo with the text "Best of the Best" at the top and "Wedding Photo Contest Winner 2024" at the bottom. The initials "jb" are prominently featured in the center.

Junebug
Best of the Best Wedding Photography Judge, 2022, Winner 2018,2019,2021,2024

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Forbes Feature
 “The Woman Who Helped Spark the Adventure Elopement Trend” 2020

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From Henry Tieu

Co-Creator of the ART Course @henrysdiary 

Sony Alpha Ambassador & Rangefinder 30 Rising Stars Winner

Hi friends—I’m Henry Tieu, an elopement and wedding photographer known for capturing deeply emotional, documentary-style images around the world. Before photography, I worked in the ICU as a nurse, and that background taught me to feel deeply, see people clearly, and lead with empathy. I created this course with Maddie to learn how to truly see, feel, and tell love stories—with intentionality, creativity, and heart. What drives me is creating intentional experiences and crafting meaningful art. 

From Henry Tieu

FOUNDER OF HENRY TIEU PHOTOGRAPHY

Smiling person holding a camera, standing by a misty lake with forested mountains in the background. They wear a dark jacket and a backpack, and appear content in the overcast, serene setting.
A circular emblem featuring the text "Rising Stars of Wedding Photography 2019" surrounds the number "30" and the initials "Rf" in the center, all in a decorative font.

Rangefinder
30 Rising Stars
of Wedding Photography, 2020

Circular logo with the text "Best of the Best" at the top and "Wedding Photo Contest Winner 2024" at the bottom. The initials "jb" are prominently featured in the center.

Junebug
Best of the Best Wedding Photography Judge, 2022, Winner 2021, 2024

The image shows the Sony logo in bold white letters against a transparent background.

Sony
Sony Alpha Ambassador, Sony Artisans of Imagery, 2019-2022

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A completely black image with no visible details or features.
A circular logo with the text "As Featured On junebug weddings 2020" in a stylish font, enclosed within a thin gray border. The design is minimalist and elegant.
Logo image containing the text "Featured on green wedding shoes" with a small heart design. The text is arranged in a modern and stylish font.

What is the ART Course?

More than a course—it’s your creative revolution

More than a course—it’s your creative revolution

The Art of Adventure Weddings & Elopements is the world’s only comprehensive online program that teaches all of the photography, planning, and client experience skills needed to masterfully create and artistically document outdoor adventure weddings and elopements—in any location or environment.

This course includes over 30 hours of comprehensive education from 2 industry-leading, award-winning wedding & elopement photographers with robust educational backgrounds. It includes in-depth theory and practical hands-on demonstrations with behind-the-scenes footage from 5 all-day and multi-day weddings & elopements covering every type of scenery, lighting, and weather scenario.

Every module is packed with practical tools, artistic inspiration, and real-world application to help photographers stand out—not just with beautiful photos, but with unforgettable client care.

A desktop monitor, laptop, and tablet display various media related to "The Art of Adventure Weddings & Elopements," featuring scenic landscapes and a workbook. Henry Tieu and Maddie Mae appear on the laptop screen.
A couple is getting married on a rocky cliff with stunning canyon views. Two photographers capture the scene against a backdrop of a vast, rugged landscape under a clear sky.

Why Hire an ART Course Graduate?

ART Course Graduates Stand Out in the Industry with:

  • Story-Driven Imagery: The ART course teaches photographers how to approach every wedding or elopement like a story—capturing honest, emotional, and visually stunning images that reflect the couple’s unique connection and experience.
  • Client-Centered Experiences: Client experience is woven into every part of the course. ART graduates know how to help couples feel seen, safe, and celebrated every step of the way.
  • Artistic & Technical Excellence: From foundational gear settings to creative techniques like pano stitching, layering, and lighting mastery—graduates are trained to create intentional, high-impact imagery in all kinds of conditions.
  • Creative Posing & Directing: ART course grads don’t force stiff poses—they guide couples with empathy, playfulness, and prompts that evoke genuine emotion and movement.
  • Documentary Approach: With deep attention to detail and storytelling, ART photographers document the full day—not just the highlights—resulting in immersive, emotion-rich galleries.
  • Sustainable & Ethical Practices: Every graduate is taught to center consent, comfort, and sustainability in their work—empowering couples to feel respected and celebrated to have weddings & elopements that prioritize keeping natural locations pristine.

This is what sets ART graduates apart: they are not just photographers—they are intentional artists and experience creators, trained to deliver breathtaking work with soul, integrity, and heart.

Meet our ART Course graduates

A Community of Trusted Professionals

Each of our graduates listed below has completed the full ART course and passed the graduation assessment—demonstrating both technical skill and deep commitment to serving clients with care, artistry, and purpose.

Visit their websites and experience their powerful storytelling firsthand.

Where are they based?

USA


Skyewater Photo + Film


skyewater.com

Washington, USA

Soul & Sky Weddings


soulandskyweddings.com

Alaska, USA

Karen Agurto Photography


karenagurto.com

California, USA

Canada


Fortune Hill Photography


fortunehillphotography.ca

British Columbia, Canada

Do All Photography


doallphotography.ca

Alberta, Canada

Alli Nash Photography


Allinashphotography.com

British Columbia, Canada

Europe


North Wind Elopements


northwindelopements.com

Switzerland

Sophie Brioudes Photographer


sophie-brioudes.com

Norway

Ást og Hraun


astoghraun.com

Iceland

World


Golden Wonder Photography


goldenwonderphotography.com

New Zealand

Love Wilder


lovewilder.co

New Zealand

tù studios


tustudios.co.nz

New Zealand

Interested in Joining the ART Course?

Are you a photographer ready to take your work to the next level?

Learn how the ART course can help you deepen your creativity, create images you’re deeply proud of, and deliver unforgettable experiences to the couples you serve.

Hear from some of our successful graduates:

A woman wearing sunglasses, a headband, and an outdoor vest with hydration tubes stands in a mountainous landscape. Her hair is tied back, and the background shows hazy mountains and a clear sky.

“I honestly feel like I’ve captured the best images of my career in this past year, and I have to credit so much of my growth to “The Art of Adventure Weddings & Elopements."

- Andrea Enger
Colorado, USA

A vintage-style, washed-out photo shows a person standing near a rocky cliff with the ocean in the background. The image is heavily faded and streaked, giving it an ethereal, abstract quality.

"This has helped eliminate the self-doubt I can sometimes have when shooting. It’s an on-demand source of inspiration (that isn't a social media comparison trap)—invaluable! 10/10."

- Jenna LeRoy
Wisconsin, USA

A person stands smiling by a waterfront, wearing a denim jacket and dark pants. In the background, there's a large iconic red suspension bridge and distant hills under a clear sky.

"I’ve felt my confidence has grown drastically in different lighting situations that would have before scared the crap out of me. For the first time, I feel like I have as much confidence in myself as my clients have always had in me."

- Torez Ramsey
Duluth, MN, USA