Celebrating our THRIVE Graduates

Meet the innovators redefining unconventional weddings & elopements

From Maddie Mae

FOUNDER OF ADVENTURE INSTEAD ACADEMY

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

Hello and welcome! I’m Maddie Mae, the founder of Adventure Instead Academy and the THRIVE program. I’m an award-winning destination wedding & elopement photographer and a business & marketing coach. Over the last 14 years I’ve traveled to 41 countries, all 7 continents, and planned & photographed over 300 elopements and unconventional weddings all over the world. I believe in doing business differently—sustainably, passionately, and with a focus on creating exceptional client experiences.

From Maddie Mae

FOUNDER OF ADVENTURE INSTEAD ACADEMY

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What is THRIVE?

More than a course — it’s a transformative mentorship experience

More than a course—it’s a transformative mentorship experience

THRIVE is the world’s only comprehensive online program that trains photographers to build successful, sustainable businesses catering to clients planning unique elopements and personalized weddings.

This program is meticulously designed to empower graduates to build businesses that resonate deeply with their personal values and book out their season with the clients of their dreams.

Why Hire a THRIVE Graduate?

THRIVE graduates stand out in the industry with:

  • Specialized Services: THRIVE empowers photographers to design their entire business to be a perfect fit for their dream clients so that couples experience a personalized, tailored service that meets all their needs.
  • Unparalleled Client Experiences: Crafting a “red carpet” client experience is one of the key pillars of the THRIVE program, with a focus on excellent communication, exceeding expectations at every step, and delivering an seamless experience from beginning to end.
  • Expert Planning Skills: With specialized training modules on advanced location scouting, timeline optimization, and more, THRIVE graduates are uniquely qualified to help clients avoid common pitfalls in the planning process.
  • Authentic Marketing: THRIVE teaches photographers how to leverage their unique personalities to connect with clients in an authentic way online—enabling genuine and lasting relationships.
  • Ethical Business Practices: All of THRIVE’s business and marketing methods focus on running a business with integrity—ensuring fair practices that respect both the environment and clients
  • Values and Sustainability: THRIVE graduates learn to align their businesses with their core values and goals, ensuring they can sustainably offer a high-quality service for years to come.

​​This dedication to excellence is why THRIVE graduates are not just photographers—they are specialized experience creators who have designed their business to uniquely serve their dream clients.

Meet our THRIVE graduates

A Community of Trusted Professionals

Each of our graduates listed below has completed the rigorous, industry-leading THRIVE program, gaining the skills and knowledge to serve clients like you with extraordinary care and expertise—each equipped with unique skills that make them truly stand out.

Visit their websites, and see their incredible work 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

Autumn Parry Photography


autumnparryphotography.com

Colorado, USA

Brianna Parks Photography


briannaparksphoto.com

California, USA

Korey Nunley Photography


koreynunleyphotography.com

Kentucky, USA

Tiana Olivia Photography


tianaoliviaphotography.com

Idaho, USA

Backcountry Portraits


backcountryphotographers.com

Utah, USA

Narrowleaf Love & Adventure Photography


narrowleafphotography.com

Minnesota, USA

Emilee Setting Photo


emileesetting.com

Oregon, USA

Mataya Buck Photography


matayabuck.com

Alabama, USA

Sea to Summit Photography


sea2summitphotography.com

Washington, USA

Beaty Creative Photo


beatycreativephoto.com

Alaska, USA

Jamie Tobin Photography


jamietobinphotography.com

Washington, USA

Ashly Arts Photography


ashlyarts.com

Arizona, USA

Nuku Vang Photography


nukuvang.com

Minnesota, USA

Dana Rae Photography


danaraephoto.com

California, USA

Julia Mina Photography


juliaminaphotography.com

California, USA

Megan Schukei


meganschukei.com

Colorado, USA

Kara Leigh Creative


Karaleighcreative.com

Virginia, USA

Natural Intuition Photography


naturalintuitionphoto.com

Wisconsin, USA

Peter 3 Photography


California, USA

Be The Xperience


bethexperience.com

Colorado, USA

Gulnaz Graves Photography


gulnazgraves.com

Tennessee, USA

Venture Ever After


ventureeverafter.com

Oregon, USA

Autumn Lynne Photography


autumnlynnephotography.com

Idaho, USA

Stratus Adventure Photography


stratusadventurephotography.com

Arizona, USA

Parm Masuta Photography


parmmasuta.com

California, USA

Danielle Robidoux Photography


daniellerobidoux.com/

Rhode Island, USA

Sarah Linda Photography


sarahlindaphotography.com

Texas, USA

Meg Cooper Photo


megcooperphoto.com

California, USA

Marissa Solini Photography


marissasolini.com

Oregon, USA

Brent Cicogna Photography


brentcicogna.com

California, USA

Stacey Vandas Photography


staceyvandasphoto.com

Missouri, USA

Jessie Mae Photography


jessiemphoto.com

Wisconsin, USA

Wild Iris Studios


wildirisphoto.com

Alaska, USA

Natasha Yeung Photography


natashayeungphotography.com

California, USA

The Outlovers


theoutlovers.com

Colorado, USA

Pyxida Photography


pyxidallc.com

Illinois, USA

You, Me & The Pine Trees


youmeandthepinetrees.com

California, USA

Forbis Fotography


forbisfotography.com

Missouri, USA

Paula Morris Photography


paulamorrisphotography.com

Massachusetts, USA

Andrea Enger Photography


andreaengerphotography.com

Colorado, USA

Scenic Vows


scenicvows.com

Alaska, USA

Halie West Photography


haliewestphotography.com

Alaska, USA

Love Like Wild


lovelikewild.com

Florida, USA

KTay Photography


ktayphotos.com

Montana, USA

Mette Blackburn Photo


metteblackburnphoto.com

Utah, USA

Wanderlust & West


wanderlustandwest.com

Utah, USA

Abby Elise Douglass Photography


abbyelisedouglassphotography.com

Tennessee, USA

Green Apple Photography


greenappleweddings.co

Kentucky, USA

Nicole Nero Studio


nicolenero.com

New York, USA

Anna Aleksandrovna


annaaleksandrovna.com

Georgia, USA

Lovely & Co.


thelovelycollective.com

New York, USA

Stephanie Yves Photography


stephanieyvesphotography.com

Colorado, USA

Western Sky Elopements


westernskyelopement.com

Wyoming, USA

Sarah Garbin Photography


sarahgarbin.com

New York, USA

Shell Creek Photography


shellcreekphoto.com

Colorado, 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

Chantal Davidson Photography


chantaldavidson.com

Ontario, Canada

Jessica Zais Photography


jessicazais.com

British Columbia, Canada

Hillary Eve Photography


hillaryevephotography.com

British Columbia, Canada

Brittany Niehaus Photography


brittanyniehausphotography.ca

Alberta, Canada

Brynne Photo


brynnephoto.com

Ontario, Canada

Karina Goel Photography


karinagoel.com

Ontario, Canada

Breezy Photography


breezygraphy.com

British Columbia, Canada

Europe


North Wind Elopements


northwindelopements.com

Switzerland

Sophie Brioudes Photographer


sophie-brioudes.com

Norway

Ást og Hraun


astoghraun.com

Iceland

Urskog Photography


urskogphotography.com

Iceland

Capture That Elopement


capturethatelopement.com

Netherlands

Ieva Marija Photography


ievamarija.com

Scotland

Yorkshire Portraits


yorkshireportraits.co.uk

England

Wild Souls United elopements


WildSoulsUnited.com

Switzerland

Tidestream Photography


tidestreamphoto.com

Spain

Framed by Evelina


framedbyevelina.com

Italy

World


Golden Wonder Photography


goldenwonderphotography.com

New Zealand

Love Wilder


lovewilder.co

New Zealand

tù studios


tustudios.co.nz

New Zealand

Kellie Francis Photography


kelliefrancis.com

New Zealand

Thenukah Krishnan Photography


thenukahkrishnan.com

Malaysia

Interested in Joining THRIVE?

Are you a photographer looking to elevate your business?

Learn more about how THRIVE can help you become fully booked photographing dream unique elopements & non-traditional weddings that inspire & fulfill you

“THRIVE not only refined my skills but reshaped how I view my business and my relationships with my clients. It’s been a game-changer.”

– Jackleen Leed
Clinton, WA, USA

“The real-world applications and ethical grounding of the THRIVE program have made me a better photographer and business owner.”

– Keith Folken
Peoria, IL, USA

THRIVE not only refined my skills but reshaped how I view my business and my relationships with my clients. It’s been a game-changer.”

– Cass Oldenburg
Duluth, MN, USA