Maddie Mae | Colorado Wedding & Elopement Photographer
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How it worksAbout UsInfo & PricingTravelPlanning Resources
Maddie Mae | Colorado Wedding & Elopement Photographer
Colorado Wedding Photographer - Colorado Elopement Photographer - Rocky Mountain Wedding Photographer - Adventure Wedding Photographer - Adventure Elopement Photographer - National Park Wedding Photographer - Destination Wedding Photographer
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— Jordyn & Connor
— Jordyn & Connor

— Jordyn & Connor

“After people have a big traditional wedding, I hear so many of them say that they are so glad it's over. This is not the feeling we wanted to have after our wedding. We wanted the most amazing and memorable experience possible—we wanted something fun, unique and special. We want to look back and wish we could do it a million times over. We wanted more than what a traditional wedding could offer us.“

-  Brecka & Nick

- Brecka & Nick

“We both don’t like being the center of attention but come alive in nature. The whole wedding industry seems so misdirected to us. People lose sight of what the day is really about—getting married. It’s not about pleasing other people with fancy chinaware! Eloping just fits our relationship so well.”

— Jessi & Dani

— Jessi & Dani

“The idea of walking down an isle and having a bunch of people kind of terrified us—It felt like it wouldn't have been a day for us, but instead for other people. I've heard many people talk about how they don't even remember their wedding day or they were too exhausted to even enjoy it and they spent the whole time trying to talk to everyone who attended it. Eloping takes a lot less planning, which took a lot of stress away”

— Krystal & Miroslaw

— Krystal & Miroslaw

“We are private people who don't like a lot of fanfare, we think that it should be a special moment without any family drama or others expectations.  We also love to adventure and can't imagine celebrating our relationship with anything less than a new and exciting experience for all of us.”

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— Jordyn & Connor
-  Brecka & Nick
— Jessi & Dani
— Krystal & Miroslaw

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Whooo!! So many folks said yesterday that they’d be interested in learning how to “travel hack”—which if you don’t know what that is... is basically a series of tricks & strategies that I use to fly most places I go for nearly free.
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I do have a question though as I work on putting my tips & strategies together... what level of travel hacking tips are you interested in?
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Just like “extreme couponing”—the more time you put into it, the better deals you get and more $$$ you save—I.e. there’s basic level tips, and advanced “level 10” travel hacking tips—but I don’t want to put out something that’s too complicated.
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It would be mega helpful if you put in the comments, what you’d want to learn about travel hacking, what type of travel you want to do for nearly free (domestic or international), and what “level” of tips you wanted. 🙌🙌
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Thanks friends! Excited to put together some rad tips! Travel can be so much easier and less expensive than most people realize!
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xx Maddie Mae
He was South Africa, she was from Estonia... they eloped in Namibia.
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I’m not going to lie, when I first got this inquiry I thought it was a scam 😂😂🤷‍♀️😂 “Come photograph our multi-day desert & safari elopement in Namibia” was not an inquiry I ever would have expected to get 😂 This trip was my first experience to Africa, and truthfully, a little bit out of my comfort zone—but honestly ended up being an experience beyond my wildest dreams.
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I remember when I first started traveling, how “new” and exciting and “different” places felt to me—and exploring Namibia’s other-worldly landscapes sparked that exact same newbie traveler awe & wonder—that addicting feeling that keeps me itching to jump at every flight sale.
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Travel pushes me & stretches me and I know I’ve found the best version of myself mostly on other continents. 😂 Where in the world have you been that makes you feel this way?
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Where is your next dream destination to hit?
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P.S. Would anyone be interested in info on travel hacking (I.e how I fly to nearly free to most places?)
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xx Maddie Mae
On this day of GRATITUDE... We (Maddie Mae, Amber, & Tori), are so incredibly thankful to all of the couples who have trusted us to design, plan, and document their incredible elopements all over the world. 😍
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It really is an absolute dream come true for all of us—that we get to call this our job—that we get to be invited into so many incredible love stories—meet beautiful and amazing people who have been brave enough to get married THEIR WAY. 🙌
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None of us would be happier doing anything else in the whole world. While some folks may look up to us with our success this year—our IG following, the awards we have won... but we want to make it very clear who the real HEROS are here.
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It’s our couples ❤️❤️
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So to everyone who has put their trust in us this year to be a part of their day, we want to say the most warm and heartfelt THANK YOU 🙏🙏🙏❤️❤️❤️
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YOU are the reason we do this—and YOU are the reason we are able to call this incredible job, journey, and life ours. 🤗🤗 YOU are our inspiration and our passion. We couldn’t do this without you and we hope you have an wonderful, happy day 🙌🙌🙌
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#coloradoelopement #destinationweddingphotographer #destinationwedding #intimatewedding #destinationelopement #elope #elopementphotographer #elopement #adventurouselopement #adventureelopement #adventurephotographer #coloradoelopementphotographer #icelandelopement #mountainelopementphotographer #rmnpwedding #icelandelopementphotographer #mountainelopement #rmnpelopement #photobugcommunity #washingtonelopement #seattleelopement #seattleelopementphotographer #washingtonelopementphotographer #oregonelopement #oregonelopementphotographer #portlandelopementphotographer #portlandelopement
When you think about eloping... what is the biggest worry/fear/barrier that would keep you from doing it?
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Coming up with more resources for elopements today 🤗🤗 Tell us (Maddie Mae, Amber, & Tori).... what do you want to know?
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What’s the biggest burning question on your mind about eloping?
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👉Comment below or answer in our story if you’d prefer to be anonymous 🙌
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#intimatewedding #intimateweddingphotographer #elope #elopement #elopementphotographer  #destinationweddingphotographer #destinationelopement #destinationwedding #adventureweddingphotographer #adventurephotographer #adventurephotography #adventurouswedding #adventurewedding #adventuresession #adventureelopement #coloradoweddingphotographer #coloradoelopement #coloradoelopementphotographer #pnwwedding
#coloradowedding #mystopover #iceland #icelandelopement #icelandwedding #icelandweddingphotographer #hochzeitsfotograf 
#bohobride #bohowedding #photobugcommunity

@authenticlovemag @weddingphotomag @dirtybootsandmessyhair @radlovestories @belovedstories
Have you ever wondered why you’d want a photographer with you all day at your elopement? If your day is supposed to be intimate & about you two, why should you invite one of us (Maddie Mae, Amber, or Tori) to be your third wheel? 😂
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The first thing you should know about all day elopement photography is this is NOT your typical, exhausting staged photo session full of forced smiles and contrived poses.
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No. This is way different.
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These moments you’re seeing on this feed (including this one—where Kendrick is kissing the hands of his beautiful bride Kelly)—these don’t come about from forced poses—they’re a result from us creating the safe space for couples to be themselves, and the relaxing fun that comes from eloping instead of having a huge stressful wedding. Having us at your wedding day means you get a “fly on the wall” documentary photographer who is there to capture YOU TWO being you and having your best day together. There’s no, “Ok lets step to another spot and have you look at the camera again & smile.” The day is about YOU two and we’re just there to document you two having your best day.
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This laid, back documentary approach where you two get to be your best selves, 100% relaxed and totally you—doesn’t happen in rushed 1-2 hour elopements...
This is why we don’t offer a few “quick pics” for elopements—you deserve more than that. We (Maddie, Amber, and Tori) want to tell the whole story of your incredible wedding day. If having all day coverage of your elopement hasn’t crossed your mind, then flip through our work, and see which photos really speak to you. Don’t you deserve to be able to look back on the full story of your elopement day?
🌙🌙🌙Did anyone know that MOON alpenglow was a thing? Cause I didn’t until I took this shot the other night. 😱
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I’ve seen my fair share of “alpenglow” which is when the mountains turn pink right before sunrise or right after sunset or right after sunset—but I didn’t know until this night that the MOON rising could do the same effect!! 😍
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This was hours after the sun ☀️ set, right before the moon rose—so it was just hitting the very tops of the peaks, but we could still see the Milky Way (because the bright moon that was about to rise hadn’t ruined the stars yet)...an absolutely unforgettable moment you can only get on a hiking elopement ❤️❤️❤️
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Would anyone be interested if I posted some tips on how to take nighttime shots like these?
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@maddiemaepresets
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#intimatewedding #intimateweddingphotographer #elope #elopement #elopementphotographer  #destinationweddingphotographer #destinationelopement #destinationwedding #adventureweddingphotographer #adventurephotographer #adventurephotography #adventurouswedding #adventurewedding #adventuresession #adventureelopement #coloradoweddingphotographer #coloradoelopement #coloradoelopementphotographer #exploremore
#coloradowedding #mountainweddingphotographer #mountainwedding #hikingwedding #hikingelopement #alpinebabes #wildernessbabes 
#photobugcommunity #rei1440
#mountainelopement

@authenticlovemag @weddingphotomag @dirtybootsandmessyhair @radlovestories
As I reflect back on our year and all the incredible adventures our couples have chosen to do on the day they get married... I’ve been pondering the question: Why does adventuring on your wedding day matter?
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What’s the draw to getting up in the wee hours of the morning and putting in the extra effort to have a beautiful place all to yourself? Why would you want to put on a pack, and hike up to over 12,000 ft to say your vows?
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I think what it comes down to is we as humans inherently know that the best things in life don’t come easy but are worth working for—relationships aren’t easy—loving another human despite all their flaws, and being loved despite your own is HARD. ❤️❤️❤️
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Adventuring on your wedding day is for couples who believe their love is worth some grit, some fight, some challenge—that their story deserves having a wedding day that took personal effort. They believe they deserve to have an unforgettable day putting in the work to get to an incredible place to say their vows no one else has—that their relationship is its own unique adventure for which a normal, common, traditional wedding just doesn’t make sense. Adventure is for couples who believe their love is rare and valuable and something worth fighting for. ❤️
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I believe it is worth working HARD to have an incredible adventure on your wedding day—it’s worth working hard on your relationship—and that the view from the top is more beautiful—the more blood and sweat and tears it took you to get there.
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Keep on fighting for your love, and keep on adventuring friends
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xx Maddie Mae
Hey! 👋 Maddie Mae here! I’m still completely BLOWN away that BOTH sets of workshop dates with @thehearnes sold out in less than an hour (18 min has to be a record 😂😂). We are incredibly stoked to see all 40 of you in February!
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If anyone missed out on the chance to join us but would still love to learn specifically how I shoot & edit—I’m excited to announce that I have relaunched @maddiemaepresets (my set of 45 lighting-specific LR presets and online shooting/editing workshop).
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If you’ve ever wondered how awesome it would feel to be able to rock harsh light, tricky alpenglow, intense backlight, nighttime or campfire portraits—with 100% confidence—this workshop is for you. I spill ALL my shooting & editing secrets to get beautiful consistency no matter the lighting situation—to help you create the epic adventurous photos you’ve always wanted & love your own style.
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As an adventurous outdoor photographer, you can’t always control what lighting comes your way, but with the secrets I dish out in this workshop—you can feel confident to rock any lighting challenge you face & become a pro at Lightroom.
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💥💥 Oh and did I mention that the presets are NOW available SEPARATELY from the workshop?!?? 🙌 If you already consider yourself a Lightroom expert—you can get JUST the pack of 45 presets!
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👉 Go to maddiemaepresets.com (link in profile) and check out some new before & afters in my story!
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#intimatewedding #intimateweddingphotographer #elope #elopement #elopementphotographer  #destinationweddingphotographer #destinationelopement #destinationwedding #adventureweddingphotographer #adventurephotographer #adventurephotography #adventurouswedding #adventurewedding #adventuresession #adventureelopement #coloradoweddingphotographer #coloradoelopement #coloradoelopementphotographer #pnwwedding
#coloradowedding #mountainweddingphotographer #switzerlandweddingphotographer #mountainwedding #switzerlandwedding #icelandweddingphotographer #icelandwedding
#bohobride #bohowedding #photobugcommunity

@authenticlovemag @weddingphotomag @dirtybootsandmessyhair @radlovestories
“I would love to elope but I have no idea how I would tell my mom!!”
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“I’m scared about what my family or friends would thinking of us eloping—I just don’t want to hurt people’s feelings”
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“I want our day to be just us, but I don’t know how I would break the news...”
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Well friend... you aren’t alone! 🤗Remember a while back when we asked how you told your family/friends you eloped?
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Well we got incredible responses from over 50 couples with super good insight—we summarized all of them and we are SO excited to publish the ultimate guide on how to communicate with your family & friends about your choice to elope!! 🙌
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This is the BIGGEST barrier that many couples have told us keeps them from eloping—so check it out of you ever found yourself thinking “I’d love to elope but I have no idea how I would tell my Mom” 😂😂
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👉 Check out “How to tell your friends/family you’re eloping” 💥Link in story highlight!💥
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And THANK YOU to everyone who contributed their valuable insight!! 🙌❤️
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#intimatewedding #intimateweddingphotographer #elope #elopement #elopementphotographer  #destinationweddingphotographer #destinationelopement #destinationwedding #adventureweddingphotographer #adventurephotographer #adventurephotography #adventurouswedding #adventurewedding #adventuresession #adventureelopement #coloradoweddingphotographer #africaelopement #coloradoelopementphotographer #moabwedding
#utahwedding #sanddunes #greatsanddunesnationalpark #greatsanddunes #adventureelopementphotographer #hippiebride
#bohobride #bohowedding #photobugcommunity

@authenticlovemag @weddingphotomag @dirtybootsandmessyhair @belovedstories
Hey all!!! We know it’s been unusually quiet on our feed lately with all our travel & surprise announcements.... in the last 5 weeks we have photographed 14 elopements in 4 countries and launched a new brand, new website, and 2 new workshops! 😱🤪🤪😴
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Now that all this craziness is wrapping up... we are incredibly excited to get back to our normal routine of sharing incredible elopement stories, and being a positive & helpful resource for eloping couples. 🙌🙌🙌
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We start up again tomorrow with a long awaited blog post that addresses the BIGGEST barrier that couples face when they want to elope. 👊👊👊 Stay tuned!!
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Let us know in the comments what helpful resources you’d like to see from us in the coming weeks!
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👉What do YOU want to know about elopements (how to plan them, logistical tips & tricks, etc)—we want to help! 🙌🙌
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xxx Maddie Mae, Amber & Tori ❤️❤️❤️
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#intimatewedding #intimateweddingphotographer #elope #elopement #elopementphotographer  #destinationweddingphotographer #destinationelopement #destinationwedding #adventureweddingphotographer #adventurephotographer #adventurephotography #adventurouswedding #adventurewedding #adventuresession #adventureelopement #coloradoweddingphotographer #coloradoelopement #coloradoelopementphotographer #pnwwedding
#coloradowedding #mystopover #iceland #icelandelopement #icelandwedding #icelandweddingphotographer #hochzeitsfotograf 
#bohobride #bohowedding #photobugcommunity

@authenticlovemag @weddingphotomag @dirtybootsandmessyhair @radlovestories
Hey! 👋 Maddie here!! We’ve been a bit quiet on here since our huge announcements last week because I’ve been in Namibia—and WOW 😍 is all I can say about this incredible country.
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I have only seen this place in photos with the white clay, dark tree skeletons, and red sand dunes—and it was just as trippy and unreal in person as I ever imagined it would be!
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For anyone who hasn’t been here yet... let me just say that this place has completely stolen my heart. ❤️❤️
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I can’t wait to share what we’ve been up to!!
Hay all! This is our last surprise of the week—and a HUGE one for the world of elopements
👻 WHOOOO!! It’s launch day for The Adventurers Workshop in Page AZ with Maddie Mae & @abbihearne of @thehearnes !
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Spots are officially becoming available at 9am PDT today (one hour earlier for everyone on our email list).
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Feb 11-13, 2019 • Page, AZ • 2+ packed days teaching you how to become an adventure wedding photographer and how to thrive in this exciting & growing market! Join us for tons of learning & for an incredible live shoot with two couples in the amazing scenery near Lake Powell & Glen Canyon 🙌 Get all the tools you need to accomplish your adventure elopement photographer dreams!
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👉Visit theadventurersworkshop.com for all the details! (Link in profile).
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#intimatewedding #intimateweddingphotographer #elope #elopement #elopementphotographer  #destinationweddingphotographer #destinationelopement #destinationwedding #adventureweddingphotographer #adventurephotographer #adventurephotography #adventurouswedding #adventurewedding #adventuresession #adventureelopement #coloradoweddingphotographer #coloradoelopement #coloradoelopementphotographer #moabweddingphotographer
#moabelopement #moabwedding #utahweddingphotographer  #arizonaelopement #arizonaelopementphotographer #desertelopement #arizonaweddingphotographer 
#washingtonweddingphotographer #oregonweddingphotographer #photobugcommunity
Hey friends! The big surprise we’ve been hinting at for a while is HERE! 🎊🎉
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Today we are announcing some BIG exciting changes! Watch our IG story & ask questions for more info ^^
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1. We have a new NAME! Ever since Amber & I joined forces to become an crackin’ elopement team, we have had the vision to create a new brand that embodies the essence of what we help couples do when we help plan & document their incredible elopements. We believe how your get married MATTERS—and that the best way to have a truly intimate, meaningful, authentic wedding day is to ELOPE—to “Adventure Instead” :D Keep following this account @adventureinstead for a continuation of our elopement photos & stories, pro-tips, planning resources, & adventurous shenanigans. 🙌
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2. We have a new WEBSITE & BRAND! With our new name, we needed a fresh aesthetic that encapsulated our vision for being the most top-notch team of elopement photographers & guides—with a passion to help our adventurous couples have the best elopement experience possible—cause they’re the real HERO’s here!  A HUGE thanks to the power team that help us put this new look together: @iamrosst & the kickass team from @flothemes (website & branding) Adam from Brain Hickey (copywriting & strategy) & @benkocinski (thanks for the rad logos!).
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👉 Check out adventureinstead.com (on a desktop PLEASE 🙏)
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3. We have another amazing PHOTOGRAPHER joining our team! We are SUPER excited to announce a new super talented photographer joining forces with us—Meet Tori!! She’s a rock climbing, dog-loving adventure elopement photographer based in Seattle who will be our go-to-gal expert for the PNW & west coast elopements. Read more about her on our site! We are HONORED to have her join us and so stoked for how many more couples we can enable to elope together!
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👉 Check out adventureinstead.com for so much more! We are so excited!!!
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(Check out our site on a desktop PLEASE!🙏 mobile is still being coded!! It’s that new!!)
💥 SURPRISE #1 is here! 💥
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If you follow @thehearnes you already know that @abbihearne & I are doing another WORKSHOP!! Yeah! 👊
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After we had such a kickass time in February in Yosemite, we’ve decided to do it again—this time in Page, Arizona! ☀️
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The Adventurers Workshop is 2+ jam packed full days (Feb 11-13, 2019) 100% focused on teaching you how to become an adventure wedding/elopement photographer—with live shoots with 2 couples in the incredible landscapes near Lake Powell & Glen Canyon 🙌
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Come to learn how to equip yourself to thrive in the adventure elopement market via branding, pricing, marketing, social media, TONS of hands-on practical skills (like how to hike with a full wedding gear set up) and SO so much more! (Details in link in profile)
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To keep this intimate & valuable, we’re limiting slots to 20 attendees which will become available at 9am PDT this Wednesday (10/31 🎃).
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☝️Join our email list (link at theadventuersworkshop.com) to get exclusive early access 1 hour before everyone else! (8am PDT). Our last workshop sold out in 24 hours so don’t miss your chance!
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Lastly @thehearnes are doing a great Q&A in their story to ask any questions you have about the workshop before it launches! 👉 Don’t miss out!!
Hey everyone!! 👋 Maddie here! I know we’ve been dropping hits for the last few weeks that some big changes are coming up for us (and because we’ve been working so hard behind the scenes, it’s been a bit quiet on here) but guess what—IT’S ALL HAPPENING TODAY & TOMORROW! YEAH! 💥💥
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So this will be our last vague reference to “big changes coming”—it’s all going down in the next 24 hours ya’ll! Keep a keen eye on this feed, and don’t panic if something huge & surprising happens. We’re still the same folks we’ve always been—here to say that you deserve the most incredible, intimate, meaningful wedding experience ever—and we believe the secret to achieving that is to ELOPE! 👊
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Can’t wait to share what we’ve been working on for MONTHS!! ❤️ LOVE YOU ALL! 😘😘😘
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#intimatewedding #intimateweddingphotographer #elope #elopement #elopementphotographer  #destinationweddingphotographer #destinationelopement #destinationwedding #adventureweddingphotographer #adventurephotographer #adventurephotography #adventurouswedding #adventurewedding #adventuresession #adventureelopement #yosemitenationalpark #californiaelopementphotographer #coloradoelopementphotographer #californiaelopement
#yosemitewedding #travelphotographer #mountainelopement #yosemite #mountainweddingphotographer #exploremore #mountainwedding 
#bohobride #bohowedding #yosemiteelopement 
@authenticlovemag @weddingphotomag @dirtybootsandmessyhair @radlovestories @maddiemaepresets
719-287-6005 maddie@maddiemaephoto.com
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