We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Karen Agurto a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Karen, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. One of the things we most admire about small businesses is their ability to diverge from the corporate/industry standard. Is there something that you or your brand do that differs from the industry standard? We’d love to hear about it as well as any stories you might have that illustrate how or why this difference matters.

My brand specifically caters to oudoorsy couples planning an elopement wedding on their terms. I encourage my couples to step outside of the traditional wedding box and plan a day totally tailored for them. If you’re planning to elope in nature, you’re already on the first step of planning something YOU want. Wedding planning becomes stressful when you get caught up with everyone else’s voice and lose sight of your own. Your wedding day is a celebration of your love story, not a party for everyone else. The beauty of eloping outdoors is not just the badass landscapes we explore, but being able to do whatever the hell you want without someone who met you once as a baby being entitled to having a say.

Karen, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m an elopement wedding photographer based in California. I specialize in documenting outdoor wedding experiences for couples inspired by nature and adventure. As mentioned earlier, my passion lies in not only showcasing love stories in epic landscapes, but also on my couple’s experience. I heavily focus on ensuring my couples feel support and validated when it comes to their elopement vision. No elopement is too much, too little, or too out-of-reach. I believe your wedding day should highlight your relationship and exactly how you want to be celebrated. I support couples every step of the way in their planning process. As a California native having lived and traveled throughout the state, I provide personalized location lists tailored to every client. I also provide planning resources and guides, vendor recommendations, permits, logistics, and so much more to bring your dream wedding to life.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

In college I studied child development and received a bachelor of arts degree. I went on to earn a master of science degree in special education, as well as an early childhood education specialist credential. I taught prechool special education for nearly a decade before realizing I hate plateaued. I realized I followed the traditional college degree to career path because it was the safest route. My passions had always been in the arts, whether it was drawing, singing, writing, or capturing photos. When I was finally able to afford a camera it reignited my creative spirit.

I started off with creative concept portraiture until I stumbled onto a styled elopement content day. It was at this shoot that I was completely drawn to the idea of adventure elopements. Since then, I’ve been focusing on outdoor elopements.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Through therapy I’ve learned my core wound is not having felt seen as a child. Its the deepest need and to my core, which, of course, shows up in all areas of my life, paricularly my business and art. When I first started photography I wasn’t clear on what my driving force was. I thought I just loved love stories and the outdoors. After taking business courses to truly get to the root of what motivates me, I realized it was a need within myself that I’ve had all along.

My mission in this creative journey is to help my couples feel truly seen. I want their words and visions to truly be heard and supported. My mission is to encourage all couples to tap into their hearts and believe they desrve to experience whatever dreams they have. And beyond that, it’s all for my art to be seen and appreciated as well. It’s an honor to be a part of someone’s important day and to be able to provide them with something they can hold forever. I find joy in creating art and knowing how meaningful what I capture is.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://karenagurto.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenagurtophoto
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karenagurtophoto
• Other: https://www.pinterest.com/karenagurtophoto