This gallery was created during the Love Loud Retreat, a multi-day experience centered around uplifting queer creatives, artists, and vendors through intentional collaboration and community.

“Into the Mist” was one of those shoots that felt straight out of a romance novel, windswept, emotional, and a little bit unreal. Set against the falls, surrounded by fog and rushing water, everything about it felt cinematic… and very cold.

Working with Amanda and Allison was nothing short of magic. Despite the freezing temperatures, and I mean truly freezing, they showed up with so much warmth, joy, and care for one another. There was a moment where we were fully ready to call it, to wrap early and get them somewhere warm, but they were the ones encouraging us to keep going. That kind of energy, that level of trust and commitment, is something I don’t take lightly.

And still, it’s always worth saying: no photo is more important than a person. Creating in extreme conditions requires constant check-ins, care, and a willingness to stop when needed. People always come first.

What made this experience so special wasn’t just their resilience, but their connection. The way they moved together, laughed through the cold, and held each other between shots, it was effortless and deeply genuine. The kind of love that doesn’t need direction, only space.

I left this shoot completely in awe of them, and already planning to binge listen to their podcast, Simply Sapphic Podcast