Meet Ara

Hello! I'm Ara. I'm so glad you're here!

With an insatiable love of the outdoors and human connection, I have guided elopements and photographed weddings for over 15 years. Raised among the lush, magical landscapes of the Pacific Northwest, moss and ferns are thoroughly tangled into my soul. I founded Aralani Photography & Elope Adventurously after several years as a Gore-Tex-clad landscape photographer seeking solace from a career in tech. My work has since taken me from the Pacific Northwest to the Faroe Islands, Morocco, Australia, Scotland, Iceland, and beyond. Every time I pick up my camera, I seek the relationships, shadows, light beams, unscripted laughter and unpredictable moments that make our lives so vibrant.

Wallflower as your moments unfold, ready to lace a corset or pin a boutonniere, and thrilled to be cold/damp/windblown with you, I’m both a fiercely invested photographer and buddy on your adventures. I choose my clients just as carefully as they choose me.

I live in Portland, Oregon with my wonderful husband, Nathan, and our two adventure dogs, Ukee and Zula. I spend a lot of time hiking, reading, traveling, and playing at the arcade. Also, I love Star Wars--like, a whole bunch.

Ready for adventure? Me too.

Let's Chat

Introduction Film

Waterfall Elopement Bride Latourell Falls Oregon

Elope Adventurously - How It Started

This is my friend, Celeste, in a Craigslist-sourced wedding dress over 15 years ago. I asked her to walk up to a waterfall for a hairbrained vision.

I am a waterfallaholic. I’ll cheerfully do just about anything to get to a waterfall. In the early days of my wedding career, I wanted nothing more than to photograph brides at waterfalls. After many hours of adventures spent experimenting with friends like Celeste in thrifted gowns, and eventually some serious side-eye at bridal shows, I slowly started to find the couples who would never feel at home getting married in front of 250 people at a country club. Couples who, in a previous life, might have ended up at Gretna Green in Scotland for a handfasting. This was long before a thriving elopement market, when it was very strange to see a wedding couple out in nature (let alone getting soaked in the mist of a waterfall while reading vows).

I am incredibly proud to have wholeheartedly adventured for weddings my entire career, even in the days of being that wacky girl who wouldn't give up the idea that waterfalls and weddings had to be fine and merry thing.

Behind The Scenes

"Ara handled every detail with professionalism, thoughtfulness, and a deep understanding of natural light, weather, and environment. She had many excellent referrals to help us pull the day off. We selected a location that required carefully timing the tides and her guidance made the experience effortless. When I received the photos, I was moved beyond expectation. Ara didn’t just document a beautiful moment; she elevated it. Her artistic eye revealed angles, textures, and emotional depth I hadn’t even noticed in real time. The images felt both intimate and timeless. I cannot recommend her highly enough, both as a person and as an exceptional photographer whose work speaks for itself."

Libby & John