Oregon Elopement Photographer & Experience Creator
unleash your best day yet
pet-centered, romantic, and adventure filled wedding experiences for those who aren’t afraid to break from tradition
your oregon elopement photographer, adventure creator, and pet expert
I Get You
Big weddings are overwhelming, stressful, and not actually about you
isn’t it wild that most people choose to have a wedding that is centered on entertaining their guests? Or you spend thousands of dollars to feed people you’ve met once? yeah – but not you!
you’re here because you aren’t afraid to go against the grain and create a whole damn wedding experience of your own. You deserve to splurge on yourself and enjoy one day that is dedicated to the start of your marriage. Getting married is so much more than showcasing your love.
So, you start dreaming up running down the Oregon Coast with your doggos in tow or lust after booking a helicopter tour over Mt. Hood – but then it becomes all too much and you don’t even know where to start.
I got you. You’ve probably never done this before, so that’s where I come in as your elopement expert!
You’re
vet tech – outdoors woman – romantic pisces
i’m sharlee!
I’m your oregon elopement photographer based in beautiful Portland, Oregon. I’m a lover of connections – whether that’s bar hopping around town with friends or tide pooling on the Coast for tiny sea creatures. Building relationships with nature and our loved ones is what makes life meaningful.
If I’m not on the road for your epic elopement adventure, you’ll find me at the climbing, fishing, hiking, camping, cooking food with my partner, or cuddling up with my two fur babies. (check out their unthrilled looks in our photoshoot together – hehe)
I’ve worked as a certified vet tech for the past 8 years so you’ll know that I understand more than just the surface level of how important your pets are to you too. So yes – bring the scales, tails, and everything in between!!
I aim to bring our common connection with the outdoors and your unique love story to the forefront of your elopement photo experience to make this wedding day scream authenticity.
Big fan of creating art worthy images together that really showcase your personalities and hobbies!
so, let me show you how that can happen.
FEATURED IN
Authentic Moments that are perfectly captured.
I bet this is your first time getting professional photos done. Scary right? Most of my couples come into this process without ever standing in front of a professional camera and honestly that’s my favorite.
I know how daunting it can feel to be on the other end and I’ve had some photographer horror stories myself. I won’t pose you like a model or direct you to say something completely cringey to make each other laugh.
Instead – we’ll create a day that is full of enjoyable activities and beautiful places to visit so that we can capture candid moments and make space for all your emotions while having a blast on your wedding day!
That is how we capture authentic memories and I can’t wait to start this journey with you.
But wait – getting to your elopement day can feel overwhelming
Good news is you are choosing to not do it alone. In fact, I’ll be the expert guiding you along the entire process!
- I help with choosing the best date and location based off your wants and needs
- Give you vendor recommendations in the area
- Help with obtaining permits and your marriage license
- Can legally officiate you getting married
- Create a timeline of your perfect day
- Design a fully customized wedding album for you to enjoy for years to come
This is the unleashed experience
This wedding experience can feel like a daunting process, but I can guarantee that it will be worth it. I’ve never heard a couple say they’ve regretted eloping and building that perfect experience for you is a big deal to me.
Your images will feel like your own movie scenes and at times – you might not even realize the camera is there because you two will be having so much fun enjoying your elopement together because I’ll help create your best day yet.
From the moment we start together, I’ll get to know you both and what makes life meaningful to you. Then, we’ll bring your unique personalities, dreams, and details to the forefront in creating a fun, stress-free wedding experience that is going to be exactly what you are looking for.
Along the way, I’ll be guiding you through each step in the elopement planning process so that you two can have all my valuable resources and tips I’ve scored throughout my years as an elopement expert. When your big adventure finally is here, it’ll feel seamless and magical because we’ve set you up for success!
This elopement experience isn’t just about pretty photos – it’s about creating an authentic day together that feels and looks like your unique love story
I don’t think I could ever give Sharlee enough stars on here to capture how exceptional her work is.
My husband and I had a 3 part elopement story and Sharlee captured our engagement photos, courthouse elopement, and a year later a small ceremony with family. Sharlee always goes above and beyond to find the perfect locations that are specific to your needs and give advice or suggestions to make your day truly special.
Sharlee was the absolute best we could have ever asked for.
In the build up to our elopement, her communication was super clear and all of her resources were instrumental in our planning. On the day of our elopement, Sharlee’s presence helped us feel so at ease. We are not used to being photographed, and she helped us all day with posing and finding the natural moments. Her experience with animals was also an incredible addition! Having someone who was unbothered by barking and was knowledgeable about animal safety freed us from any extra stress throughout the day.
We can 100% recommend Sharlee as a fabulous addition to your wedding experience!
My husband and I are anxiety riddled introverts, and the moment we met Sharlee on our wedding day, it all melted away. She brings a joyous, calmness which allowed us to not even think about a camera around. And the photos are absolutely beautiful! She captured “us” in a way we did not think possible.
Why Oregon is a magical place to get married in
Oregon is not only breathtaking, but it’s a true wonder. It’s iconic coastline and dense forests make it feel like something straight out of fairytale but it’s also wildly diverse from waterfalls, to mountains, old growth forests, and even high deserts.
There’s a place in Oregon for every type of adventure elopement!
Some of my favorite places in Oregon are:
- Columbia River gorge – for its dense population of waterfalls and basalt cliffs with blooming wildflowers in April to May
- The Oregon Coast – Some of the most gorgeous beaches and coastal towns you could dream of. Brookings, Oregon is only 30 minutes from the Redwoods too!
- Mt. Hood – Incredible hiking and lake adventures with tons of Airbnb options. It’s beautiful in every season
- Alvord Desert – One of the largest deserts in Oregon if you are wanting an extremely private and desolate camping/hot springs experience
- Bend – An adorable desert, mountain town that has super accessible hikes, lakes, and waterfalls galore
And if you are up for some hidden gem locations that only a local like I would know, let’s talk about how we can get you there!
The BEst Times to Elope in Oregon
01. Spring (march – May)
Throughout March and April you’ll likely experience more rain and mist than you would in May, but is still a possibility. For this reason, I suggest locations like The Columbia River Gorge and The Southern Oregon Coast.
The rain bringing out the deepest greens you’ll ever see and the Coast looks so romantic and moody with rainstorms this time of year. Wildflowers in the Gorge are best last week of April to first week on May.
You can expect temperatures to range from the 50s to 70s this time of year.
02. Summer (June – September)
Prime season in Oregon. This is when the Pacific Northwest comes to life! The summers are pretty moderate here with typical highs of 80s and lows of 60s at night with mostly sunny days.
June will be the greenest month with a slight chance of rain still peeping at times and August to first of September is the hottest time of year.
If you are wanting a mountain or Desert experience, I recommend July to August to avoid wildfire season. The Oregon Coast is gorgeous all summer long!
03. Fall (October – November)
Fall might be my favorite time around here. The gorgeous red, yellow, and orange hues hold onto mid-november in the Portland area and are peak in the mountains in the beginning of October.
The Oregon Coast still has some amazing days this time of year, but the rainy season starts to set in – so keep that in mind.
Temperatures are typically 50s to 60s for most regions with the mountains starting to drop into the 30s.
04. Winter (December -February)
Although most couples don’t elope this time of year due to this being the rainy and cold season – it can make for magical time of year for a different type of wedding adventure.
i would suggest the Southern Oregon Coast or forest location if you are wanting a moody, rainy day. Mount hood or Bend for a winter wonderland experience.
Temperatures will vary greatly between coastal and mountain ranges this time of year. Chat with me more about these details!
My vision for you
Now, let’s make your elopement journey fun, personalized, and memorable to you all while having an expert on your side!
Oregon Elopement Resources and Guides
Hear it from real couples
“There is no one else who could have helped us have the perfect wedding day — Sharlee is the greatest! She put in so much literal leg work scoping out trails for us. She listened to all of our concerns and helped us construct the perfect timeline. She brought the best energy and helped us and our camera-shy families feel at ease and excited. Sharlee guided us through all the stages of planning. She was patient with our changes of plan and very supportive even as they grew and shrank.”
“We literally cannot believe these photos are OURS. We had so much fun with Sharlee and we also got a romantic day of just loving each other and every frame shows it. Cannot recommend her enough!”
Unleashed Elopements
Oregon Elopement Photography & Creation Packages
Personalized elopement documentation and planning assistance packages for all types of wedding adventures
Ready to unleash from tradition and create something beautiful together? Let’s start the process.
I’m ready to hear about your Oregon elopement dreams so we can make it a reality!
Frequent Elopement Travels
Oregon
Brookings. Cannon Beach. Bend. Columbia River. Portland. Mount Hood.
Washington
Mount Baker. Seattle. Mount Rainier. Olympic National Park.
Utah & Idaho
Moab. Arches and Canyonlands National Park. Bonneville Salt Flats.
California
Redwoods. Death Valley National Park. Sierra Nevadas. Mount Shasta. San Diego.
Alaska
Seward. Anchorage. Fjords National PArk. Hatcher’s Pass.