Drawn to the unscripted moments that unfold between adventurous couples and the landscapes they choose to celebrate in, Lizzy Mae’s photography is defined by its warmth, joy, and pure emotion. Based in Southern California, she has built a reputation for documenting weddings and elopements with an effortless approach that allows every story to unfold naturally. Captured through ethereal light, a breezy aesthetic, and exuding radiant joy, her images preserve not only the moment itself, but the feeling that accompanies it. What began with a disposable film camera and a fascination with capturing life as it happened has grown into a career dedicated to documenting celebrations for couples around the world. We sat down with Lizzy to discuss her journey behind the lens, her love of travel, and the philosophy that continues to shape her work today.
Tell us the story of how you began with photography...
It started when I was very young with disposable film cameras. Throughout my childhood, I was always documenting something, whether it was friends, family, or everyday moments. By high school, I was taking senior portraits and serving as a photographer for my church. I graduated high school early and moved to California to pursue couples and wedding photography full-time. My husband, Landon, who films alongside me, had a very similar beginning.
You photograph love stories all around the world. In your perspective, how do you feel a landscape influences an image?
I have always felt deeply connected to nature. I think sometimes we forget how intertwined we are with the world around us. A landscape can shape the mood and feeling of an image just as much as the people in it. Whether it is the mountains, the ocean, or the desert, I believe the environment becomes part of the story and helps tell it more fully.
"Whether it is the mountains, the ocean, or the desert, I believe the environment becomes part of the story and helps tell it more fully."
You often speak about preserving how a moment felt rather than how it looked. What emotions are the hardest to translate into a photograph? Which are the easiest?
The hardest emotions to translate are often the quiet ones. Feelings like anticipation, nostalgia, or peace are usually experienced internally, so they require patience and attention to subtle details. The easiest emotions are joy and excitement because they naturally show themselves through laughter, tears, and celebration. I am always looking for the emotions that exist beneath those obvious moments.
Your photographs often feel as though they’re telling the story of a wedding from the inside out, revealing not just what unfolded, but what it meant to the people experiencing it. How do you approach translating emotion into visual storytelling?
I approach every wedding day with the mindset of documenting what is happening without interfering with it. While it is important to capture the events of the day, I am equally focused on the emotions surrounding them. Over time, I have learned to anticipate where those emotions might surface and be ready when they do. Being a quiet observer allows me to capture both the story and the feeling behind it.
"Being a quiet observer allows me to capture both the story and the feeling behind it."
How do you help couples stay present when there is so much pressure surrounding the imagery of a wedding day?
I start by setting expectations long before the wedding day. Whether through phone calls or engagement sessions, I want couples to know that my approach is centered around authenticity rather than performance. On the wedding day, I do my best to make photography feel seamless and never interrupt a meaningful moment. I encourage couples to focus on each other and trust that the photographs will follow naturally.
Your photographs often feel like memories rather than simply images. When a couple looks back at their album years from now, what feeling do you hope returns to them first?
I hope they feel peace. Peace in knowing they were fully present, peace in seeing themselves honestly, and peace in remembering moments they may have forgotten. More than anything, I hope the gallery brings them back to how the day felt. I want it to feel like opening a time capsule of one of the most meaningful days of their lives.
"I want it to feel like opening a time capsule of one of the most meaningful days of their lives."
What is a moment from a wedding that most photographers may overlook, but you find endlessly compelling?
One of my favorite moments is immediately after the ceremony. Emotions are high, everyone is excited, and there is often a sense of relief as the couple realizes they are finally married. I love stepping back and observing the interactions between the couple, their families, and their guests. Some of the most genuine reactions and heartfelt moments happen during those few minutes.
After witnessing so many beginnings, what continues to move you about weddings?
What continues to move me is that every story is different. No matter how many weddings I photograph, each couple brings their own history, relationships, and way of celebrating. Getting to know them throughout the process makes the wedding day feel deeply personal. The ceremony especially never loses its impact because it represents the moment everything they have been building toward finally becomes real.
