Alonso & Karla Elopement

When we showed up to our Air Bnb, we were greeted by sweet smiling Karla! She spoke very little English and I, only having taken a few Spanish lessons, haven’t fully learned how to speak full sentences in Spanish. Regardless, I knew I wanted to take photos of Karla. So, with my limited Spanish I think I said something along the lines of “Soy una fotografia, tu eres bella , tu tiene esposo?” all while pointing and making camera gestures with my hands… In case you’re wondering, it probably came across something like this to her: ”I am a photograph, you are beautiful, you have husband?” My attempt was rough, but I’m so thankful she was patient with me until she understood what I was trying to ask!

From there we typed our conversation into google translate, to avoid further confusion. I explained that I was a wedding photographer, showed her some of my photos, and asked her if she and her husband would be interested in dressing up in wedding attire and modelling for me. She smiled and went off to ask her husband, and they happily agreed to let me take their photos.

I then wrote out a longer google translate message for them to read before their session on my approach, and how I wanted them to focus on and interact with each other, moving their hands together and looking at each other, and that I would be guiding them throughout the session with gestures (and limited Spanish words).

It was honestly such a beautiful experience to be a part of capturing Alonso and Karla’s love. It’s so amazing to me, that we can travel literally ANYWHERE in the world, and even if we don’t speak the same language, or are from completely different cultures, love will always be a universal language we can recognize. I didn’t have to speak fluent Spanish in order to understand their hearts. The longer we took pictures, the more they melted into each other’s embrace and trusted the process. It is a day that I will never forget! Alonso and Karla, thank you for entrusting me, language barrier and all, to capture your love for you. <3

Air Bnb: House of the River, La Fortuna, Costa Rica

Bouquet: Floristería Chrysalis