Posts in Portfolio
What eloping REALLY means (and ten common elopement lies)
What eloping REALLY means (and ten common elopement lies)

Eloping is a trending topic with a hazy, vague definition - so I’m defining exactly what IS an elopement in this post (and sharing 10 elopement lies you may have heard). The original form of the word elope is derived from the word “aloper,” an Anglo-French word that means to “run away, escape, flee.” Around the 17th century, it took a romantic turn, defined as “running away to marry without parental approval,” Let’s be honest, the word elope has had the glow-up of the century. No longer does eloping mean a secret, unapproved wedding between star-crossed lovers! In this article, Merriam-Webster even takes a jab at the “big wedding” industry, saying “Elope appears to have become shorthand for "small destination wedding," (or) "wedding that is not financially insane." Other words used interchangeably with the term elopement are small wedding, private wedding, wedding for two, and micro wedding.

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Elopements, Portfolio, Life, FeaturedMorgan PirkleElopement, weddings Comment
LA Arts District Engagement Style Shoot - Luke + Emma - Downtown Los Angeles, California
LA Arts District Engagement Style Shoot - Luke + Emma - Downtown Los Angeles, California

Doing a photoshoot in the Downtown Los Angeles Arts District can be tricky because it’s a popular place, but going at sunrise may mean you have the streets all to yourself! The LA Arts District is a great place for an engagement shoot or a couples shoot! I loved working with Luke and Emma, exploring the old brick buildings of DTLA’s Art District together.

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Engagements, PortfolioMorgan Pirklelos angelesComment
What I love MOST about photographing desert weddings:
What I love MOST about photographing desert weddings:

What I love most about weddings in the desert is the way everything sort of feels like it’s been put under a microscope. This weekend, I shot two (yup, you heard me, TWO) desert weddings + they were absolutely magical.

Don’t get me wrong - I LOVE a good cityscape, escaping to the mountains, and part of the reason I moved to California was to be closer to the Pacific Ocean… But the desert? There’s something a little untamed, unruly, and imperfect. You’ll never stay perfectly clean in the desert - the dust will find its way into your socks and your hair in this gentle, windblown way, as if to say “don’t forget where you’ve been.”

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Elopements, Weddings, Portfolio, LifeMorgan Pirkledesert weddings Comment
Planning a Baker Beach Elopement - San Francisco, CA - Stephanie + Sara
Planning a Baker Beach Elopement - San Francisco, CA - Stephanie + Sara

Baker Beach in San Francisco is an absolutely epic, yet convenient, elopement location if you’re considering eloping in Northern California! Whether you’re San Francisco locals, or a couple seeking a destination wedding experience, this easily accessible beach has so much to offer. Baker Beach is about 45 minutes from SFO Airport, and just about 20 minutes away from downtown San Francisco. The mile-long strip of Baker Beach has the perfect backdrop of the Golden Gate bridge, gorgeous California coastline, and massive waves. The serpentinite cliffside meanders above with trails through the trees, shifting to huge boulders closer to the shore. Baker Beach is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, which encompasses 80,000 acres across San Francisco, Marin, and San Mateo counties. More specifically, this gorgeous beach is part of The Presidio in San Francisco, which became a National Historic Landmark in 1962 and part of the Golden Gate Recreation Area in 1994. The only thing more beautiful than this gorgeous setting? This gorgeous setting WITH an amazing couple, like Stephanie and Sara.

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Elopements, Portfolio, Weddings, FeaturedMorgan Pirklesan francisco, beach elopement, beach engagementComment
San Pedro Engagement - San Pedro, CA - Izzy + Joe
San Pedro Engagement - San Pedro, CA - Izzy + Joe

A few months ago, I got to hang out with Izzy + Joe in San Pedro for an engagement shoot whirlwind! These two brought me to one of their favorite, secluded hikes with a couple of beers + their bikes and we had THE BEST TIME. When you think of engagement photos you may think of overdone, mass-manufactured props and awkward poses but I believe that your engagement is way more than that, so your engagement photos should DEFINITELY be way more than that. If you’ve been considering hiring your teenage cousin who “just got a really good camera” or not getting engagement photos done at all, simply because you don’t want the predictable, cookie-cutter images I’m here to tell you: it doesn’t have to be that way!

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Engagements, PortfolioMorgan PirkleComment
Hermosa Beach Engagement - Hermosa, California - Nicole + Justin
Hermosa Beach Engagement - Hermosa, California - Nicole + Justin

On a warm September day, I met up with Nicole + Justin at Hermosa Beach Pier for their engagement shoot. I’d sent over a list of a few locations I thought might resonate with these two, and Hermosa Beach checked all of the boxes! Hermosa Beach is the quintessential beach town. It’s got small-town charm with coastal vibes, surf shops, and mom-and-pop restaurants. Honestly, I kind of want to live there! It feels reminiscent of Venice Beach’s Boardwalk but on a much smaller, more family-friendly scale with far less of a crowd.  Hermosa Beach is a perfect beach for an engagement shoot!

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Engagements, PortfolioMorgan Pirkleengagement photographer, engagementComment
Fun OC Fair Engagement Shoot - Costa Mesa, CA - Lillia + Brian
Fun OC Fair Engagement Shoot - Costa Mesa, CA - Lillia + Brian

County Fairs can be a magical place to shoot engagement photos! There are so many fun things to do and cool angles to shoot. If you're the kind of couple that would feel more comfortable having activities to interact with a fair or amusement park can be the perfect solution. It definitely brought a whimsical, fun, playful element to the couples' photos and subtly hinted at gaming - one of their favorite activities to do together.

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Engagements, PortfolioMorgan PirkleComment
Houdini Estate Wedding - Los Angeles, Ca - Breanna + Eric
Houdini Estate Wedding - Los Angeles, Ca - Breanna + Eric

On a warm July Saturday in 2019, I shot Breanna and Eric’s wedding at the historic Houdini Estate in Los Angeles. This sprawling LA wedding venue is covered in greenery, bougainvillea, sculptures, and endless beauty, tucked into the Hollywood Hills. Bre + Eric’s romantic summer wedding was absolutely stunning. The historic mansion is situated on a hill and surrounded with greenery - it felt totally private and luxurious. It made for the perfect place for Bre + Eric to exchange heartfelt, emotional vows on a beautiful summer day!

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Weddings, PortfolioMorgan Pirkle Comment
Lakeview Lodge Wedding at Heavenly Ski Resort - South Lake Tahoe, CA - Katie + Alex
Lakeview Lodge Wedding at Heavenly Ski Resort - South Lake Tahoe, CA - Katie + Alex

South Lake Tahoe has mountains, lakes, and so much greenery - it's the perfect place for an intimate wedding surrounded by nature, especially if you're looking at Heavenly Lakeview Lodge as your wedding venue! This intimate wedding was classic, romantic, and so much fun. Katie and Alex’s ceremony was officiated by a close friend and they exchanged the most heartfelt vows. Their first look was unlike anything I’ve ever seen - it took place overlooking Lake Tahoe’s enormous pines and blue skies. This was such an epic, adventurous intimate wedding!

*second shot for Mindful Media KC

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Weddings, PortfolioMorgan Pirkleheavenly lakeview lodgeweddings, lake tahoe, northern californiaComment