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Ciana Salisbury | Maryland Documentary Wedding & Elopement Photographer

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TERMS & PRIVACY

There is really no rhyme or reason to this post to

There is really no rhyme or reason to this post today, but merely an opportunity to put a thought I had to (digital) pen and paper.

You see, I only work with a handful of couples getting married each year, twenty to be exact. And while most of the couples I work with choose to elope, the other 20% opt for something a little bit bigger, (often in some of the most beautiful places this world has to offer too).

I’m no stranger to complicated family dynamics, which might be why I find such a deep and unfamiliar appreciation for couples surrounded by large, loving communities that rally behind them through everything.

And it’s through them, I get to experience something I never have before - and wow, the profundity of something like that alters the spectrum of my creativity and understanding of relationships in ways that are hard to put into words.

When I saw all of these wine glasses lined up along a bar on the beach at a wedding I was photographing last fall, I stopped for a moment and thought, “what a gift it is to have a table so full”. I mean really, how lucky this couple must feel to have so many people in their lives ready to fill each of those glasses with wine, yes, but also with spirit, laughter, and their unconditional love.

Even for someone like me, someone who finds greater comfort in the unknowns and seclusion of elopement days, intentionally reserving a few parts of my year for celebrations like this feels like such a privilege.

#beachweddingphotographer #beachweddinginspiration #marylandweddingphotographer #eastcoastweddingphotographer #mdweddingphotographer #marylandelopementphotographer #destinationweddingphotography #destinationweddingphotographers #destinationweddingphotographer #documentaryweddingphotographer #documentaryweddingphotography #filmweddingphotographer #dcweddingphotographer

I feel incredibly lucky that this job invites frie

I feel incredibly lucky that this job invites friendship to remain ever-present in the relationships I form with new and returning clients.

I mean think about it - how many kinds of exchanges do you make on a day-to-day basis? Probably a lot, and probably even way more than you realize. Phone calls, text messages, likes, comments, purchases, returns, hires, and so on. Now, think about how many of those result in a genuine connection that blossoms into something greater over a period of years?

It’s actually quite astonishing.

This kind of phenomenon is so rare in our lives today. Everything is becoming artificial, hyper-simplified for over-convenience, and just downright transactional. But in this world, my world, my first meeting with someone often turns into an extended invitation to witness the happenings of their lives throughout every milestone or celebration, every year or anniversary, or even every decade.

The power of that thought alone is enough to humble me for a lifetime.

It’s not everyday that I share work outside of wedding and elopement days, but I’m starting to realize maybe I should. I pour so much of my heart and soul into planning and documenting these outrageously epic wedding and elopement experiences, but what about the kind of heart and soul that comes after?

Babies are born, houses are built, homes are made, anniversaries are shared, date nights are celebrated, families grow, and life continues to evolve.

Every time I try to imagine my life before this job, I find my memories are colored with a hint of grey. To think about the stories I wouldn’t have been able to share, the places I wouldn’t have been able to see, and the people I wouldn’t have been able to know without the path bridged by my camera is a truly troubling thought.

Here’s to another day surrounded by a community of people who decided that the preservation of their memories were worth more than a meager transaction, and wanted to keep the pages turning.

#destinationelopementphotographer #elopementweddingphotographer #elopementphotographer #destinationweddingphotographers #lifestylephotography #marylandweddingphotographer #eastcoastweddingphotographer

It’s with a full heart that I get to share the f

It’s with a full heart that I get to share the first glimpse into A + J’s late-summer celebration, surrounded by their dearest friends and family, and accompanied by their three smart, spunky, and beautiful baby girls.

This wedding was extra special because I’ve had the good fortune of being able to call A + J my friends for years now. The way these two compliment each other, love each other, and support each other is a testament to the stories they write about “true love”, (which believe me, I know sounds SO cliche, but it’s hard to find another way to describe the kind of relationship they have).

This experience was a whirlwind, but in only the best possible way of course. From the beginning of the day to the very end, there was nothing but unconditional love, celebratory shouts, fits of rolling laughter, sentimental tears, and killer dance moves. And believe me, if there’s one thing that’s certain, it’s that these two know how to throw a party, (the playlist was 10/10).

Though I rarely photograph weddings of this stature these days, I couldn’t think of a better way to close out my summer season other than with these two people, and their adoring families. All of the thanks to you guys for letting me be even just a small part of the whole story.

Here’s a special thanks and shoutout to the vendors that made this day possible:

Venue | @lauxmontfarmsweddings
Photographer | @wildelementsphotography  Hair & Makeup | @raeeleww
Catering | @sonsofsicilypizza
Desert Truck | @konaice
DJ | @crossingthelineent
Dress | @davidsbridal
Florals | @customfloraldesigner

#destinationweddingphotography #destinationweddingphotographers #destinationweddingphotographer #documentaryweddingphotography #documentaryweddingphotographer #lauxmontfarmswedding #paweddingphotographer #paelopementphotographer #marylandweddingphotographer #pennsylvaniaweddingphotographer #mdweddingphotographer #marylandelopementphotographer #eastcoastweddingphotographer

He will hate every minute of this, but I don’t c

He will hate every minute of this, but I don’t care! Please join me in wishing Ry Guy, (an integral part of Wild Elements), a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

The moments in which I get to express my gratitude for him are few and far between, and this day lends itself to my ability to do just that. If you’ve worked with me, then you’ve worked with him, (even if you didn’t see him in person).

I couldn’t ask for a better partner - in life, in business, and beyond.

We’ve traversed the highs and lows of the human experience together, we’ve set out to explore the world together, we’ve managed to raise 4 fur-children under the same roof together, we’ve lived through many firsts and many lasts together, and most impressively, we’ve grown in more ways than I can both count and imagine together.

This year, I participated in an interview where I was asked, “Who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?”. I’m sure you can guess who I wrote about, but I think my response sums up the kind of person Ryan is perfectly, and why he deserves to be celebrated today.

Here’s what I had to say, (shortened of course because Instagram’s character limit didn’t exist, we’d be here for days):

“Together, we’ve become a team that rivals any challenge or conflict with confidence. He’s my sounding board when I have to abruptly learn a new skill, talk through dilemmas or uncertainties, and organize the logistics of new projects near and far. We get to curate these bucket list-level experiences for the people we meet, while checking off our own and working towards the kind of lifestyle we can flourish in together. I wish everyone could have a Ryan in their corner because I wholeheartedly believe the world would be a better place. But for now, I’ll just have to share mine with everyone we meet along the way.”

Okay, I guess I’ll wrap this up here. But once more, a larger-than-life “Happy Birthday” to the other half of this amazing, little business of ours. I think I can say with certainty that the entire Wild Elements community loves you!

A small series of bridal portraits that display th

A small series of bridal portraits that display the full scope of this bride’s distinctive, mountain-wedding look.

This is why I love a photography approach that toes the line between unobtrusive and intentionally curated. You get this beautiful assortment of photos in your final gallery that highlight the intricacies of the day without feeling unnatural, coerced, or just down right fake.

This moment unfolded as V was nearing the end of getting ready. She was applying her perfume, when I noticed the way the light was illuminating her face.

We were in a darker-toned, rustic cabin which made this particular moment standout that much more. The contrast between her and the atmosphere was so prominent. I simply asked her if she could just shift her gaze, ever so slightly, to meet my camera.

We were left with these frames, genuine moments of poised grace that did not solely result from the presence of the camera, but from the tenderness that occurs when people forget they’re being seen.

After her wedding day, V left this review for us:

“Ciana beautifully captured the essence of our wedding day. Her attention to detail, creative angles, and ability to catch candid moments resulted in a stunning collection of photos. The professionalism and flexibility throughout the event were also noteworthy, making the entire experience enjoyable. Highly recommend for capturing precious moments on your special day.”

Being apart of experiences like these means everything to me, and my team. And to receive such honest and heartfelt feedback like this makes everything we do feel that much sweeter, ten times over.

#mountainweddingphotographer #mountainweddings #mountainwedding #elopementphotographer #destinationelopementphotographer #destinationelopement #destinationwedding #destinationweddingphotographers #newenglandwedding #newenglandweddingphotographer #newenglandelopement #newenglandelopementphotographer #newhampshireweddingphotographer #newhampshireelopementphotographer #newhampshireweddings

Recently, I posted a poll to see how many of you w

Recently, I posted a poll to see how many of you were interested in personal, travel-related stories, and truth be told - I don’t think anything could have prepared me for the overwhelming demand I received from you all.

So today, we’re traveling back to Costa Rica. This trip was more than a merging of our personal experiences and the work we do, it was more than a vacation - it was the ultimate celebration of life for someone we love and miss infinitely.

In March of 2024, my brother tragically lost his life. For the better part of a decade, the one place he talked about more than anything was Costa Rica. In his “ten-year” plan, he had dreams and ambitions of making this country his home. He would, in great detail, share his ideas about living off the land here, connecting with the locals, and finally finding his place in this big, big world.

Ryan and I had been planning to surprise him with a trip to Costa Rica for his birthday, but when this no longer became an option, we thought “what if we just went anyways?”. So, that’s what we did.

I truly believe that given more time, he would have found his way here permanently. I think he was destined for the life of an expat because of his free-floating nature, his uncanny ability to make friends with anyone, and the way he could thrive in unfamiliarity.

This was the only way, looking back now, that I felt like we could say goodbye. We brought his hat, (which if you knew him, you knew this hat was one of his prized possessions), so that he could embark on this life-altering experience with us in present time. We took turns wearing it so he could see through each of our perspectives.

We hiked through jungles and cloud forests, rode horseback through the fincas in the mountains, zip-lined in a windstorm, jumped from the hanging bridges, watched sunsets that seemed like they could only exist in a Jules Verne novel, chased waterfalls and scrambled through the mud, encountered wildlife you see featured in issues of Nat Geo, took the most amazing elopement photos, and struck up conversations with everyone.

But most importantly, we got to celebrate together one last time.

(Continued in the comments ⬇️)

Sure, time and time again you’ve heard me talk a

Sure, time and time again you’ve heard me talk about the differences between weddings and elopements but today I want to take it a step further, and talk about something that’s applicable to both: wedding ceremonies.

What does a wedding ceremony have to look like anyway?

Spoiler: there’s no “one and only way”. Whether you lean into your faith, heritage, or something completely new to you, your ceremony can, (and should), reflect you and your partner.

Ceremonies can take many shapes - religious, secular, spiritual, cultural, or even adventurous. Within each of these are countless rituals and traditions, from unity practices to ancestral customs, all offering opportunities to shape your wedding day into its most authentic expression.

For example, these two chose to ground their ceremony in the spiritual elements of nature while simultaneously leading it with their personal faith. The result was a harmonious immersion of the two, enveloping their commitment in a sense of sacredness and unmistakable personalization.

As a photographer, I’ve witnessed how deeply personal ceremonies transform the energy of a wedding or elopement. They invite everyone present, whether that’s a hundred guests or just the two of you, into something that anchors the experience in truth. And when you allow yourselves that freedom, the images documented are full of the meaning you poured into the moment.

You know, your ceremony doesn’t need to fit into a box. The point isn’t to replicate what’s been done before, but to ask: what feels meaningful to us? Every word that’s spoken with intent, and every ritual that’s carefully chosen, carries some kind of emotional weight that will leave an impact on the way you remember this experience forever.

#marylandweddingphotographer #filmweddingphotographer #marylandfilmweddingphotographer #marylandelopementphotographer #eastcoastweddingphotographer #eastcoastelopementphotographer #outdoorweddingphotographer #adventurousweddingphotographer #weddingceremonies #weddingceremonyideas #elopementplanner #elopementplanning #elopementphotographer #documentaryweddingphotography #documentaryweddingphotographer

Although we’re a few weeks past their *official*

Although we’re a few weeks past their *official* anniversary, it’s been a year since A + T had their refreshingly modern and adventurous elopement-turned-destination wedding in Big Sur.

These slides are a bit fuller compared to what I normally share at one time, but I couldn’t possibly squander the opportunity to revisit and highlight all of the twists and turns that wove this experience together.

The coast showed up for us in ways only Big Sur can - dense fog, drizzles of rain, sunken clouds, calm waters, vivid foliage in every direction, clear skies, marine-life witnesses, and the warmth of the western sun.

And as if the dramatic scenery and ever-changing meteorological moods weren’t enough, the intentional design of their wedding created the perfect blend of solitude and communal celebration. We worked together to find the balance between embodying the ultimate elopement experience with sharing a moment as big as this with the people who matter most.

If you want to read more about this truly epic celebration, and scroll through more jaw-dropping images of this utterly dreamy and elevated California wedding, head to the resources tab on my site, and click “Big Sur Elopement; Wind and Sea Estate Wedding in California”.

Oh, and in case you didn’t know, these two were featured in print via California Wedding Day’s fall/winter 2025 issue, (swipe to the last slide)! Thanks again, @californiaweddingday 🌊

On a final note, here’s a massive shoutout to the team that made this day possible not only for A + T, but their loved ones too:

Venue: @windandsea_estate
Photography: @wildelementsphotography
Catering: @macfarm_chef
Dress: @madewithlovebridal & @lovelybridedc
Suit: @theblacktux
Hair: @manehaven_studio
Film Scanning & Development: @nationalphoto

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