I Am A Mountain-Obsessed Hiker And Photographer And Here Are My 30 Pics I Took In The Swiss Alps

I became interested in photography while doing conservation work in Glacier National Park, USA. One of the leaders of my work team was regularly taking photos of the breathtaking places we worked and explored, and I wanted to do the same. When I started university a couple of months later, I began documenting my hikes via cell phone photos.

Six months later, I decided to move close to the German Alps as an au pair. I purchased a point-and-shoot camera (that had some manual settings) before leaving. During my time spent hiking in Germany and across the alps, I photographed the places I hiked more and more. I watched as many YouTube videos as I could about learning to use my camera.

When I moved back to the US, I saved up to purchase my first ‘’real’’ camera. I continued to take photos everywhere I hiked, and a couple of years later, photographed my first engagement session while living in Alaska. From there, I quickly fell in love with photographing couples in the incredible landscapes we found ourselves in. Eventually, that led me to start a business photographing adventure weddings (first, in the USA, and later, the alps, when my husband and I relocated). I now work as a full-time adventure wedding photographer, but I’m equally as passionate about documenting the landscapes I’m regularly hiking in too. 

The thing I love most about photography is that it helps me connect more deeply with the outdoors. In some ways, it’s meditative. Photography forces me to slow down and notice the little details. I’ve learned to become so aware of the different types of light that come from various cloud formations, the way grass changes shades of green throughout the summer, when certain types of flowers bloom, why lakes can have different hues of blue, and more. When I’m out (even if I don’t have my camera), I’ve learned to appreciate all the unique forces that make nature as special as it is.

One of the most challenging parts of the creative process in outdoor and adventure photography is waiting for the right light. Sometimes, I’ll go back to a location many times before the conditions align for the image I have in mind. Despite this, waiting is also one of my favorite parts. I regularly find myself out at sunrise or sunset, or even in the middle of the night, almost completely alone (besides my husband). The peace in these moments is indescribable.

Currently, I’m working on selling prints of my work, and also adding videography (with my husband) as a new service for our adventure wedding photography business. I’ve also recently launched a website that shares helpful information about hiking in the alps, and tips for landscape photography (with a focus on the alps). In the future, I would love to work with tourism boards and outdoor brands photographing content.