A Vintage Elopement, a Tech Fail, and the Kindest Couple Ever


When I arrived at the Sure Thing Too chapel for Jenny and Omar’s elopement, I was feeling ready. The velvet curtains, gilded mirrors, and vintage kitsch vibes were everything I love about this quirky downtown Vegas gem. Jenny and Omar showed up a little early—adorably in love and dressed to perfection. We decided to start shooting right away.


Then… my camera wouldn’t turn on.


My heart sank. I tried everything—swapping batteries, Googling emergency fixes, removing the lens, reinserting the memory card. Nothing worked. My Sony A7 iv, which has never failed me before, had chosen this moment to go dark. I was humiliated. I was panicked. I was heartbroken.


I took a deep breath and told Jenny and Omar the truth. I let them know I would refund them completely and offered to shoot the session on my iPhone—for free. I was expecting disappointment. Frustration. Maybe even tears.


But instead, I got grace.


They were so understanding. So kind. So compassionate. They didn’t make me feel worse—in fact, they lifted me up. They trusted me to keep going.


And so we did.


We shot for two hours—first inside Sure Thing Too, then out on Fremont Street, in front of the Carousel Bar and the Plaza Hotel and Casino. I leaned on instinct, creativity, and the magic of Vegas—and somehow, we got the goods. All of these images were taken on my iPhone, and I’m honestly so proud of what we captured together.


Since that day, I’ve had my Sony fixed (praise be), and I finally invested in a second camera (a Nikon Z6III—she’s on her way!). I’ll never shoot a wedding without backup gear again, because I never want to feel that helpless, or let my clients down, even temporarily.


So, here’s to Jenny and Omar—a beautiful couple whose day didn’t go as planned, but who reminded me that grace under pressure is everything. Thank you for trusting me. Thank you for being the people you are.


These are your images. All shot on an iPhone. All full of love.

A collage showing several tender moments in front of red and blue curtains during a special occasion.
Two people in white wedding attire pose together in front of a blue curtain with pink heart decorations.
A white heart-shaped box with black photo frames sits atop a silver sparkly keyboard or synthesizer with blue curtains behind.
Black and white photograph of a high school dance couple posing under decorative white garlands and columns at a formal event.
Festive gold tinsel and red curtain decorations adorn a holiday display.
Two people pose together at a pink-tiled venue with decorative metalwork and green foliage visible in the background.
A romantic couple embraces and kisses in soft lighting during what appears to be a wedding or formal event.
A couple walking away on a road with the famous Vaca Valley Motel sign visible in the background at sunset.
A person in a white wedding dress and cat-eye sunglasses poses in front of a neon-lit storefront with green 'Dream' signage.
Bride and groom pose outside vintage-style tattoo shop with neon signage and retro storefront decor.
A well-dressed person in a black suit and tie poses confidently in front of a neon Dream sign.
A romantic black and white wedding photo shows a couple sharing a kiss under twinkling lights on an urban street.
A carousel of four sequential photos showing a couple in wedding attire kissing under a golden-lit canopy.
A couple in formal wedding attire share a romantic moment against a backdrop of blue and coral draped curtains.
People in formal attire interact at an elegant event with blue and red draped curtains in the background.