What’s Up, I’m Tyler!

I have the coolest job in the world. I get to spend my days exploring the Oregon Coast, finding amazing places for people to get married or propose to the person they love.

When I’m not “working” you can find me hiking through the coastal forests with my dog Sadie, surfing the cold Oregon Coast waves here in Lincoln City, or on my way to another country on some awesome adventure.

I spent the majority of my adult life working as a Paramedic. I grew up very involved in the 911 service, and continued that immediately after high school. I started in the back of an ambulance running around with lights and sirens, chasing emergency calls in Idaho. As my career grew, so did my need for adventure, and I found myself moving to the Oregon Coast to work on a helicopter. I fell in love with the scenery I was flying over and knew that I found my place.

From the air, Oregon is like something I had never seen. Dramatic cliffs, giant sand dunes and massive waves paint the landscape and give this place a true sense of wonder. My days aren’t spent in a helicopter nearly as often, but I’ve held onto that birds eye view of life. I try to go where most people don’t have the ambition to go, and usually I work with couples who are up for the same kind of thing! Let me take you to the cool places.. the giant cliffs overlooking the ocean, the tops of mountains overlooking the coastline for miles, and to the coolest waterfalls that Oregon has to offer.

Building Connection

I don’t think I’ve had a single client who has told me they love standing in front of a camera. In fact, it’s really the opposite of that. Most of the time my clients have never had a professional photo session, and definitely never been in a Netflix level video/commercial. Personally, I don’t feel all that comfortable in front of a camera either. I realized a long time ago that the best way to get candid photos is to be comfortable with my clients. This means building a connection between us, hopefully a little friendship, and in general a relaxed atmosphere. I embrace the awkward nature of portraiture and use to to have a good time and plenty of laughs, without feeling like we are trying to recreate some Hobby Lobby “LIVE LAUGH LOVE” sign on your mom’s kitchen wall.

Why Proposals?

If you’ve spent any time digging into my social media, you’ll notice that I shoot a ton of proposals. This all started when I lived in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Once upon a time I packed everything I owned into the back/front/top and bottom of my Mazda 3 hatchback, along with my dog in the front seat, and set off for a big adventure to PV. I drove for 7 days to get their and was stopped by various Mexican authorities about 10 times along the way. It’s quite the story, but in the end, we arrived to the much warmer and humid Mexican playas.

This was the beginning of my life as a full time photographer. I spent my days doing family and couples photo sessions, and even found my way into branding for businesses. One day a client reached out to me asking if I would be able to shoot his proposal. I had seen a thousand videos of these on social media but never done one myself. I decided I wanted to try something a little different than the rest because I hated the idea of having a staged photo session turned proposal. I felt that it needed to be a more intimate experience that didn’t involve me right beside the couple.

This was the start of what I do now. I found myself hiding between some big rocks on the beach at Playa Conchas Chinas, waiting for the couple to arrive. The sunset was popping off in the background, the couple was taking some selfies, and my heart was beating through my chest! It unlocked what I had been looking for in photography and matched that level of adrenaline I found working on the ambulance. I was locked in.

My style has remained similar to that day when it comes to proposals. I still hide because I don’t believe your proposal should include a photographer 5 feet from you with a camera in your face. Social media is a big part of how I market my business, and we all love to watch those proposal videos, but my goal will always be to prioritize your space and connection to each other. Beautiful views, intimate moments and as few people around you as possible.

Thanks for coming to my TedTalk. Whether you’re a local or flying from across the country to explore the PNW, your big day is going to be my priority. Proposals, weddings and elopements are some of the most meaningful days of peoples lives, and it is a true privilege to be able to witness. Thanks for choosing me to be a part of it all.

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