Meet Jennifer Whalen | Adventure Wedding & Elopement Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jennifer Whalen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jennifer, what role has risk played in your life or career?

I have several thoughts when it comes to risk and I love this topic. First of all, I try to think about risk in the big picture of things. I am from a long history of English and Irish ancestry. The Irish came here out of desperation during the potato famine. I would like to think that they didn’t risk crossing an ocean under frightening conditions only for me to live a mediocre and fearful life. Whenever I find myself being paralyzed in indecision on whether I should move forward in risk, I think about that. For example, when I wanted to move to California. I was terrified! It took a whole year of feeling anxious about it before I worked up the nerve to actually do it. I knew I’d be leaving everything I built in Minnesota, I didn’t know anyone out here, other than my friend who I moved out here with, didn’t have any clients, and my only reference of LA was Venice beach. I kept on having to remind myself that I won’t have to learn a new language, there’s no currency exchange, there’s no citizenship test, there’s no ocean to cross, etc. My ancestors have gone through a lot more difficult things in life and that perspective helped me through and still helps me today.

Second of all, every risk I’ve taken has proven to be 100% worth it, which proves that fear is more or less in my head, vs. real. And the really spontaneous risks have been 1,000% worth it. An example would be seizing the opportunity to crash in my friend’s extra bedroom on Kauai for 6 weeks. Several years ago during winter time in Minnesota, (a very slow season for weddings), I went to Kauai for 6 weeks on a whim because I had never even really heard of Kauai before. I met so many people through my friend. Those people were so full of life and they ended up being incredible to photograph. I ended up with so many images to put into my portfolio from that experience. Shortly after, I got the attention of the creative director at Where Traveler because of those images. He hired me for about a dozen jobs on Oahu, Big Island and Maui, so for the next few years, I was constantly getting flown out to Hawaii and getting paid for it! It just goes to show that when you take a risk like that and invest in yourself, it usually always comes back full circle. And if it doesn’t immediately come full circle, it will eventually in the future in some form or another, because I truly believe investing in yourself and your creative endeavors is never wasted.

I admit that there’ve been several times in my life where I should have taken certain risks at a faster pace in both my personal life and my business. I sat around lamenting for too long, and that was a mistake. I have friends who have taken risks at a faster pace than I do in their business, and the amount they’ve grown and learned from those risks has made them incredibly successful. It’s incredibly inspiring to me. My goal is to develop my risk-taking muscles more to take them at a faster pace like they do.

One thing I’ve learned about taking risks is that it’s a hell of a lot easier to when you aren’t doing it all by yourself. I think the most important thing is to have enough sense to know who will be the supportive people in your life and stick with those people and ditch the rest. Taking a necessary risk can become very delayed if you aren’t supported.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?

I specialize in Adventure Wedding Elopement photography and planning. This needs a little bit of explaining because it’s a very new concept and the vast majority of people do not know about this. Eloping is not a new concept, but the intentional aspect of making it an adventure and a day dedicated to being just about the couple is a very modern concept. It’s only 3-5 years old at this point. This modern way of getting married offers a really exciting new way to say your vows in a way that wasn’t offered before. Usually, when people think of weddings, they think of a large and very expensive event in a big ballroom with their closest friends wearing matching dresses and suits. And contrary to what comes to mind when we think of eloping, ie: running off to some tacky chapel in Vegas or having a lack-luster courthouse ceremony, adventure elopements give you the option for just the two of you to say your vows in nature. Sometimes couples choose to surround themselves with some of their 10-ish favorite people for their ceremony. It’s become even more popular with the pandemic as many families are split on covid issues. An adventure wedding is so much more than just an intimate ceremony. It usually includes venturing off to a location that couples have always wanted to explore in their state or in the US. And those locations often include national parks, state parks and national forests; hence the “adventurous” aspect. It’s become quite popular over the years to go on a hike and say your vows among the epic scenery. Adventure weddings and elopements are also very different than destination weddings. Every time I’ve photographed a destination wedding, it’s still been at a venue or resort, and often has the very same components of a typical wedding- just in a destination spot that requires a plane flight for all attending. Adventure weddings and elopements at their core, are about less stuff, less fluff, less planning and less stress. The reason I’m so proud to niche down in this direction is that it’s exciting to me to be able to offer something to couples who crave something deeper than the societal pull of a traditional wedding. I want them to feel empowered and inspired to create a wedding day as dynamic and spirited as they are. One of my favorite things about this job is that I naturally love exploring and coming upon new areas that are beautiful and still a hidden gem. “Scouting” is a term often used for this. I love scouting areas that are not instagram famous. This allows for more privacy during the ceremony and for the creative portrait session.

I’m very involved in planning and crafting these adventurous experiences. When I chat with a couple in the initial phases, I quickly get a sense of what they are physically capable of, what their preferences are, and how we can make this a memorable and sentimental experience for them. For example, taking a helicopter ride to a hidden area is really exciting to certain couples. Incorporating horses into the day is also a great example of making the experience meaningful if the couple are horse lovers. It’s about doing what matters to you, not what society or your mother-in-law wants you to do. Obviously, the planning is a lot more work than just showing up and photographing the event, but it’s worth it. I like the collaborative effort of taking their initial ideas and incorporating my location suggestions.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would take them along some trails that I know in the Malibu area or Griffith hills, or in the mountain range of Angeles National Forest if they are feeling up for it. The beaches in Malibu are also a favorite of mine. There’s an Erewhon grocery store (still don’t know how to pronounce it) in my neighborhood, and I like going to that deli when I’m feeling fancy. What I personally like is very different than what I recommend to brides and grooms coming to visit. I personally seek out gluten-free options, and LA has some excellent options for gluten-free folks like myself. If you aren’t sensitive to gluten, then obviously don’t bother with that food because it’s usually really overpriced. For folks coming to visit like brides and grooms, it’s usually a momentous occasion, so I recommend the higher-end restaurants in Malibu like Nobu, and some of those fish shacks. It’s always fun to take some tacos out on the beach for a picnic.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Life can be strange, beautiful and incredibly sad all at once. All the glory to God.

Website: https://jenniferwhalenweddings.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenniferwhalenweddings/?hl=en

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-whalen-95261b18b/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jenniferwhalenweddings

Other: Wedding Wire Reviews: https://www.weddingwire.com/biz/espresso-weddings-photo-cinema-los-angeles/ccd31231a8ba1e8b.html