Meet Karen Agurto | Elopement Wedding Photographer

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

Hi Karen, why did you pursue a creative career?
I didn’t start off pursuing an artistic or creative career. For almost a decade I’ve worked in special education throughout various roles. I’ve always had creative passions but it was safer to follow a traditional path. My parents are immigrants from El Salvador who took a great risk coming to the United States. I grew up watching my parents work multiple jobs to make things work. They didn’t have time to nurture and grow their creative skills in a way that could become their income. A good job was a stable job. So, that’s what I did. I wanted a clear path to a stable income so that I wouldn’t have to stress about money like my parents did.

I followed a very traditional college and career path until I plateaued. It wasn’t exciting nor challenging. My entire life I’d been an artist in many ways through movement and visual creations. It wasn’t until I finally took the risk to make a big purchase on a camera that I started to lean into believing it could be a career. It’s something I’m passionate about, enjoy working on, enjoy learning, and can spend hours focusing on. I pursue an artistic career because it makes me happy.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As a California-based elopement photographer, my focus is on crafting nature-inspired elopements that center on the couple’s unique experience. I specialize in a documentary-style approach to capture natural moments and authentic emotions. I’m most proud of using my struggles to support others. My main focus in my photograpy work is to help couples feel valued on their wedding day. I want them to feel safe in being who they are and celebrating in a way that makes them happy, without worrying what would make everyone else happier. My business mission is to bring their elopement dreams to life and help couples believe they are more than worthy and deserving of experiencing a beautiful day just for them.

To get to where I am today, it really was a lifetime event. On a poetic, and quite literal, level all of my life’s events perfectly lined up to bring me to where I am. I started photography with an opportunity that landed right in front of me and I took the risk of taking it. There have been many challenges, mostly internal, that I’ve had to figure out. Following a creative journey can be a mental game of continously giving yourself pep talks to keep pushing forward.

The hardest lesson I’ve learned is understanding why I want to photograph elopements. On the surface, I love to travel and see beautiful things outdoors. On a much more deeper level, I enjoy seeing people at their happiest. I love sharing nature’s beauty with everyone and watching them be their most vulnerable and happiest selves with the love of their life. And I want them to remember those moments through the images I capture. I want them to remember the day they followed their hearts, and truly honored themselves in such a pure way.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
In Orange County, I’d take them to my favorite coffee shops: Buenas, Wallwriter’s, Cafe Cito. We’d get the best donuts ever at Sidecar and an ube cheesecake at Uncle Tetsu’s in Irvine. We’d go to my favorite restaurant with the greatest seasonal menus, Solstice. A day trip to Joshua Tree is a must-do. I would take them to a Salvadoran pupuseria in Costa Mesa, San Sivar. We could walk around the Irvine Spectrum or Fashion Island. I love visiting Laguna Niguel Regional Park, so we’d have a nature walk there. It’s impossible to come to OC without a trip to the beach, so we’d head to Laguna Beach and walk around downtown. For snacks I’d take them to the Anaheim Packing District!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My husband, Ryan. He’s an artist as well, and has pursued his work long before I started mine, He understands the creative mind and the rollercoaster it is. Ryan has pushed me forward to continue working on my craft when I feel like all hope is lost. He’s always been sensitive and understanding that creatives are their worst critics. He hypes me up and gives me inspiring advice. His love and care has been a massive support throughout my most challenging times in this photography journey.

Website: https://karenagurto.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenagurtophoto

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

Other: https://www.pinterest.com/karenagurtophoto