A Chicago Love Story Meets Escambrón Beach: Christina & Eric’s Intimate Puerto Rico Elopement

Some love stories begin with a glance that refuses to be ignored.

Some love stories begin quietly.

Others begin with a glance that refuses to be ignored.

Christina and Eric’s story began in a crowded bar in Chicago during an event where strangers mingled and conversations overlapped. Across the room, the two locked eyes for only a few seconds, but it was long enough for both of them to realize that they needed to speak with one another.

Eric later told me he immediately knew he had his hands full that night. Christina had the kind of presence that naturally drew attention, and plenty of guys were eager to introduce themselves. Yet by the end of the evening, Eric was the one who had captured her attention.

Sunset over the Caribbean never disappoints.

What began as a conversation quickly turned into something deeper.

Two years later, they were inseparable in the Windy City and ready to begin the next chapter of their lives together.

For both of them, this would be a second marriage. Rather than planning a large wedding filled with expectations and obligations, they chose something more meaningful: an intimate elopement experience.

And for the backdrop to their union, they chose one of the most beautiful coastal settings in Puerto Rico—Escambrón Beach.

An Intimate Ceremony at Escambrón Beach

A Chicago love story meets the shores of Puerto Rico.

Escambrón Beach is one of San Juan’s most beloved coastal locations. With sweeping ocean views, historic fortifications, and the rhythm of the Caribbean just steps away, it offers couples a setting that feels both expansive and intimate at the same time.

For Christina and Eric, the location perfectly matched their vision: cozy, personal, and meaningful.

The ceremony was officiated by Tim Blackford—known on Instagram as @peace.love.weddings—who has become a familiar collaborator of mine over the years. Tim and I have worked together on countless elopements along Puerto Rico’s coastline, and each ceremony carries its own unique story.

This one, however, began with a small surprise.

Elopements allow couples to slow down and savor every moment.

When we arrived at Escambrón Beach, we quickly discovered that a marathon-related event had taken over much of the venue grounds. Nearly three-quarters of the area was temporarily closed off, leaving us with only a narrow stretch of space along the side of the beach near a cluster of large boulders.

Fortunately, creativity is part of the job.

Tim set up a beautiful floral archway, and within minutes the limited space transformed into a charming ceremony setting overlooking the water.

Sometimes the best moments come from adapting.

A Ceremony Interrupted…By Cats

Intimate weddings allow couples to experience their day without distractions.

As Tim began the ceremony, I prepared my gear for both photography and video coverage.

My Canon R5C was set up to record a static shot of the ceremony, while Tim was equipped with DJI Mic Minis tucked discreetly beneath his blazer to capture clean audio. The sound was synced with my DJI Osmo 360 camera, which was mounted to a Stuntman shoulder harness for immersive footage of the moment.

Once everything was dialed in, I clipped on my Spyder Holster and moved freely around the ceremony to document the experience.

The weather couldn’t have been more cooperative. Despite a steady breeze rolling in from the ocean, the sky remained remarkably clear.

Then, unexpectedly, the ceremony paused.

Two people, one coastline, and a brand new beginning.

A gentleman nearby began calling out loudly in search of stray cats he was feeding along the beach.

While the interruption was certainly unexpected, Christina and Eric handled the moment with grace and humor. It was the last thing anyone would anticipate pausing a wedding ceremony, but in hindsight it became one of those small, memorable moments that couples laugh about for years.

Once the cats were happily fed and the beach grew quiet again, Tim resumed the ceremony.

Vows were spoken, rings were exchanged, and Christina and Eric shared their first kiss as husband and wife against the sound of waves rolling onto the shoreline.

After signing the paperwork to make their marriage official, Tim bid the couple farewell, leaving the three of us alone with the evening ahead.

Two Hours of Creative Freedom

Sometimes the most meaningful ceremonies are the quietest ones.

One of the greatest joys of photographing elopements is time.

At traditional weddings, photographers often have only a brief window—sometimes as little as fifteen minutes—to work exclusively with the couple. Elopements are different.

Christina and Eric had reserved two full hours for portraits, which meant we could explore the area freely and allow the experience to unfold naturally.

We began beneath nearby palm trees where the shade created beautiful directional light. I used the surrounding foliage and architecture to frame the couple in ways that felt organic and cinematic.

A few minutes later, Eric noticed the historic fort nearby and asked if we could explore it.

I was more than happy to oblige.

The structure overlooks the ocean, and as we approached I noticed the sky beginning to transform with subtle streaks of color as sunset approached.

For photographers, this is the moment when anticipation turns into excitement.

Sunset at the Fort

Escambrón Beach continues to be one of Puerto Rico’s most beautiful elopement locations.

As the sun dipped toward the horizon, the sky painted itself in warm tones that mirrored the energy of the day.

I leaned into symmetry and architectural lines, framing the couple within the geometry of the fort’s walls and staircases. Christina and Eric proved to be adventurous partners, climbing stairs and exploring the structure without hesitation.

Then came my favorite moment of the evening.

As darkness began to settle, I reached for my trigger and mounted it to my Canon R6 Mark II, syncing it with my Godox AD200 Pro and V100 flash.

With a CTO gel applied to mimic the warmth of sunset light, I created dramatic backlit portraits against the stone walls of the fort. The glow echoed the last golden tones of the sky while the Caribbean stretched quietly behind them.

We captured portraits along the railing overlooking the water, silhouettes against the horizon, and quiet moments framed by the fading colors of dusk.

In what felt like an instant, two hours had passed.

Why Elopements Like This Matter

The fort overlooking Escambrón provided the perfect backdrop for evening portraits.

Experiences like Christina and Eric’s are a powerful reminder of why I fell in love with photographing elopements in the first place.

When couples remove the pressure of a traditional wedding, something remarkable happens.

The day slows down.

Moments breathe.

And the focus remains exactly where it belongs—on the couple.

That philosophy is precisely what inspired The Escapade, a luxury elopement experience in Puerto Rico designed for couples who want something more intentional than a traditional wedding, yet more curated than a simple ceremony.

The Escapade blends photography, planning support, and meaningful experiences into one seamless celebration, allowing couples to fully enjoy their wedding day without the stress and complexity of a large event.

For Christina and Eric, their Escambrón Beach elopement captured exactly what makes these moments so special.

Two people.

One coastline.

And the beginning of a new chapter written entirely on their own terms.

A GQ-Inspired Portrait Session in NYC With a Fellow Creative I Admire

Susan’s use of the dark aesthetic is easily one of the things that made it a no-brainer for me.

     As a wedding photographer in Puerto Rico, I spend most of my life behind the camera—photographing weddings, proposals, and destination celebrations. But for quite some time, I’ve been wanting to experience the other side of the lens. I had tried plenty to refresh my portfolio using behind-the-scenes content from weddings, having team members photograph me while I worked. While those images were helpful, they didn’t reflect the polished, editorial look I had in mind.

     What I truly wanted was something with intention: a stylized, GQ-inspired portrait session that captured the way I feel as an artist. Clean, sophisticated, timeless. And once I finally slowed down enough to think about it, the person I wanted to collaborate with became obvious.

It’s almost as if Susan knew she’d be rocking me in front of black V-Flats

     I wanted to work with Canon Explorer of Light Susan Stripling — someone whose work I’ve admired for a while and whose approach to light, mood, and storytelling aligns closely with my own. Among photographers in New York City, she’s someone whose artistic values mirror mine: thoughtful use of light, a love of shadows, and a natural intuition for mood and tone that feels familiar to me. We were already speaking the same language creatively, so reaching out felt natural.

     I emailed her with a laid-back, friendly pitch about the idea. She replied warmly, and soon enough we set up a FaceTime call. From the first minute, it felt like catching up with someone I’d known for years. We laughed, swapped stories, introduced our pets, and even got to say hello to Bill, her partner and fellow photographer. The energy was easy, familiar, and genuinely fun. A few days later, the invoice was in my inbox; I paid it and immediately booked a flight straight to Midtown Manhattan.

Landing in New York City

Susan made me look tough but I’ll have you know I’m a Pop-Tart: hard on the outside but soft in the middle.

     On November 9th, I arrived at JFK and—despite the federal shutdown—managed to get through smoothly. From there, I hopped on the train and headed to 38th Street to check into the La Quinta by Wyndham, which happened to be directly across from Susan’s studio.

     The next morning, I laid out my outfit: a light gray suit we’d already talked about through text, paired with a black shirt and tie. But the real star, as it turned out, was the black pea coat I packed for the cold weather. The second she saw it, she knew it had to be part of the session. Honestly, she wasn’t wrong.

Walking Into the Studio

I’ll probably hear from the modeling agency very soon if I’m being honest.

     With the studio just across the street, I left five minutes before the session. Susan greeted me at the door with a hug—warm, friendly, no pretense—and Bill followed with an outstretched hand and a smile. It immediately set the tone for the whole shoot: relaxed, collaborative, and comfortable.

     After a quick catch-up, Susan complimented the outfit choice and started pulling out V-Flats. We headed toward the massive windows overlooking 38th Street, planning to use them as our main light source. Both she and I love natural light, so it made perfect sense to keep the setup simple and let the city do the work.

Gotta throw in a good black and white. Am I right?!

     I loved that we didn’t need flash. With only an hour together—and plenty of conversation in between shots—working with window light kept everything flowing. Before starting, I suggested playing some Lucy Dacus, one of her favorite artists. I always feel that when you’re listening to something that inspires you, the creativity just comes easier.

Shooting With a Colleague Whose Work I Respect

Had to sneak in a pick out in the streets because, you know…New York City. C’mon…

     Throughout the session, Susan moved between her Canon RF 28-70mm f/2 and the 85mm f/1.2, making small adjustments, finding interesting angles, and shaping the light with both light and dark V-Flats. Her use of shadow and negative fill felt very much in line with my own approach—and that’s exactly why this collaboration felt so natural.

Might actually be my favorite from the bunch.

     She positioned me near the window, playing with pockets of light and areas of darkness in ways that reminded me of how I work during weddings in Puerto Rico. We weren’t trying to reinvent anything; we were simply two photographers who share similar instincts.

     She didn’t show me the back of the camera—and I didn’t want to see it. I trusted her completely; I made this very clear. Susan also let me record the entire session using my new DJI Osmo 360 camera and even let me clip a mic on her for crisp audio. Those behind-the-scenes clips are going to be gold.

Why This Session Mattered

Quick tip: pretend to reach for your wallet for a classic male pose.

     As someone who spends every weekend photographing couples across the island as a Puerto Rico wedding photographer, I’m always creating, directing, managing timelines, and adapting to unpredictable environments. Being in front of the camera—especially in a controlled, intentional environment—felt refreshing in the best way.

     It reminded me of why I love this craft. It reminded me that even photographers need portraits that feel true to who we are. And collaborating with someone whose style aligns with mine made the whole experience feel effortless—not like working with an unreachable expert, but like creating with a colleague I genuinely connect with.

I need to work on my hands. They’re starting to call me ‘scissor fingers’.

     Among New York City wedding photographers, Susan is someone whose approach I respect deeply, and shooting with her reaffirmed just how valuable creative collaboration can be. I’m genuinely excited to share the images from this session—and the behind-the-scenes footage—very soon.