Golden Hour & Grit: The Richey Couple’s Sunrise Session

Every once in a while, something crazy and totally unexpected happens during a photo session. Today, it was my turn for the crazy! But first, let me introduce you to the amazing Richey couple. I had the honor of serving as their sunrise Sandestin photographer for their anniversary session, and despite the “adventure” we had, the results were absolutely stunning.

A Sunrise to Remember

There is something truly magical about the soft, golden light at dawn on the Emerald Coast. The Richeys were absolute lovebirds, and catching their connection as the sun began to peek over the Gulf was a career highlight. We were getting some amazing shots and the “vibe” was perfect—until the sand decided to play a trick on me!

The “Beach Access” Wipeout

While we were at the beach access, I bent down to get that perfect low angle (as I’ve done a million times before). Unfortunately, a tiny layer of loose sand sent me flying backwards right onto my camera bag. I literally thought I broke my elbow! If you can imagine what someone would look like taking an impromptu nap on the ground at a beach access, that was me.

A Lucky Encounter

I didn’t want to cut the session short or head to the emergency room because I was booked solid with eager clients. I decided to soldier on, and as luck would have it, my very next client was an ER Doctor! He took pity on me and gave me a free examination right there on the sand. Luckily, there were no broken bones—just a few days of downtime and a great story to tell.

Anniversary Magic

Despite my graceful tumble, the Richey couple remained wonderful and the photos we captured are some of my favorites. Their love shines brighter than the Florida sun!

Richey family, thank you for being such good sports. I hope you cherish these images and I can’t wait to see you two again next summer!

Thinking about a sunrise session? While I can’t promise I won’t take another “nap” in the sand, I can promise that the morning light in Sandestin is worth the early wake-up call! Let’s connect to book your own sunrise beach portraits.