Epic Backyard Ranch Wedding | Jake & Darcy

The year was 2012. I had just graduated high school and moved from Bishop, California to Lancaster. Boredom and a bit of loneliness led me to start hanging out at the local bike shop, which is where I met Jake. He was an employee there. We went to the skatepark together a couple of times and then he invited me to go jump on trampolines at a place called “Sky High” in Valencia. This was the day I met Darcy. Yes, the two of them were together already at that time.

The next time we hung out, we went on a camping trip and I had brought a camera. I snapped a photo of Jake and Darcy sitting in their tent at night. Now I wasn’t a photographer then. That was probably one of 15 photos that I took that year. It was also the first photo I ever took of a “couple.”

I don’t think I took any photos with that camera for the next 3 years at least. And when I did in early 2016, guess who my first official couple was for a photo session? Jake and Darcy. I have taken so many pictures of the two of them, and my creative Instagram account consists of 85% photos of Darcy. It’s quite funny actually.

This wedding is so special because of how “full-circle” my photography with these two has come. For a short time, Darcy wasn’t sure if I would want to photograph the wedding, because as their friend, maybe I wanted to just have fun instead. I immediately shut that down and said “Look, I will have more fun capturing epic moments.” And I couldn’t be happier with what I was able to deliver to them.

Now before showing some of my favorite images from the day, I would like to say just a few more things.

Jake, thank you for everything you have always done for me. Thank you for welcoming me into a new place and for bringing me into your group of friends. I appreciated it back then and I appreciate it now. Oh yeah, thanks for literally loaning me a bike to start my professional mountain bike career. I can’t imagine what I would be doing now if you had just, not let me borrow it.

Darcy, I don’t think I would be doing anything with photography without you. The amount of support and time you have given me to try out new techniques is crazy. From shooting at burned down houses, to the beach, to kitchen floors; you’ve always been up for it. And of course I should probably just have a program called “The Darcy Referral Program” (TDRP) since you’ve sent me countless clients. Insert Laughing Emoji.

Finally, to both of you:

Your outgoing personalities and your laughter is contagious. Your kindness is genuine and your work ethics are admirable. You are surrounded by incredible people who you truly care about, and who truly care about you. I wish you both lots of grilled onions, pizza and happiness.

-Nic