Meet Alyssa McIntyre + Caitlin Thorson | Adventure Elopement + Family Photographers

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alyssa McIntyre + Caitlin Thorson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alyssa and Caitlin, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
We both began our professional work lives in different fields. Alyssa was a forensic chemist turned family and wedding photographer and Caitlin was a kindergarten teacher searching for the perfect side hustle, which turned out to be photography. After owning separate photography businesses for a few years, we shot a couple of weddings together and realized how much more fun we had working together than alone. We took our dogs for a hike one day and threw around the idea of merging our businesses, and it took off from there! We realized that we had the exact same present and future goals, as well as the same sort of “go getter” mindset when it comes to owning a business. We’ve owned Copper Peaks Photo Co. for almost two years now!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
We are adventure elopement/vow renewal and family photographers based out of Central Pennsylvania. When we first created Copper Peaks Photo Co. two years ago, our goal was to simply book as many clients in a small radius as our calendar would allow. Weddings, family sessions, maternity sessions, newborns, seniors, births…you name it, we shot it. We had no real niche that we were going after, no true identity to our business. We were new, and though we worked well together, we still had to figure out what our true passion within photography was. After a year or so, we found ourselves feeling scattered, overwhelmed, and unfulfilled. We had done exactly what we set out to do, and yet we felt like something huge was missing.

Fast forward to the summer of 2022, we booked our first adventure elopement at Horseshoe Bend. Through that experience, we found vivid clarity in the direction we needed to steer our business. The desire to travel is engrained in us, and yet for so long, we limited ourselves to our home state because we could fill our calendar more easily. This adventure elopement changed everything for us in the best way. We created an entire adventure elopement plan for our couple, from booking flights and Airbnbs to scouting specific photo sites. We photographed them everywhere, from Las Vegas to Lake Powell to Horseshoe Bend. It was the experience of a lifetime, not only for our couple, but for us as well. All we could think was, “This is what we need to be doing.”

When we got home, there was an energy shift in our business. Our focus has turned toward creating one-of-a-kind adventure elopement or vow renewal experiences for our couples. We take care of every single detail of the planning, and we truly love it! Essentially we are planning a vacation for them, and all they have to do is show up. We make slideshows with Airbnbs, flights, hair and makeup artists local to the wedding site, restaurants for their celebratory dinner, coffee shops within walking distance, wedding license information, National Park permit details, and so much more. Handcrafting the adventure elopement or vow renewal experience has lit a fire within us and we could not be more excited!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
We are adventurers at heart, so naturally we could recommend any outdoor experiences! We would visit Grand Canyon, Sedona, Horseshoe Bend, and Vermilion Cliffs. Our favorite coffee shop was Hot n Sweet Coffee and Donut Shop in Page. They have the most delicious lattes and fresh donuts, and the owner makes you feel like you’ve been friends forever. Old town Scottsdale is also a must-see, with an abundance of coffee shops and bars that make for a great morning and evening!

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?
We would like to dedicate our shoutout to our incredibly supportive family and friends!

Website: www.copperpeaksphotoco.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/copperpeaksphotoco

Image Credits
Photos taken and edited by Copper Peaks Photo Co. (us!)