Shell Creek Photography

Name: Shell Creek Photography
Address: 19826 SE 300th Street, Montrose, CO, 98042, US
Telephone: (402) 615-3061
Price range: $$$$

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United States
Montrose, CO
Shell Creek Photography

Creating adventurous elopement experiences for couples who want bold + colorful images Hey, I’m Malachi! Contact me to get started!

I specialize in elopement photography & help couples create the most amazing wedding days in nature. I include planning assistance with every elopement to help you find amazing locations, the best vendors, coordination of permits, & so much more.

12/02/2025

Not every adventure has to start with a long hike. Sometimes your elopement day comes with the sound of tires rolling over dirt, windows down, fresh air, & that feeling of we’re going somewhere incredible together on off-roading adventure elopement!

Off-roading opens up a whole different world for your elopement. You can reach high alpine overlooks, tucked away basins, wildflower filled valleys, old mining roads, & remote desert vistas. All without having to haul a heavy backpack up a steep trail!

And if you have guests coming along for your elopement, off-roading keeps the experience accessible. Parents, best friends, siblings, grandparents, or anyone who wants to be part of your day can join in without struggling up a trail. Everyone gets the same jaw dropping views & everyone gets to be part of the story.

You can still feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere with the person you love most. Off-roading just gets you there a little faster, a little easier, with a lot of fun along the way.

If you want an elopement with wide open views, a sense of adventure, & the freedom to explore, off-roading might be exactly your style. Ready to dream up a route that fits you two perfectly? Let’s talk.

11/30/2025

If you know me, you know I LOOOOOVE florals! 💐 I think every elopement & every wedding should have lots & lots of flowers.

I have always been a plant person & have always loved flowers. And if you have a ton of florals at your elopement, I always try to do plenty of photos with them & some creative images like laying down in the flowers.

And you can always expect me to point out plants & native wildflowers while out hiking, or even show you where to find huckleberries during the right season. My friends call me a walking encyclopedia when it comes to nature! 😆

11/28/2025

If you’re dreaming of wild peaks, golden light, & zero crowds.... the San Juan Mountains in western Colorado might be your place. 🏔️

This mountain range is rugged in the best way. Wildflower meadows & lush meadows. Some of the best fall colors in all of Colorado. Crystal clear blue alpine lakes tucked between dramatic peaks. The kind of scenery that makes you pause & just take in the views.

But it’s not just the views — it’s the vibe of this area! These mountains feel personal. Like they’re here just for you two. Whether you hike in, drive a 4x4 road, or keep it chill in a mountain town like Ouray or Telluride, the San Juans just feel so welcoming. I've heard so many people so something similar or that they feel like home.

Eloping here isn’t just beautiful. It’s yours. And these mountains will always be here to welcome you back for an anniversary trip!

11/25/2025

We backpacked about 12 miles into the Sawtooths in Idaho for this elopement & it was 1000% worth every step!!

Jessica & Justin already knew where they wanted to go, it was a spot that meant something to them. When they asked if I was down for the adventure, my answer was a definite YES! 🙌🏼

They brought their two closest friends to witness the day & help carry the load (literally). A full-sized cake. A heavy battery for hair touch-ups. Hiking packs stuffed with gear. It was a haul, but we made it!!

They said their vows in the middle of a mountain basin, above a beautiful blue alpine lake. We soaked in golden sunset, woke up for sunrise, & even had a dance party right there in the wild. With no one else around, camping under a sky full of stars, & a sunset & sunrise the whole basin just glow, it was honestly magical.

I feel like the Sawtooth Mountains in Idaho are soooo underrated. Full of epic peaks like this, more hot springs than you could soak in, & a lot of privacy. This was the kind of elopement that reminds you why doing things your way is always worth it!

11/21/2025

This is just your reminder that your wedding day should be fun! So don't be afraid to laugh at each other, goof off, & just really enjoy your day. Also pro tip: be sure to plan a day that you'll truly enjoy 😉

11/19/2025

Eloping gives you the freedom to build a day that feels like YOU! No pressure. No expectations. Just an intentional experience in a place you love with the people who matter most.

Here’s what planning your elopement actually looks like & the steps to pull off planning an adventure elopement...

🏔 Choose a location that reflects your style & the landscape you want to explore.
📅 Pick a date for the weather, season, lighting, & overall vibe you want.
📄 Secure permits so everything is legal, smooth, & stress free.
🏡 Book lodging close to the best trailheads, overlooks, or scenic spots.
✨ Choose specialized vendors who understand outdoor weddings & can help guide you through the details.
🌄 Build a timeline around the best lighting, the season, your activities, & the pace you want for your day.
🧭 Stay flexible because mountain, desert, & coastal weather can change fast. Backup plans keep your day chill!
🧥 Plan outfits that are comfortable, layerable, & suitable for the terrain you’ll be exploring.
🎒 Pack smart with water, snacks, layers, vows, rings, permits, headlamps, & the essentials for being outside.
🌿 Follow Leave No Trace to keep these places beautiful for everyone who comes after you.

👉🏼 Eloping can be simple when you have a clear plan. It’s meaningful. It’s intentional. It’s built around your unique story & elopements are all about what your day could be, not about what a wedding day should be.

If you want help choosing the right location, building a timeline that flows, planning your day around the best lighting, getting permits, or turning your ideas into an unforgettable experience, reach out to me! I’ll help plan it all & photograph every moment for you to be able to relive your day forever.

11/18/2025

If planning a big traditional wedding doesn’t excite you… maybe that’s a sign that something different, something better, is calling your name.

Eloping means more fun, more freedom, more adventure, & way less stress!

Say yes to mountain views, spontaneous moments, real connection, & a day you’ll actually remember for how it felt.
If that sounds more like your vibe, let’s plan something incredible together!

11/17/2025

I’ve just gotten back from Arizona, my last elopement of the year, & the .workshop. I’ve had a busy schedule & really enjoyed getting to soak up the sun in the desert!

This was the 7th workshop that we’ve put on & these workshops are a true labor of love. Every single time we end one workshop, we can’t help but start thinking about ideas for the next one!

Years ago I first connected with & then also with to collaborate & bring forth the Love On Earth Workshop. Our workshop is honestly so unique because we’re all there the whole time & you get to learn from all of us over the course of a few days, hearing different perspectives on business, each of our unique areas of expertise, & the unique ways we photograph couples.

Being a part of helping other photographers build their business & build a community is so special. Will there be future workshops?? Yes! The best way to stay informed is to sign up for email updates at LoveOnEarthWorkshop.com

HUGE thank you for the attendees this year for making this possible & keeping the vibes high! 🙌🏼

11/06/2025

It's fall right now & that means its the perfect time to elope in the desert! And if you're looking to plan for next year, right now is the perfect time to plan your desert elopement for next spring or next fall!

Where are some cool deserts to elope to?

📍 Moab, Utah: one of my favorite desert elopement locations with epic cliffs, natural arches, & access to 2 national parks

📍 Page, Arizona: remote deserts on the border of Utah & Arizona with unique landscapes, less people, & slot canyons

📍 Hanksville, Utah: not too far from Moab, lots of slot canyons, desert buttes, & colorful layered landscapes

📍 Western Colorado: along the border of Utah, Colorado's mountains give way to red rock deserts

📍 Death Valley: full of sand dunes, dry lake beds, & other unique desert formations + the lowest elevation in North America

📍 Zion: epic canyons but can be a bit busier unless you know where to go & when

📍 Kanab: remote area of Utah with red sand dunes, caves, & red rock canyons

📍 White Sands: a unique collection of white gypsum sand dunes in New Mexico

These are just a few deserts within the U.S. but there are so many other cool places!

10/08/2025

Hey, I’m Malachi! It's been a little while since I've posted a photo of my face & if you’ve ever wondered who’s behind the camera, here’s a little bit about me.

I’m an elopement photographer & planner who’s left behind the "normal" jobs for this! I love the imperfect moments in life & love to photograph people & show them as they are– windblown hair, goofing off with your favorite person, & belly laughs around a campfire.

Some fun things you may not know about me...

• I met my husband in the deserts of Joshua Tree after literally pulling his car out of the sand (and then our first date lasted three days), we got engaged in New Zealand, & married near Olympic National Park.

• I tend to live out of my truck for work during the summer, for sometimes months at a time when I'm on the road, & sometimes my truck feels the most like home which is why I like to drive places.

• I’ve had over 200 houseplants at one point & I can name more orchids than I can remember birthdays. Now it's time to rebuild that houseplant collection!

• I love roughing it & eating tuna out of a pouch while backpacking but I also love making an absurdly complex meal & a fancy cocktail with mezcal to go along with it.

• I believe love stories, all kinds of them, deserve to be seen, celebrated, & remembered. And I know that not every story is "traditional" or the exact same. I want to show up for you & document how you & your story is unique.

• I hate wearing shoes & would rather go barefoot, enough said.

• I love tattoos & currently have 3. More will probably be coming soon lol.

• I've also started dipping my toes into a new & creative genre of photography over on another account .photo so go check that out!

Sometimes I feel like I am a whole mixed bag of things. Part wanderer, part & homebody, part artist & part marketing nerd. But maybe that’s the best part of being human, we’re not just one thing. I used to think I had to pick a lane or be a certain thing, but now I just think that all of this is what makes me, me!

08/22/2025

I've just finished photographing two more elopements over the past two days & this summer has just been go go go. My heart is honestly so full from being able to help so many couples have such personal wedding days that are exactly what they want to do for their days, no pleasing anyone else or having to worry what someone else thinks. 🥂

08/19/2025

If you want some banger reflective shots like this, you honestly don't need (or want) a large body of water like a like. Instead, figuring out where snow melt ponds, glacial tarns, or small spring fed pools of water is going to be your best bet! You also need other factors to work in your favor like having almost no wind & the right lighting conditions.

This ceremony location for Kayla & Ryan couldn't have been more perfect. And even though a mountain pass we planned on closed this very day, we were able to make some changes & utilize some backup plans & still have this incredible scenery.

Address

19826 SE 300th Street
Montrose, CO
98042

Telephone

(402) 615-3061

Website

https://www.shellcreekphoto.com/

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Want your business to be the top-listed Event Planning Service in Montrose?

Specializing in elopements & intimate weddings

Hey! My name is Malachi & I am so glad you are here! I am a photographer with a love for color specializing in weddings & elopements, although I also enjoy photographing adventure sports, families, & high end realty occasionally as well. I usually call Colorado my home but I am always on the go!

My style of photography is very bright, colorful, and most of all- HAPPY! Life is hard and you deserve amazing photos of you having fun. Read more about me on my website: www.shellcreekphoto.com