My husband and I eloped on September 17, 2025, in Kauai, Hawaii, and Sandy Swift was our photographer -- words cannot describe how thankful I was that she was a part of our journey. Being so far away in Michigan and trying to plan a simple elopement felt daunting. But, from the moment I found Sandy's name on a Reddit post and checked out her portfolio and social media, I fell in love -- not just with her stunning photography, but with the way she clearly cares about each couple's story and takes pride in her work (just take a moment to read some of her Instagram posts that accompany the photos she shares). Reaching out to her was easy, she was highly responsive, scheduling was seamless, and from there, everything just fell into place.
In the months leading up to our wedding, Sandy continued to be incredibly helpful via email, even with questions that might feel small, like what shoes to wear to a location. She helped us choose the perfect photo and ceremony locations, matched us with an amazing officiant on the island (Aokai Ai), and provided a recommended local vendor list -- from hair and makeup to florists to bakers. Not a single one of her recommended vendors let us down. She also organized our wedding schedule, kept us on track, and was even willing to do sunrise photos -- which turned out to be, as Sandy would say, epic!
When we finally met Sandy on our wedding day, she was incredibly kind and supportive to a stressed-out bride who had spent the morning doing her own hair and makeup and was trying to switch gears to be present and enjoy the day -- she immediately put me at ease. This was the first time my husband and I had professional photos taken together, and Sandy made the experience so comfortable and fun. She helped me feel confident in my own skin and had creative ways to get us interacting naturally, which resulted in genuine smiles, laughter, and special moments that truly reflect who we are as a couple. And ladies, believe me when I say she is a girl's girl -- every hair in place, no eyeliner smears, and if your dress has a train, it will look amazing in every shot!
We were also fortunate enough to receive our sneak peek photos the same day, and my husband and I were ecstatic. I shared them immediately with friends and family, and everyone was raving about how beautiful they were. Every single person asked if the rainbow was added with AI -- I promise it was not! Kauai was so kind to us that day and blessed us with the most beautiful rainbow, and Sandy is just that talented at capturing the moment.
Even though we chose an elopement, Sandy made our day feel incredibly special and intimate -- exactly what we had dreamed of after waiting 11 years for this moment. Her talent, professionalism, creativity, and personal care made the entire experience unforgettable. We can't recommend Sandy enough!
From the McKnights, Sandy, thank you for everything and all the aloha! read more