A little about me

HELLO to you!  Welcome! I am not only the soul and passion behind Elk and Fir but also your creative sidekick who loves to capture all the heartfelt emotions and fun vibes. With a talent for freezing your moments and safely storing them into your memory lane, I will create kick ass photos that are bound to WOW you. Think of imagery with breathtaking backdrops, intimate candid feels, cinematic galore, immaculate details, and think of the whole vibe of your celebration. I just love killer dance photos so you can be sure that the fun part of your epic day will be covered down to the last detail! With purposeful editing and artistry that ensnares the final feel with warm, organic, earthy tones – you will be left with a timeless memento of your wedding, oozing rawness and emotion. 

As a photographer, capturing the raw real emotions is what truly lights my soul. My passion for travel has taken me to the most amazing beautiful places whether it be for work, play or education!   

HEy you,
I'm CARISSA

Not just a photographer,

for loved up souls.

a visual storyteller

My philosophy is simple yet profound: I'm deeply passionate about what I do. I believe in going beyond the ordinary to provide unparalleled service. My unwavering commitment is to create images that serve as a timeless testament to the love, joy, laughter, and tears that define your unforgettable day. I'm here to craft a narrative that reminds couples of the beautiful, everlasting love story they share. Your special day is my canvas,
and your love is my muse.

“There are few things that inspire and excite me more than photography!”

MY PHILOSOPHY


Alrighty, folks, let's peel back the layers, I'm a dash of bubbly, and I sprinkle kindness!
Mum of Three (Very Grown) Men: Yep, you heard it right, three strapping young lads who I just adore!
⇢  Beach Bum at Heart: Oh, that's my happy place, my soul-soothing sanctuary. Give me sandy toes, crashing waves, and a beach sunset, and I'm in pure bliss! 
⇢  Mountain Lover: Now, if you ever catch me grinning from ear to ear on a rainy, foggy day in the mountains, don't be surprised. It's like stepping into heaven on earth for me!
BBQs, Tunes, and Family Jam Sessions: Some of the best moments in life involve firing up the BBQ, cranking up the music, and jamming out with my sons. Well I just dance, my boys are the musos! check out @zaccrossband ....
⇢  Dancing Queen to Mamma Mia: Consider me disco "dancing queen" material! 
⇢  The Cozy Comfort of Log Fires: Ah, the smell of a log fire crackling away on a chilly evening. It's like a warm hug for my soul.
⇢  Margaritas & Good Reds: Margaritta for a summer disco night or a good soothing red by the fire with my favourite person.

No matter who and where we are, we’re all souls wandering this beautiful Earth, with a different story to share. No tale is one and the same. And that’s why I LOVE documenting love stories and hopefully yours too!

"I guard my inner zen like a squirrel
hoarding acorns   – fiercely, and with
the occasional nutty escape!" 

MY FAV THINGS

WHAT INSPIRES ME

My photography journey began as a passionate quest to capture the raw, unscripted emotions that
make each love story unique. What fuels my love for this art is the chance to freeze time,
to immortalize the laughter, tears, and intimate moments that make your wedding day unforgettable.

Every shoot is a fresh canvas, where I paint with emotions, crafting a narrative that's uniquely yours.

“Every wedding, every shoot, I see the world through a whole new lens. Your story will be different from the last, and this ignites my passion all over again.”

“IT IS ALL ABOUT THE RAW BEAUTY OF FEELINGS
 AND THEIR IMPRINT ON THE SOUL.”

BEHIND THE LENS

Carissa is the owner and the principal creative behind the lens. Elk and Fir has a flurry of awards and 5 star reviews from her couples! A creator of frozen memories that will wow you with stunning backdrops, intimate close ups capturing emotion, cinematic framing, free candid moments lit up with smiles and that look of love, panoramic and detailed views of the venue, along with breathtaking purposeful editing.

Her stills are elegantly shot, and beautifully produces the final product with warm, organic, earthy tones that captures the rawness of your day filled with emotion. Her no. 1 aim is to capture ‘emotion’. 

This profession is an honour because I love letting my couples enjoy their epic day and surrender to the celebration,
WITHOUT fixing on taking photos. My style is completely candid and natural, with a dash of simple guided posing.
So many personal tricks to my imagery.....

Rain, hail or shine, I won’t miss a beat

SWEET NOTHINGS

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I am beyond happy I found you! Our day would not have been the same without you there! You are such a superstar Carissa. Just having your energy and direction on our day put me at ease because I knew you had everything under control.  Even managing other vendors, reaching out off your own accord to touch base with them - I knew I could rely on you and could relax xx
OMG your fine art prints arrived! They are exquisite! 

GEMMA & SAM

I can not describe how much I love your photography style. It's exactly what I envisioned for my wedding photos.  The aesthetic, art, focal points.
GENUINELY PERFECT

NICK & JEREMY

Carissa was our biggest hype girl of the day! She captured every moment so beautifully, everything felt so natural and real which was so evident in our gallery. Not one detail or moment was missed which we are so thankful for - we have not stopped looking at our gallery since we got it!

CODI & LACHLAN

Carissa is nothing short of exceptional. Planning a wedding overseas, Oregon is never easy and Carissa was responsive to all of our requests. Carissa didn't just document our wedding day she also came to document our Chinese tea ceremony. Each and every photo Carissa took has been stunning. We are so thankful to have found Carissa and cant wait to come back to her for our family photos in the future.

SHIDEH & ROHAN

IF YOU KNOW ME, YOU KNOW I LOVE TO CAPTURE THE EMOTION IN MY ART! IT IS ALL ABOUT THE RAW BEAUTY OF FEELINGS & THEIR IMPRINT ON THE SOUL.

AWARDS


THE BEST 22 WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS OF QUEENSLAND

2021 + 2022 + 2023 abia TOP 15 NATIONAL AWARDS

2021 FINALIST (QLD) WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY 99.70%

2020 FINALIST (QLD) WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY RUNNER UP (QLD) 99.72%

2019 TOP 15 (AUSTRALIAN NATIONALS) WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY

2019 FINALIST (QLD) WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY RUNNER UP (QLD) 98.75%

2018 FINALIST (QLD) WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY RUNNER UP (QLD) 99.97%

2017 FINALIST (QLD) WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY TOP 5 97.97%

2016 NO. 1 WINNER (QLD) WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY 99.90%

2015 FINALIST (QLD) WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY TOP 3 99.86%

LUXE GLOBAL AWARD UK - SUNSHINE COAST’S MOST INTIMATE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER 2020 2021

AIPP - ACCREDITED PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER

UK
Awards

AUSTRALIAN BRIDAL INDUSTRY ACADEMY AWARDS

No story is one and the same. Yours will be finessed to share your unique journey.

ONE STORY

TWO SOULS