This Couple Hiked 14 Hours For the Perfect Wedding Photos | The Weather Channel
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How far would you go to capture the perfect wedding photos?

ByNicole BonaccorsoNovember 20, 2017



How far would you go to capture the perfect wedding photos? For one Long Beach, California, couple, the answer was a plane ride and a 14 hour hike. 

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The couple, Tim and Kylie, had been married two years when they told photographer Priscila Valentina of their plan to have their photos shot at Norway's Trolltonga. The couple had the bad luck of having their special day on a rare, rainy day in Southern California. They were unhappy with their pictures, and the two wanted to renew their vows and shoot some epic photos this time. 

Trolltonga, often refered to as "Troll Tongue," is a famous rock formation situated more than 3,600 feet above sea level above Lake Ringedalsvatnet. Many tourists dream of seeing the stunning views from the tongue-shaped rock, but the demanding hike can take upwards of 10 hours to get to the rock and back. For Tim, Kylie, the photographer and the amount of equipment they hauled, the hike took 14 hours. 

Valentina, who is also from California, traveled to Norway with the couple to help make their wedding photography dreams come true. None of them had ever been to Norway before, but the bride and groom are avid hikers. Valentina is not, but she was up to the challenge. She began training at her local gym, wearing a 20 pound backpack while working out on a StairMaster.

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"When I saw the photos of the destination I was intrigued but intimidated," Valentina told weather.com in an interview. "I wanted to do Norway justice by projecting the glory of its nature through the lens of my camera." 

Valentina and her clients left for their hike early in the morning, and the photographer caried 35 pounds of equipment for the duration. The couple brought a tent in which they were able to change for the photo shoot. 

"We were worried about there being crowds at Trolltonga and the visibility once arriving to the top," Valentina explained. "We also checked the weather for a week before arriving, and every day it was sunny, but the day of their wedding, it was supposed to have heavy rains. Miraculously, we had somewhat of a clear sky, with epic clouds that added a little bit of drama to the composition of the photos."

The photographer said that once at the top, the wind became the main challenge. 

"Once we arrived to the Trolltunga, the bride managed to change in a tent, and once she came outside, the weather was pretty chilly," she said. "It was the wind that made it difficult, and we actually had to end the shoot a little early because of how cold it became."

Despite the cold, the photos are truly epic. While the cold made it challenging, Valentina explained how weather can impact her photography for the better.

"Weather affects merely the composition of the photo. There is always something compensating for another. For example, we love sunny weather, but if the sky is full of clouds, we welcome the clouds with open arms knowing that they will create a natural softbox for our subjects and also prevent our clients from squinting," she said. "Also, if there is no wind, the couple's hair will look flawless.  But if the wind is heavy, it will create drama and candidness to the photos."

Valentina focuses mainly on wedding photography, and she and her husband often travel to document weddings. They recently photographed a wedding in Northern Ireland's Dunluce Castle

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