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    ABOUT US

    Stephen & Giselle backpacking the Sierra High Route

    THE LOVERS PASSPORT

    Welcome to The Lovers Passport!

    We are Giselle and Stephen, a couple of California natives with a HUGE passion for outdoor adventure & travel! We thrive on exploring everywhere from the beach to the backcountry, and we just canโ€™t get enough of it! From backpacking and camping to traveling abroad, we’ve got your couple’s travel inspo covered!

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    INSTAGRAM

    Best Viewpoints of the Golden Gate Bridge ๐ŸŒ‰ (โ€˜๐—ฆ๐—ฎ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ' ๐˜๐—ต๐—ถ๐˜€ ๐—ฝ๐—ผ๐˜€๐˜ ๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐—ฝ๐—น๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ป๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—น๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ฟ!)

San Francisco has so many amazing landmarks to visit, but the Golden Gate Bridge is definitely itโ€™s most iconic feature! Here are some popular spots to photograph it whenever you visit the beautiful city! As always when visiting please make sure to Leave No Trace and pack out what you pack in! ๐Ÿƒ 

๐ŸŒ Kirby Cove: A beautiful black sands beach at the base of the Marin Headlands! The view from the beach is stunning with the city of San Francisco framed under the wide span of the Golden Gate Bridge.

๐ŸŒBattery Spencer: Right next to Kirby Cove and a short walk away from the road, Battery Spencer boasts incredible views of the bridge from above! We went up here for sunrise and it was incredible! It does get pretty crowded so make sure to arrive early for the best spots. 

๐ŸŒ Slacker Hill: If you are up for a steeper hike, you can check out Slacker Hill, which is slightly higher in elevation than Battery Spencer with an equally beautiful view of the bridge. This is a great spot to try and capture Karl the Fog.

๐ŸŒ Hawk Hill: If you want a more distant and panoramic view of the bridge, this would be the viewpoint for you! Itโ€™s a super short .7 mile hike loop. If you are into birdwatching too, this is a great spot for that as well! 

๐ŸŒMarshall & Baker Beaches: Would definitely recommend getting here for sunrise and sunset as it was a bit washed out afterward (we tried to shoot it post-sunrise) however, itโ€™s still a gorgeous beach area! Definitely try shooting some long exposures of the water next to the bridge in this area. You can head on down to these beaches via the Battery West Trail. 

๐ŸŒ Golden Gate Overlook: This spot surprised us with how beautiful and simple it is! If youโ€™ve seen a picture of beautiful Cyprus trees framing the bridge, you were actually looking at this view! We shot here right after sunrise but it would definitely be beautiful during blue hour as well. 

Is visiting San Francisco on your bucket list? ๐ŸŒ‡
    Countdown to Summer GIVEAWAY! โ˜€๏ธ ๐ŸŽ‰ ('๐—ฆ๐—ฎ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ' ๐˜๐—ต๐—ถ๐˜€ ๐—ฝ๐—ผ๐˜€๐˜ ๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐—ฎ ๐˜€๐˜‚๐—ฟ๐—ฝ๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐˜€๐—ฒ) #sponsored

We are SO excited to be continue our April Giveaway series with some help from our friends at @drinkspindrift! If youโ€™re not familiar with them, they make the BEST unsweetened sparkling flavored waters with real squeezed fruit! We have a Spindrift every single day at lunch together (we work across the street from each other so we always get to share our lunch break), take them on hikes and picnics with us, and weโ€™ve probably gone through 3 cases this year alone. ๐Ÿ™ˆ 

SO weโ€™ve teamed up with them to give away a 3 month supply of spindrift + a 'countdown to summer' prize pack! The pack includes a charcuterie board, picnic blanket with a tie dye kit, portable drink wear, and a cooler bag so itโ€™s the perfect setup for a summer picnic! PLUS, if you win, your friend wins 3 (8 packs) of Spindrift! 

Hereโ€™s how to WIN: 
โ˜€๏ธ Like & Save This Post
โ˜€๏ธ Follow @theloverspassport and @drinkspindrift
โ˜€๏ธ In the comments below, tag a friend who you are excited to see this summer! 

Anyone else stoked for some summer adventures? ๐Ÿ• Good luck! 

This giveaway is not sponsored or endorsed by Instagram. Giveaway ends on April 23, 2021 at 9pm PST and will be contacted via DM.
    Planning a Road Trip 101 ๐Ÿš™ (โ€˜๐—ฆ๐—ฎ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ Planning a Road Trip 101 ๐Ÿš™ (โ€˜๐—ฆ๐—ฎ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ' ๐˜๐—ต๐—ถ๐˜€ ๐—ฝ๐—ผ๐˜€๐˜ ๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐—ฝ๐—น๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ป๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—น๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ฟ!)

We called this page The Lovers Passport at first because we intended on doing a lot of International Travelโœˆ๏ธ. When the Pandemic hit ๐Ÿ˜ท we pivoted and decided to full send the road trip life! This is the process that we go through before every road trip ๐Ÿ‘‡๐Ÿผ

๐Ÿง  Brainstorm - before each trip we start by googling 1-5 different key words based on time of the year, special events, and best time to go. This helps us create a LONG list of different places we would like to visit. 

๐Ÿš™ Route - after we have our list, we put all the spots on Google maps and see what the best route would be and how long we would need to stay! 

๐Ÿง‘๐Ÿปโ€๐Ÿ’ป๐Ÿ‘ฉ๐Ÿผโ€๐Ÿ’ป Research - once we have the locations down, we start the research process of removing trails/spots that are out of the way or that we arenโ€™t as interested in seeing. 

๐Ÿ“ท Mood Board - before heading out we like to create a shot list/mood board on Pinterest or Instagram and save pictures/inspiration from other people so we can get an idea of the type of photos we want to take! 

๐ŸดFood Prep - Giselle always buys the groceries the night before we head out on our adventure! We usually go for a heavy dinner, and quick light lunch and breakfast so we can stay moving most of the day! 

๐Ÿš™ Car Inspection - Stephen always checks oil, tires, gas, etc in a full vehicle inspection before heading out. We bring a spare tire, jumper cable, and tools just in case we get stuck out there on the road! 

๐Ÿ—บ Data - last thing we do is print out all the maps/trail data that we need for the locations! We always bring paper print outs just in case our phone dies or we lose signal. Better to be safe then sorry! 

Are you a jump in the car and go type of person or complete planners like us? ๐Ÿง
    Adventuring with your best friend โœจ This past y Adventuring with your best friend โœจ

This past year we have camped 100 nights๐Ÿ•, gone on 24 road trips๐Ÿš™, started a business together๐Ÿง‘๐Ÿปโ€๐Ÿ’ป๐Ÿ‘ฉ๐Ÿผโ€๐Ÿ’ป, survived a pandemic๐Ÿ˜ท, and everything in between. We donโ€™t share too much about what happens behind the scenes since weโ€™re usually at work ๐Ÿ˜‚ (besides our stories and YouTube) but think it is important to remind everyone we are two normal people who just LOVE adventuring ๐Ÿค˜๐Ÿผ

Giselle and I met 2 years ago and have been backpacking, road tripping, and hiking ever since. Stephen is the early riser that likes to wake up before every sunrise โ˜€๏ธ and Giselle is the night owl that likes working late into the night ๐ŸŒ™

Giselle works an office job at a skincare company in your usual 9-5 everyday and Stephen teaches Martial Arts from from the afternoon to evening everyday ๐Ÿฅ‹ during the week we have careers that we are both very passionate about and the rest of our week we spend creating content, planning trips, and collaborating on this amazing platform ๐Ÿ“ฑ

Instagram started for us 1 year ago, and it was so inspiring for both of us when it came to photography, hiking, and the beautiful areas in the world ๐ŸŒŽ If there was one thing we have learned this past year on the platform, on adventures, on starting a business, we have learned you have to START โœจ

Giselle STARTED doing a lot more backpacking when she met me. Stephen STARTED doing more blogging when I met Giselle. We both STARTED Instagram 1 year ago. Now we STARTED a life of adventure just from taking our first road trip ๐Ÿš™

On Instagram we post daily to show the highlights of our adventures. We have seen so many posts recently about other people struggling with comparison and we think a good way to look at this is donโ€™t compare your START to someone elseโ€™s middle or end. Whether it is hiking, camping, photography, road tripping, or anything. Now is the time to start! ๐Ÿค˜๐Ÿผ

What is something you have been thinking about starting but havenโ€™t taken the leap of faith? ๐Ÿง
    #ad Weโ€™re getting ready for another season of hi #ad Weโ€™re getting ready for another season of hiking in the Sierras ๐Ÿฅพ which means getting prepared for all kinds of weather including snowโ„๏ธ, afternoon rainstorms๐ŸŒง, wind๐Ÿ’จ, mud, and everything in between, with all the right gear from @columbia1938. Especially since weโ€™ve been trying to get out and adventure year-round, itโ€™s so important to us to invest in high-performing gear that is adaptable to all types of weather and terrain no matter the season! ๐Ÿ๐ŸŒทโ˜€๏ธโ„๏ธ

The new Trailstorm collection from @columbia1938 is perfect for adventuring in any kind of weather since theyโ€™re waterproof, breathable, and have amazing traction and stability in all kinds of dry and wet environments ๐Ÿฅพ We think that the right hiking shoes make all the difference when out exploring, and the Trailstorm shoes offer the perfect amount of cushioning and comfortability whether youโ€™re out for a day hike or a long backpacking trip ๐ŸŽ’

Make sure youโ€™re equipped for all kinds of weather and trails before heading out for adventure! ๐Ÿค™ Check out the new Trailstorm footwear from Columbia! 
#CSPartner #MadeForOutside
    Tips for Mid Day Photography โ˜€๏ธ (โ€˜๐—ฆ๐—ฎ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ' ๐˜๐—ต๐—ถ๐˜€ ๐—ฝ๐—ผ๐˜€๐˜ ๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐—ฝ๐—น๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ป๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—น๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ฟ!)

The best time for photography is always going to be sunrise or sunset because of the beautiful soft light, but that should never prevent you from taking photos of  your adventures! We have started taking more photos during the middle of the day and have loved some of the pictures! Here are a few tips for capturing the perfect mid day shot ๐Ÿ“ท

โ˜๏ธ Cloud soft box - clouds can really make or break a photo! Wait for the clouds to cover the sun and give everything the perfect soft light! 

๐ŸŒ— Shadow Play - use shadows to your advantage by creating patterns or leading lines. Avoid shadows on only half a persons face and when they are too distracting! 

๐Ÿ˜Ž ND Filter - this is a new favorite of ours! We use the @moment 2-5 stop ND filter which lets us capture long exposures of waterfalls and shoot at a very wide aperture like f2.8 at all times of the day. They are like sunglasses for your camera!

๐Ÿ’ƒ๐Ÿผ Add Motion - during the mid day sun it is usually very bright so we light to raise the shutter speed to 1/500 and higher to capture an object in motion. This can create fun flares with a dress all the way to stopping a moment while jumping across two rocks 

๐ŸŽ’ Pop and Enjoy - you all know we love our bright jackets! We always wear our colored jackets to stand out in the midday sun and remember to just enjoy the moment. The nice thing about shooting during midday is that there is no โ€œonly 5 minutes left of golden light!!โ€ We like to make the photos more casual and authentic in the present since we arenโ€™t fighting for that nice light. 

What is one tip you think is the most important for taking photos during the middle of the day? ๐Ÿง
    Ultimate San Fransisco Road Trip Itinerary ๐Ÿš™ (โ€˜๐—ฆ๐—ฎ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ' ๐˜๐—ต๐—ถ๐˜€ ๐—ฝ๐—ผ๐˜€๐˜ ๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐—ฝ๐—น๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ป๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—น๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ฟ!)

This past weekend we explored the beautiful Bay Area and was blown away ๐Ÿคฏ for living in California our whole lives, we donโ€™t make it up north too much ๐Ÿ™ˆ San Francisco is known for city photography, but there is so much natural beauty! Here is our guide to escaping the city and going for an adventure! ๐Ÿš™

๐ŸŒ Golden Gate Bridge - This iconic view is a MUST SEE for every trip to SF. Our favorite views were Battery Spencer for sunrise, Marshall Beach for sunset, and Golden Gate Overlook for mid day โ˜€๏ธ

๐ŸŒŠ Point Reyes - this is our favorite area near the Bay ๐Ÿ‘€ it had incredible views because it has ocean on 3 sides making it the perfect spot for sunrise or sunset adventures โ˜€๏ธ

๐Ÿ” Mount Tamalpais - this is the highest point in San Francisco and is the perfect overlook for sweeping views of the ocean and the city. The best time to go is when there is low hanging fog so you can see a crazy cloud inversion! โ˜๏ธ

๐ŸŒฒ Muir Woods - the best spot to escape the city for Redwoods. This area is so incredible and still blows our mind it is so close to SF! We recommend going later in the afternoon to catch some light rays through the trees โ˜€๏ธ

๐Ÿ– Stinson Beach - on a clear hot day this is where you will find us. The beach reminds of us the perfect little beach town. The town is beautiful and there is a lot of beach for everyone to enjoy โ˜€๏ธ

Have you ever been to San Francisco before? ๐Ÿง
    Hygiene While On the Road ๐Ÿš˜ (โ€˜๐—ฆ๐—ฎ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ' ๐˜๐—ต๐—ถ๐˜€ ๐—ฝ๐—ผ๐˜€๐˜ ๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐—ฝ๐—น๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ป๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—น๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ฟ!) #sponsored

Even when weโ€™re on the road adventuring, hygiene is a super important part of our everyday routine! After a day of hiking, climbing, surfing, etc. from sunrise to sunset, we both can get pretty grimy. Self care is super important to us, even when weโ€™re out exploring, and to kick off Earth Month we wanted to share how to do that responsibly with @EveryManJack!

Whenever we rinse off when weโ€™re out using our car camping/boondocking set up, we always bring our portable shower hose, our hair and skincare products, and a tarp to stand on & towel for after we rinse off. Always make sure to be at least 200 ft away from any streams, rivers, lakes, or any other water sources as well as trails or campsites to help with privacy and prevent water pollution! Also make sure to Leave No Trace when rinsing off outdoors to keep the Earth as beautiful as we can! ๐Ÿƒ

Stephen loves bringing @everymanjack deodorant and body wash along with us because they make affordable and effective menโ€™s grooming products that are cruelty free, vegan, and naturally derived. They also have a commitment to sustainable responsibly-made packaging, which we love, with every bottle made with post-consumer recycled plastic. Theyโ€™re also partnering with the National Forest Foundation in April for Earth Month to help efforts toward trail restoration and tree conservation which is an amazing initiative! 

What are some of your best hygiene tips for staying clean on the road? ๐Ÿ’ฆ๐Ÿ‘‡๐Ÿป #cleangroomingmovement
    Ultimate Spring California Road Trip ๐Ÿš™ (โ€˜๐—ฆ Ultimate Spring California Road Trip ๐Ÿš™ (โ€˜๐—ฆ๐—ฎ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ' ๐˜๐—ต๐—ถ๐˜€ ๐—ฝ๐—ผ๐˜€๐˜ ๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐—ฝ๐—น๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ป๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—น๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ฟ!)

This weekend we are heading out on our first Spring Road Trip and we are HYPED! ๐Ÿค˜๐ŸผThe California flowers are not as insane this year, but the weather is perfect for adventures! ๐Ÿฅพ Spring in California means it is time for hiking, kayaking, and exploring without the warm summer heat or the winter chills. Here is our guide for best places to road trip in California this Spring ๐Ÿ‘‡๐Ÿผ

Southern California 
๐Ÿ“Joshua Tree National Park
๐Ÿ“Anza Borrego State Park
๐Ÿ“Palm Springs
๐Ÿ“La Jolla 
๐Ÿ“Death Valley National Park 

Central California 
๐Ÿ“Big Sur
๐Ÿ“Yosemite National Park
๐Ÿ“Sequoia National Park
๐Ÿ“Pinnacles National Park 

Northern California 
๐Ÿ“Santa Clara County
๐Ÿ“Golden Gate Bridge 
๐Ÿ“Redwoods National and State Park
๐Ÿ“Lake Tahoe

Where are you planning on going this spring? ๐Ÿง
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    NEED GEAR?

    Best Viewpoints of the Golden Gate Bridge ๐ŸŒ‰ (โ€˜๐—ฆ๐—ฎ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ' ๐˜๐—ต๐—ถ๐˜€ ๐—ฝ๐—ผ๐˜€๐˜ ๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐—ฝ๐—น๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ป๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—น๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ฟ!)

San Francisco has so many amazing landmarks to visit, but the Golden Gate Bridge is definitely itโ€™s most iconic feature! Here are some popular spots to photograph it whenever you visit the beautiful city! As always when visiting please make sure to Leave No Trace and pack out what you pack in! ๐Ÿƒ 

๐ŸŒ Kirby Cove: A beautiful black sands beach at the base of the Marin Headlands! The view from the beach is stunning with the city of San Francisco framed under the wide span of the Golden Gate Bridge.

๐ŸŒBattery Spencer: Right next to Kirby Cove and a short walk away from the road, Battery Spencer boasts incredible views of the bridge from above! We went up here for sunrise and it was incredible! It does get pretty crowded so make sure to arrive early for the best spots. 

๐ŸŒ Slacker Hill: If you are up for a steeper hike, you can check out Slacker Hill, which is slightly higher in elevation than Battery Spencer with an equally beautiful view of the bridge. This is a great spot to try and capture Karl the Fog.

๐ŸŒ Hawk Hill: If you want a more distant and panoramic view of the bridge, this would be the viewpoint for you! Itโ€™s a super short .7 mile hike loop. If you are into birdwatching too, this is a great spot for that as well! 

๐ŸŒMarshall & Baker Beaches: Would definitely recommend getting here for sunrise and sunset as it was a bit washed out afterward (we tried to shoot it post-sunrise) however, itโ€™s still a gorgeous beach area! Definitely try shooting some long exposures of the water next to the bridge in this area. You can head on down to these beaches via the Battery West Trail. 

๐ŸŒ Golden Gate Overlook: This spot surprised us with how beautiful and simple it is! If youโ€™ve seen a picture of beautiful Cyprus trees framing the bridge, you were actually looking at this view! We shot here right after sunrise but it would definitely be beautiful during blue hour as well. 

Is visiting San Francisco on your bucket list? ๐ŸŒ‡
    Countdown to Summer GIVEAWAY! โ˜€๏ธ ๐ŸŽ‰ ('๐—ฆ๐—ฎ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ' ๐˜๐—ต๐—ถ๐˜€ ๐—ฝ๐—ผ๐˜€๐˜ ๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐—ฎ ๐˜€๐˜‚๐—ฟ๐—ฝ๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐˜€๐—ฒ) #sponsored

We are SO excited to be continue our April Giveaway series with some help from our friends at @drinkspindrift! If youโ€™re not familiar with them, they make the BEST unsweetened sparkling flavored waters with real squeezed fruit! We have a Spindrift every single day at lunch together (we work across the street from each other so we always get to share our lunch break), take them on hikes and picnics with us, and weโ€™ve probably gone through 3 cases this year alone. ๐Ÿ™ˆ 

SO weโ€™ve teamed up with them to give away a 3 month supply of spindrift + a 'countdown to summer' prize pack! The pack includes a charcuterie board, picnic blanket with a tie dye kit, portable drink wear, and a cooler bag so itโ€™s the perfect setup for a summer picnic! PLUS, if you win, your friend wins 3 (8 packs) of Spindrift! 

Hereโ€™s how to WIN: 
โ˜€๏ธ Like & Save This Post
โ˜€๏ธ Follow @theloverspassport and @drinkspindrift
โ˜€๏ธ In the comments below, tag a friend who you are excited to see this summer! 

Anyone else stoked for some summer adventures? ๐Ÿ• Good luck! 

This giveaway is not sponsored or endorsed by Instagram. Giveaway ends on April 23, 2021 at 9pm PST and will be contacted via DM.
    Planning a Road Trip 101 ๐Ÿš™ (โ€˜๐—ฆ๐—ฎ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ Planning a Road Trip 101 ๐Ÿš™ (โ€˜๐—ฆ๐—ฎ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ' ๐˜๐—ต๐—ถ๐˜€ ๐—ฝ๐—ผ๐˜€๐˜ ๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐—ฝ๐—น๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ป๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—น๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ฟ!)

We called this page The Lovers Passport at first because we intended on doing a lot of International Travelโœˆ๏ธ. When the Pandemic hit ๐Ÿ˜ท we pivoted and decided to full send the road trip life! This is the process that we go through before every road trip ๐Ÿ‘‡๐Ÿผ

๐Ÿง  Brainstorm - before each trip we start by googling 1-5 different key words based on time of the year, special events, and best time to go. This helps us create a LONG list of different places we would like to visit. 

๐Ÿš™ Route - after we have our list, we put all the spots on Google maps and see what the best route would be and how long we would need to stay! 

๐Ÿง‘๐Ÿปโ€๐Ÿ’ป๐Ÿ‘ฉ๐Ÿผโ€๐Ÿ’ป Research - once we have the locations down, we start the research process of removing trails/spots that are out of the way or that we arenโ€™t as interested in seeing. 

๐Ÿ“ท Mood Board - before heading out we like to create a shot list/mood board on Pinterest or Instagram and save pictures/inspiration from other people so we can get an idea of the type of photos we want to take! 

๐ŸดFood Prep - Giselle always buys the groceries the night before we head out on our adventure! We usually go for a heavy dinner, and quick light lunch and breakfast so we can stay moving most of the day! 

๐Ÿš™ Car Inspection - Stephen always checks oil, tires, gas, etc in a full vehicle inspection before heading out. We bring a spare tire, jumper cable, and tools just in case we get stuck out there on the road! 

๐Ÿ—บ Data - last thing we do is print out all the maps/trail data that we need for the locations! We always bring paper print outs just in case our phone dies or we lose signal. Better to be safe then sorry! 

Are you a jump in the car and go type of person or complete planners like us? ๐Ÿง
    Adventuring with your best friend โœจ This past y Adventuring with your best friend โœจ

This past year we have camped 100 nights๐Ÿ•, gone on 24 road trips๐Ÿš™, started a business together๐Ÿง‘๐Ÿปโ€๐Ÿ’ป๐Ÿ‘ฉ๐Ÿผโ€๐Ÿ’ป, survived a pandemic๐Ÿ˜ท, and everything in between. We donโ€™t share too much about what happens behind the scenes since weโ€™re usually at work ๐Ÿ˜‚ (besides our stories and YouTube) but think it is important to remind everyone we are two normal people who just LOVE adventuring ๐Ÿค˜๐Ÿผ

Giselle and I met 2 years ago and have been backpacking, road tripping, and hiking ever since. Stephen is the early riser that likes to wake up before every sunrise โ˜€๏ธ and Giselle is the night owl that likes working late into the night ๐ŸŒ™

Giselle works an office job at a skincare company in your usual 9-5 everyday and Stephen teaches Martial Arts from from the afternoon to evening everyday ๐Ÿฅ‹ during the week we have careers that we are both very passionate about and the rest of our week we spend creating content, planning trips, and collaborating on this amazing platform ๐Ÿ“ฑ

Instagram started for us 1 year ago, and it was so inspiring for both of us when it came to photography, hiking, and the beautiful areas in the world ๐ŸŒŽ If there was one thing we have learned this past year on the platform, on adventures, on starting a business, we have learned you have to START โœจ

Giselle STARTED doing a lot more backpacking when she met me. Stephen STARTED doing more blogging when I met Giselle. We both STARTED Instagram 1 year ago. Now we STARTED a life of adventure just from taking our first road trip ๐Ÿš™

On Instagram we post daily to show the highlights of our adventures. We have seen so many posts recently about other people struggling with comparison and we think a good way to look at this is donโ€™t compare your START to someone elseโ€™s middle or end. Whether it is hiking, camping, photography, road tripping, or anything. Now is the time to start! ๐Ÿค˜๐Ÿผ

What is something you have been thinking about starting but havenโ€™t taken the leap of faith? ๐Ÿง
    #ad Weโ€™re getting ready for another season of hi #ad Weโ€™re getting ready for another season of hiking in the Sierras ๐Ÿฅพ which means getting prepared for all kinds of weather including snowโ„๏ธ, afternoon rainstorms๐ŸŒง, wind๐Ÿ’จ, mud, and everything in between, with all the right gear from @columbia1938. Especially since weโ€™ve been trying to get out and adventure year-round, itโ€™s so important to us to invest in high-performing gear that is adaptable to all types of weather and terrain no matter the season! ๐Ÿ๐ŸŒทโ˜€๏ธโ„๏ธ

The new Trailstorm collection from @columbia1938 is perfect for adventuring in any kind of weather since theyโ€™re waterproof, breathable, and have amazing traction and stability in all kinds of dry and wet environments ๐Ÿฅพ We think that the right hiking shoes make all the difference when out exploring, and the Trailstorm shoes offer the perfect amount of cushioning and comfortability whether youโ€™re out for a day hike or a long backpacking trip ๐ŸŽ’

Make sure youโ€™re equipped for all kinds of weather and trails before heading out for adventure! ๐Ÿค™ Check out the new Trailstorm footwear from Columbia! 
#CSPartner #MadeForOutside
    Tips for Mid Day Photography โ˜€๏ธ (โ€˜๐—ฆ๐—ฎ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ' ๐˜๐—ต๐—ถ๐˜€ ๐—ฝ๐—ผ๐˜€๐˜ ๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐—ฝ๐—น๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ป๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—น๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ฟ!)

The best time for photography is always going to be sunrise or sunset because of the beautiful soft light, but that should never prevent you from taking photos of  your adventures! We have started taking more photos during the middle of the day and have loved some of the pictures! Here are a few tips for capturing the perfect mid day shot ๐Ÿ“ท

โ˜๏ธ Cloud soft box - clouds can really make or break a photo! Wait for the clouds to cover the sun and give everything the perfect soft light! 

๐ŸŒ— Shadow Play - use shadows to your advantage by creating patterns or leading lines. Avoid shadows on only half a persons face and when they are too distracting! 

๐Ÿ˜Ž ND Filter - this is a new favorite of ours! We use the @moment 2-5 stop ND filter which lets us capture long exposures of waterfalls and shoot at a very wide aperture like f2.8 at all times of the day. They are like sunglasses for your camera!

๐Ÿ’ƒ๐Ÿผ Add Motion - during the mid day sun it is usually very bright so we light to raise the shutter speed to 1/500 and higher to capture an object in motion. This can create fun flares with a dress all the way to stopping a moment while jumping across two rocks 

๐ŸŽ’ Pop and Enjoy - you all know we love our bright jackets! We always wear our colored jackets to stand out in the midday sun and remember to just enjoy the moment. The nice thing about shooting during midday is that there is no โ€œonly 5 minutes left of golden light!!โ€ We like to make the photos more casual and authentic in the present since we arenโ€™t fighting for that nice light. 

What is one tip you think is the most important for taking photos during the middle of the day? ๐Ÿง
    Ultimate San Fransisco Road Trip Itinerary ๐Ÿš™ (โ€˜๐—ฆ๐—ฎ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ' ๐˜๐—ต๐—ถ๐˜€ ๐—ฝ๐—ผ๐˜€๐˜ ๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐—ฝ๐—น๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ป๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—น๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ฟ!)

This past weekend we explored the beautiful Bay Area and was blown away ๐Ÿคฏ for living in California our whole lives, we donโ€™t make it up north too much ๐Ÿ™ˆ San Francisco is known for city photography, but there is so much natural beauty! Here is our guide to escaping the city and going for an adventure! ๐Ÿš™

๐ŸŒ Golden Gate Bridge - This iconic view is a MUST SEE for every trip to SF. Our favorite views were Battery Spencer for sunrise, Marshall Beach for sunset, and Golden Gate Overlook for mid day โ˜€๏ธ

๐ŸŒŠ Point Reyes - this is our favorite area near the Bay ๐Ÿ‘€ it had incredible views because it has ocean on 3 sides making it the perfect spot for sunrise or sunset adventures โ˜€๏ธ

๐Ÿ” Mount Tamalpais - this is the highest point in San Francisco and is the perfect overlook for sweeping views of the ocean and the city. The best time to go is when there is low hanging fog so you can see a crazy cloud inversion! โ˜๏ธ

๐ŸŒฒ Muir Woods - the best spot to escape the city for Redwoods. This area is so incredible and still blows our mind it is so close to SF! We recommend going later in the afternoon to catch some light rays through the trees โ˜€๏ธ

๐Ÿ– Stinson Beach - on a clear hot day this is where you will find us. The beach reminds of us the perfect little beach town. The town is beautiful and there is a lot of beach for everyone to enjoy โ˜€๏ธ

Have you ever been to San Francisco before? ๐Ÿง
    Hygiene While On the Road ๐Ÿš˜ (โ€˜๐—ฆ๐—ฎ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ' ๐˜๐—ต๐—ถ๐˜€ ๐—ฝ๐—ผ๐˜€๐˜ ๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐—ฝ๐—น๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ป๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—น๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ฟ!) #sponsored

Even when weโ€™re on the road adventuring, hygiene is a super important part of our everyday routine! After a day of hiking, climbing, surfing, etc. from sunrise to sunset, we both can get pretty grimy. Self care is super important to us, even when weโ€™re out exploring, and to kick off Earth Month we wanted to share how to do that responsibly with @EveryManJack!

Whenever we rinse off when weโ€™re out using our car camping/boondocking set up, we always bring our portable shower hose, our hair and skincare products, and a tarp to stand on & towel for after we rinse off. Always make sure to be at least 200 ft away from any streams, rivers, lakes, or any other water sources as well as trails or campsites to help with privacy and prevent water pollution! Also make sure to Leave No Trace when rinsing off outdoors to keep the Earth as beautiful as we can! ๐Ÿƒ

Stephen loves bringing @everymanjack deodorant and body wash along with us because they make affordable and effective menโ€™s grooming products that are cruelty free, vegan, and naturally derived. They also have a commitment to sustainable responsibly-made packaging, which we love, with every bottle made with post-consumer recycled plastic. Theyโ€™re also partnering with the National Forest Foundation in April for Earth Month to help efforts toward trail restoration and tree conservation which is an amazing initiative! 

What are some of your best hygiene tips for staying clean on the road? ๐Ÿ’ฆ๐Ÿ‘‡๐Ÿป #cleangroomingmovement
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