Choosing an Elopement Photographer
In this blog post:
What Does an Elopement Photographer Do?
Why You Need an Elopement Photographer
When to Book Your Elopement Photographer
Tips on How to Choose Your Elopement Photographer
Cost of Elopement Photography
What is the Booking Process for an Elopement Photographer?
What Does an Elopement Photographer Do?
You might think it’s easier to plan an elopement than it is to plan a traditional wedding day.
I might be here to burst that bubble (I’m sorry! I promise I’m here to share the truth) and just say that while it can be simpler in some ways, eloping definitely comes with its own set of challenges.
Planning your elopement day means carefully handling details like getting your marriage license, finding the perfect wedding attire, and crafting a day that feels true to you.
But then, you’ve got a big decision to make—you need to choose your elopement photographer.
An elopement photographer isn’t just a photographer though.
They’re someone who gets why you’ve chosen to elope and understands how to make the best of a day that’s intentional and meaningful to you. They’ll also be your planner and biggest cheerleader while documenting the most important moments of your day.
So, how do you pick just one from the sea of talented artists out there? How do you know if they’ll deliver on their promises, their expertise, and their images?
And most importantly, how do you know they’re worth the investment?
PLAN YOUR ELOPEMENT: Elopement Planning Worksheets | Elopement Photo Packages
The answer to all those questions will be subjective and very personal but there’s common ground here: choosing your elopement photographer starts with savvy research.
If you’re eloping, you’ll want to find a photographer that not only produces images you love but also that is skilled at understanding and embracing your decision to elope; and at assisting you with overwhelming tasks like location scouting, permit applications, and vendor searches.
If you’re ready to learn where to start, let’s dive in!
Why You Need an Elopement Photographer
An elopement photographer and a wedding photographer are not the same. Sure, they can do the same job but the outcome and experience will vary.
For example, a wedding photographer’s role is typically traditional and consists of having 1-2 meetings with you, setting a shot list, showing up to take photos, and then editing your gallery.
An elopement photographer tends to be more involved. Not only do they focus on those same tasks but they also help their couples craft the intimate experience they are looking for.
Elopement photographers help with:
Scouting ceremony and photo locations at the beach, forest, mountains, etc
Helping with permits/contact with elopement location
Planning a timeline that best fits the activities and photos for the day
Recommending vendors (and even lodging)
Connecting with you to fully understand and support your vision
Booking an elopement photographer is guaranteed to elevate your planning journey so make sure you filter your search to photographers that have those skills laid out on their websites and social media.
When to Book Your Elopement Photographer
The best time to secure your elopement photographer is about 6 to 9+ months in advance of your desired elopement date.
While it’s possible to secure a photographer with less than 6 months’ notice, be prepared for a more rushed and even stressful experience, especially if you need to obtain any ceremony or photo permits.
Booking your photographer early gives space for the process to feel more organized and intentional. Not just for you but your photographer as well!
You’ll give them ample time to understand your vision better, assist with any legalities, and ensure that the plans align as perfect as possible.
Tips on How to Choose your Elopement Photographer
Now that you know the reasons to book an elopement photographer and when’s the best time to secure yours, let’s talk about important tips to keep in mind when choosing the one:
Tip No. 1 - DECIDE ON A EDIT STYLE AND A VISION FOR THE DAY
There are many edit styles out there: Airy, moody, film, true-to-color. Which one do you feel draws your attention the most? Is it something trendy or something timeless?
Once you have an idea what edit style you’d like for your images (check Pinterest if you need a start), think about how it connects to your vision.
What mood do you want to set on your day? Do you want your images to tell your love story in an way that’s editorial, fairytale-like, romantic, or adventurous?
Will the edit style you chose enhance the highlights of the day and the emotions you want captured?
Pro-tip: It’s ideal to do this before you find an elopement photographer so you don’t get influenced by outsider perspectives before you even begin planning your day.
Tip No. 2 - SET A REALISTIC BUDGET
Now that you have a vision, it’s time to talk budget.
It’s okay to let your imagination go wild as you dream up your elopement adventure; write down all the vendors you wish you could hire and the activities you wish you do on your day.
Then, sit down with your boo, do research online on the average cost for each of those items, and set a realistic budget on everything. This will prevent unexpected surprises on expenses!
Together you’ll need to decide what are the most important aspects of your day to spend the most money and what other budgets can be adjusted.
This step will help you know how much you’ll be able to invest in your elopement photographer.
Don’t forget to include all the legalities, lodging, permit fees and other miscellaneous expenses in your elopement budget.
Tip No. 3 - RESEARCH POTENTIAL PHOTOGRAPHERS
You know your vision, you have a budget, now you can look up photographers. How do you distinguish between an elopement photographer that will work versus one that might now?
Ask yourself these are 4 questions:
Do they offer what I’m looking for?
Are they local to the area?
Have I seen enough of their work?
Do our personalities and values match?
1.Do they offer what I’m looking for?
You have the vision and the budget so make sure your potential photographer offers the services you’re looking for!
Some of these services include: helping with finding the perfect location for the ceremony or photos, timelines, permit information, and vendor recommendations.
Other services you might consider can be more specific to the type of elopement you want to have (adventure, luxury, destination) or the type of images you want to receive (digital, prints, albums, etc).
2. Are they local to the area?
You don’t have to hire a local but it goes without saying they’ll likely bring invaluable knowledge about eloping in the area (ie. best/worst spots, logistics, best time for photos).
You can find local elopement photographers with Google searches like “[area] elopement photographer” or “[area] elopements”.
If you prefer to hire a non-local elopement photographer, be prepared to pay for travel fees or increased package fees to cover the cost, and make sure to ask about their experience or expertise in the location before you book!
3.Have I seen enough of their work?
You did the work to decide what edit style you want for your images so this is an important question to answer.
Reviewing a potential photographer’s work allows you to get a feel for their ability to capture the day and emotions, as well as their style and color consistency.
If your candidates don’t publish full galleries to their website, don’t hesitate to ask via email. It may seem like extra work but seeing a full gallery can reassure you if you’re feeling extra nervous about how photos might turnout at the location.
Just keep in mind that no single elopement is the same thus not every gallery you see will match perfectly.
4.Do our personalities and values match?
Your elopement photographer will be with you from start to end in your planning journey, as well, as in some of the most intimate moments of your day.
It’s important that you feel comfortable around them!
So make sure you get a call or video (preferred) consultation before booking and pay attention to how they communicate with you. Do you feel a connection? Do you feel supported?
Are they someone you don’t mind having to spend the day with?
What about values, do you feel like they share yours and have a similar outlook on life as you?
Pro-tip: If you don’t feel a connection from the start, but you really love their work, give each other a second chance. Ask for a follow up meeting and see if they seem more relaxed and relatable. Sometimes the nerves gets us all!
Cost of Elopement Photography
Depending on who you ask, elopement photography will either be too expensive or too cheap.
Truthfully, there is no right or wrong answer since it all boils down to how much a couple is willing and ready to spend on it.
The cost of elopement photography typically includes compensation for:
their administrative time (responses, meetings, research)
their planning efforts (location scouting, timeline planning, vendor searches, photo shot lists, client guides and questionnaires)
their gear maintenance and use (camera gear, rentals, and storage of your images and final gallery)
their travel time, if applicable
the time they will be with you on the day of your elopement
their editing time which varies by the amount of images they deliver
All that said, it’s also very likely that the cost of a typical elopement photographer’s services is based on their current cost of living.
In addition, you may see fees (that you may need to budget separately) pertaining to:
Extensive Travel
Some photographers travel within a certain mileage for free. Then, additional fees apply if they go over the threshold or if they need to book overnight stays.
Additional Permits
Special Use and Photo permits are usually required when eloping in outdoor areas like State Parks and National Parks. However, there are rare occasions when additional monitoring is required (due to location or guest count) and additional fees need to be paid.
Service Add-Ons
Engagement sessions, bride-only portraits, boudoir sessions, day-after adventure sessions, and even officiant or MUA services are examples of add-on services to photography packages.
Not every photographer offers these on their website but may offer them during your consultations. If they don’t mention any at all, don’t hesitate to ask! They might offer something that catches your eye and that you wouldn’t mind paying the extra fee for.
Printing Services
Many elopement photographers offer printing services through professional photo labs which are better options to print your images than one-hour shops.
Printing services include large prints, heirloom albums and canvas; and you can expect to receive quality craftmanship.
What is the Booking Process for an Elopement Photographer?
After your consultations, you’ll be ready to book your perfect elopement photographer. The next step is to get a contract and payment details from them.
Then read everything. And after, read it again. The contract should spell it out: what you should expect from the photographer, their services, and the delivery terms.
Pay extra attention to the nitty-gritty bits like the re-scheduling and cancelation clauses and decide if it works for you. If it doesn’t, do not tell the photographer to change their contract.
Instead, ask questions to better understand their business policies. If you still feel uneasy, it’s best to part ways and re-start your search again.
Once a contract is signed, it’s time to pay the retainer. If a retainer is not paid within the allotted time your photographer gives you, it’s likely that your date won’t be booked.
So make sure you mark your due dates on your calendar or set reminders on your phone so you don’t forget.
And last but not least, ask your photographer to set up a ‘kick-off’ meeting so you can start brainstorming ideas for your amazing day!
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Hey, I’m Sara!
I’m a California elopement photographer based in the Central Valley.
If you’re recently engaged or ready to start planning your elopement day, I’m cheering you on and I’d love to help!
Let’s talk about your vision, gush over stunning locations and spend the day creating memories.
I’m here to guide you through the process + capture your day how you dream it.
YOUR PERFECT DAY STARTS HERE
