Ultimate Guide to Finding the Right Elopement Photographer

There’s a lot that goes into an elopement to make it so magical, but the photographer might be at the top of the list.

The photographer is arguably the lynchpin of the entire ceremony, who is often tasked with capturing every moment and helping to make the vision of the couple come to life.

It’s important that you have someone reliable behind the camera, almost like a conductor, ensuring that your special moments are preserved forever.

So you’ve made up your mind, you know where you’re going, when you’ll go, the color and cut of your dress, and even what kind of cake to have.

But you haven’t picked a photographer yet?

No worries, we’ve put together this guide to help you know what you’re looking for and what to expect at every step of the way.

Plan Ahead and Do Your Research

First things first, if you’re in the market for an elopement photographer, you have to be prepared to do a bit of research.

Elopement photographers live and die by their online reputations. This isn’t an industry where you can mess up too many times and get away with it. So you know right off the bat that the crème rises to the top, and good reviews and praise are a great indication that you’re dealing with someone who knows how to capture the magic.

Once you narrow down your search, begin to compare packages and prices. This is not an area where you want to skimp, however. In the photography world, cheap usually equals bad.

Photography is an art, and it’s a lot harder than just snapping pictures. Just the editing process can take hours of labor, to say nothing of having the skill and intuition to know when to capture the perfect moments and bring out the best in the bride and groom.

Elopements are typically cheaper than weddings and elopement photographers understand this, so don’t expect to be paying wedding prices for a simple elopement package. Typical elopement photography packages range anywhere from about $700 to $1200 depending on the quality and location.

Your primary goal here is to simply make sure the photographer is in your budget and does quality work. See their reviews and social media comments. Do they get glowing praise or are their socials pretty empty? Do they have 3 reviews at 4.1 stars or 50+ reviews at 4.8 stars?

If you do the research, the results will meet your expectations.

Make Sure Your Elopement Visions Match

This is crucial. Just because the price is right and the work seems quality, doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve found the perfect photographer. There’s different styles to think about.

You want a photographer that will match up well with the vision you have for your elopement and can help you bring it to life. You want to be sure that the person you’re entrusting with this responsibility knows exactly what you want and how to bring it about.

Photographers all have different styles, different areas of expertise, comfort zones, and other factors that all make them unique. There is also personalities to think about.
This is why it’s important to get in touch with potential prospects you may consider for the job and get to know them a little. Do your due diligence, and don’t be afraid to ask questions.

A great elopement photographer will also do the same. They will take the time to ask questions and take interest in your plans, so that they can help bring your vision to life. Even if it’s as simple as a basic chapel elopement, you’re going to want those memories preserved the right way, and that means finding the right person for the job.

Integrate Them Into Your
Ceremony

Which brings us to the last major element of finding the right elopement photographer, how to make them a part of everything.

Don’t be afraid to let your photographer in on your little world. They need to know the plans, they need to know your location, setting, color scheme ideas, venues for photo shoots, and everything else that will come together to form the ceremony.

They should know it as well as you do, that way they have all the tools necessary to give you the best experience. Often, great elopement photography is a combination of preparedness and taking advantage of the moment.

Researching location, lighting, time of the day, and everything else, will help give the photographer a general picture of the mood and what camera and peripherals to bring, as well as how best to direct when looking for a specific shot.

Likewise, they will be vigilant and look for candid moments that truly capture the magic. You increase the likelihood of this happening by sharing everything about the ceremony plans with the photographer so that you know they are a part what’s going on.

Click HERE to learn the 5 secrets to a successful (and stress-free) elopement and BONUS checklist!