What Kind of Elopement Do You Plan?
It all depends on the type of elopement you’re planning. If you know exactly where you’re going and only want to say your vows and take a few brief shots, hiring a standard photographer may be sufficient.
However, if you have no idea where you want to go, if you really want a terrific experience, if you need some planning help, or if you want to add certain activities such as hiking, backpacking, or kayaking, hiring a dedicated elopement photographer is the way to go to get the perfect elopement photos!
I can say that elopement photographers, for the most part, believe that your elopement (which is still your wedding day!) deserves much more than a few fast shots. The couple spends the entire day partying with each other and their guests at more traditional weddings. However, they don’t always get to spend as much time together and may have to cope with annoying guests.
An elopement should be a whole day, devoid of any stressors and full of joyful times celebrating together! You can accomplish something difficult together. A groom recently told me that the difficult climb he and his bride completed together was symbolic of the problems they would encounter later in life, and I thought it was a fantastic illustration. Having an elopement photographer present for the entire day is an excellent way to preserve those memories. Elopement photographers, like wedding photographers, don’t do much posing and are present throughout the day to capture the moments you build together.
What Makes Traditional Wedding Photographers Unique
Contrary to popular belief, there is a distinction between traditional wedding photographers and elopement photographers. Consider this: you would not pay a painter to make a sculpture. Both are artists who produce beautiful pieces of art, yet they have distinct skill sets.
A more traditional wedding photographer may be more involved in the planning process, such as assisting you in creating a timeline that works for images and preparing a shot list for the couple’s desired family portraits. However, the majority of their time is spent showing there on the day of the event and editing work afterwards. Wedding planners are frequent in conventional weddings and can handle the majority of the planning. Elopement photographers, on the other hand, handle both the planning and the photos.
An Elopement Photographer is More Than a Photographer!
A wedding and elopement photographer are much more than just a standard photographer! Planning services will include things like knowing the ideal times to elope in specific locations, thorough scouting of various locations, complete knowledge of the outdoors, knowing and preparing for rapidly changing weather conditions, having backup locations and plans in place, knowing how to photograph near local wildlife, care properly about the environment and leaving no visible trace after the shoot, having backup outdoor and camera gear. Additionally, we help you locate service providers for your special day, staying in touch with park rangers regarding any changes to the rules or conditions, providing you with fun or original suggestions for things to do, assisting with marriage licenses and signing to make your union legal, how to photograph a couple in a landscape without one dominating over the other, and much more!
If you plan on an elopement, you can see why it is so important to hire the right photographer. The photographs of your elopement are going to be very special. Taking the time to choose the right elopement photographer is an essential part of the process. Do not leave this decision to chance!
