What It's Like To Work With Me As Your Elopement Photographer
Finding an elopement photographer that fits the vibe for your elopement day, helps you plan and prepare, AND takes great photos is a lot harder than it sounds. I’ve talked a bit about how to find an elopement photographer, but now lets talk about what it’s like to work with me as your elopement photographer!
Step One: Fill out my contact form
Fill out the contact form on my website! Yes you can DM me on instagram, or give me a call, but making sure I have your date available, service your area, or specialize in what you’re looking for is important!
Step Two: Figure out a time to chat on the phone
Once we know I’m available, we’ll plan a time to hop on the phone to chat further. This helps you know I’m an actual real person on the other end (ha!), and we’ll both know pretty quickly whether I’d be a good fit for you on your day. Outside of that, it helps us go over details, chat about what you’re envisioning for the day, and how I can help.
Step Three: Go over the contract
The third step to hiring me as your elopement photographer is to go over a contract I send over that outlines the terms of service. This goes into detail about things like what happens if we go back into a lockdown, how I do retouching, what happens if you need to reschedule or cancel, all of that fun stuff. Once you sign the contract and pay your retainer (typically $500), we can get to planning!
Step Four: Start planning
Arguably one of my favorite parts of being an elopement photographer is helping couples plan the day of their dreams. Whether this is connecting you with vendors that I love and trust, sharing with you all of my favorite hidden gem locations, sharing some off the cuff elopement ideas (uhm, train elopement anyone?!), compiling a list of airbnb recommendations for you to have a reception at, or sharing my favorite DIY floral YouTube channel, this is where we get into planning your day!!!
Step Five: Planning locations
For planning, we start locations, date/season/time of year, and activities. If you want to hit up a waterfall in the desert with gorgeous red sandstone rock, I compile all the places I know of, as well as do some research for some more. If you know you’re traveling into Telluride but aren’t sure what location you want, I compile a list of everything from alpine lakes to overlooks. If you know you want to elope in a field of aspen trees, I compile a list of my favorite aspen locations around the west slope. There really are so many options to choose from when deciding on your location, so this is where I really shine!
Step Six: Obtain any permits
Colorado is a really popular state to elope in because it really is just the most beautiful, welcoming place. Because of this, most locations will require a permit. This is nothing you need to worry about, as I’ll contact the appropriate National Park/Ranger Station/State Park/BLM office to make sure we have the appropriate permits to build any structures (arches, backdrops, etc), make sure we follow any rules (like stay off of off-limit locations, not use any flowers or greenery that is invasive like pampas grass), and have permission to “commercially” use the area.
Step Seven: Planning activities
You might have a vision for where you would like to have your ceremony, but another great thing about eloping is you can do different activities too. If you want to cook breakfast together at your airbnb, go for a sunrise hike to an alpine lake and jump in, or mountain bike your favorite trail together - this is where we start planning activities to do on your elopement day.
I always tell my couples to dream up their best day - the one you’re going to look back on the rest of your life and think “can you believe everything we did that day?!” because wedding ceremonies are cool and all but have you ever spent the day just celebrating your partner and your relationship?! Like I think that is so friggen cool, that you can take a whole day and do what serves and connects you two as a couple.
Step Eight: Build a timeline
We get to play it pretty fast and loose with elopement timelines in order to allow a bit more spontaneity, or if the weather forecast turns out to be less than ideal. But we do want to make sure we’re allowing enough time throughout the day to do all of the activities you’ve got planned, and to make sure I have time to capture it all!
When building out your timeline, once we have locations narrowed down (anywhere you want to explore for photos), a ceremony location, as well as activities, I get to planning! We’ll hop on a phone call to go over everything you want captured, and we start building out the day! It’s helpful to do it over a phone call to eliminate the back and forth, since I’ll usually have a million questions about what all you want photographed, what time you want to do things like get ready or eat lunch, what you want to do during sunset and the best lighting, etc.
We’ll also come up with backup plans for those “just in case” moments, like if it rains in Moab in August (unusual) or if i70 through Glenwood closes and your flowers get stuck on the other side of the pass (less unusual).
Step Nine: Prepare
One of the most important aspects of your elopement day is going to be the prep we do before it. There is a ton to think about in order to be properly and safely prepared for whatever your elopement day may look like.
If you’re coming from out of state, preparing for your elopement in Colorado may look like arriving a few days early to adjust to the altitude (and drinking tons of water!).
Other ways we’'ll prepare for your elopement day includes: double checking our permit information, double checking reservations (car, hotel, dinner, etc), following up with any vendors (florist, hair/MUA, videographer, private chef, etc), checking the weather and road closure reports, obtaining your marriage license, going over checklists for what you need to pack (wedding clothing, marriage license, rings, etc), etc.
There are some things you don’t need to worry about, I always keep my car stock piled with things like extra water and snacks, umbrellas in case of rain, as well as other random things you may need (bobby pins, tide pins, sewing kit, Advil, etc).
Step Ten: Celebrate!
Once the day is here, it’s time to throw all expectations out the window and enjoy your friggen day! You’re as prepared as possible, you’ve got the most amazing day with the most amazing person planned, and it’s time to reflect on your relationship and the life you are heading into together! Ahh!!
This day is ALL about you. If you need me to drive so that you can have that extra mimosa at brunch, I’d be happy to. If you need me to stop at the liquor store to pick up your favorite bottle of wine, I can do that too. I’m here for you, to make this day as special as possible.
