When couples decide to elope, they decide to go against the grain in society and do something different. They also decide to elope because they both love adventures and value experiences over “things”. So what do you need when you decide to elope? A elopement photographer. 

But how do you find a photographer who specializes in elopements, and how do you find one who is right for you? After all, there are so many photographers in the world. How in the world do you find an elopement photographer you can trust?

That’s where we come in. Wandering Weddings is an elopement resources platform and elopement directory for couples planning their wedding adventure. 

How Do I Pick an Elopement Photographer?

We made finding an elopement photographer easy. Our Wandering Weddings photographer members are experienced photographers who have documented multiple elopements and intimate weddings.

Consider these 3 factors when searching for your ideal elopement photographer:

1) Where You’re Going to Elope

From Italy to Washington State, we feature elopement photographers around the world who would be perfect to team up with during your wedding day. Our elopement directory is organized by location, so feel free to click the location you both are loving, and you’ll see a list of elopement photographers who specialize in that area pop up!

Don’t be shy! They would love to connect with you to help you make your elopement dreams a reality.

If you aren’t sure where to elope, then explore some of the best places to elope to get some insight on which areas you both would like to explore. There we cover some of our favorite locations couples have adventured including Yosemite and the Oregon Coast. Your adventure elopement photographer is waiting for you with just a click of a button (don’t forget to check out some of our featured photographers below to get started).

If you want to stay local, that’s OK too! Our directory is perfect for finding an elopement photographer near you. All you have to do is select your home state, and team up with a vendor in your area to start planning your local wedding adventure. 

Why should I pick a local photographer for my elopement? 

Teaming up with a photographer who specializes in the area you want to elope is crucial. There are tons of photographers around the world, and they would be happy to cover you elopement adventure, but not all of them are experienced in the area. 

Location expertise allows you to see previous work at the place you want to explore, and it also gives your photographer the knowledge when it comes to permits and specific leave no trace regulations in the area, especially if you’re planning an adventure wedding in a national park. Trust us, national park regulations are always changing, so having a knowledgable person you can trust can help you from getting a fine during your wedding adventure. Please remember, keeping our public lands protected and clean will allow future couples to elope there years from now. 

2) Elopement Packages

Since we feature a bunch of different vendors on our directory, these vendors also have different elopement packages they offer. You’ll need to connect with a photographer and ask the cost breakdown of their packages, including what they include in their packages. 

Some photographers include multiple packages ranging in hours of coverage. They will also offer location scouting, adventure timelines, assistance navigating permits and packaging, and so much more.

Elopement photographers will range from $3,000 to $10,000, on average. It really depends on what you’re looking for and your budget considerations. 

Keep in mind elopement photographers are different than traditional wedding photographers since traditional photographers usually take photos of your ceremony and reception, while your adventure elopement photographer will adventure WITH you and document your adventure along the way. A lot of photographers also play the role of officiant too, so that’s something to discuss with them as well when going over the services they offer.

3) Portfolio and Previous Work

Our elopement vendors have portfolios on our website to house their previous work from couples on elopement adventures. This will not only help you see if you vibe with the style (lighting, poses, and overall look of their editing), but it’ll also confirm if the location you want is the one for you. Keep in mind, you can always ask for more samples of their work once you connect with them, OR hop to their website from their Wandering Weddings profile. 

Finally, take some time to look at their reviews and testimonials on their profile. This will give you some insight from previous couples who adventured along their side. 

Check out our featured vendors below if you want a head start to your search:

Are You Still Wondering Where You Should Start Your Search?

When deciding where you want to elope, remember to think about a place that either means a lot to both of you or a place you both really want to check off of your bucket list. Once you decide where you want to elope, you can hop on over to our elopement resources to get more inspiration!

Ask Yourself: “What type of elopement photography style do I like?”

Our elopement photographers range in different photography styles, and their gallery and social media can give couples a pretty good idea of their past elopements and creative directions. From our experience, we have realized that a lot of photographers who specialize in intimate weddings and elopements actually adapt and change their creative direction depending on the couple they are working with. Obviously, they stick to their own creative styling and editing, but they take into consideration the overall vibe and mood you’re going for! This is why connecting is KEY to finding the perfect vendor for you.

Our members want you to love your wedding day photos, so we recommend connecting with them to see what they think about your elopement day ideas.

Now that you have time to think about the type of elopement photographer you want to team up with, it is time for you to pick your photographer!

Wandering Weddings is the number one source of adventure wedding vendors around the world. Search our international directory of photographers below.