
A common misconception: hiring an elopement photographer means that you’re having a photo shoot.
Couples have been walking around here mad as hell that they have to hire someone to have a long photoshoot.
I see it all the time and speak to couples who think,
“We just need 1 hour of photography, we don’t want to be posing for any longer than that.” Or
“The ceremony is only 30 minutes so we’ll just need you for an hour total for some photos after with the family.”
YOUR ELOPEMENT IS NOT A PHOTO SHOOT.
If you’ve been planning your own elopement, there are things you’re picking and choosing specifically because they’re special to you. You’re planning places for you and your family to meet. Choosing your guestlist is intentional. You’re not just inviting everyone and anyone. You’re making sure you’re both dressed to the nines, and you’re making sure it’s special.
This is the opportunity to have an elopement photographer be present to capture something from the point of view of an outsider, but also an insider.
It’s the opportunity to not fuss with your phone.
You are hiring an elopement photographer for both their skill and their ability to see you two as delicate, unique individuals with a special love.
If you’re lucky, you’re hiring a photographer who can suspend that love on paper for you. Giving you something to keep forever so that it will hold you on the days when love is difficult. These images will solidify every reason you chose your person. These images are the story of your lives.
A few notes before we get to the deets – Find more in Your Ultimate Elopement Timeline Guide – What Your Elopement Could Look Like to build your own elopement day.
*Time flies when you’re having fun. Elopement photographers won’t be experiencing the same day you experience. We’re your active observers so that you can actually enjoy the time you have together.
*Elopement photography is just like any job. To deliver images that are up to our standards, elopement photographers all have a different way of working. For example, I require communication with clients to understand their needs. When I’m working with eloping clients I’m doing two jobs, coordinating and photographing.
*Although we are capturing moments milliseconds at a time doesn’t mean that’s the only job we have. In each description I’ll give you a bit of perspective of what each segment of time requires.
*These are not hard and fast rules. Some elopement photographers may take less or more time with each portion of your day. This is simply my attempt at quantifying your day so that you understand what a photographer requires for these moments. This is how much time I take with each portion and may not reflect that of other elopement photographers. Make sure to ask your photographer to break down times.
*We encourage taking your time for your elopement. Rushing isn’t fun. Rushing is stressful. So we encourage our couples to savor each and every moment.
*I’m allotting buffers in each portion. It’s important to know that there will be times that elopement photographers won’t be photographing things. We’ll be switching cards, lenses, adjusting lighting situations, helping put things away or making things available, coordinating a moment, anticipating a moment, clearing backgrounds, making things aesthetic, composing images. There are so many things that go into photography that happen before we click the button. I’d venture to say that “making things aesthetic” is about half of my job. I hate working in post-production to edit things out.
If you have chosen things that you would like to be photographed, such as invitations, heirloom jewelry, shoes, your dress, your tux/suit/outfit, flowers, cufflinks, etc. you should put aside at least 30 minutes if you want your photographer to photograph these items specifically. Styling of items can take anywhere from 15 – 60 minutes, depnding on how many items are involved. If you’re ok with these items being photographed during your event and not in any stylized manner make that clear to your elopement photographer. But this doesn’t mean it doesn’t require the same amount of time. Throughout the day of an event, a photographer can take up to 60 – 120 minutes photographing different details while they’re in action, choosing the best compositions for them, coordinating them, or anticipating them.
The getting ready ritual isn’t just for big weddings. If you’re having moments before your wedding that you’ve planned out, like a get together at your Air BnB before your elopement, or a moment between three generations of mothers, or breakfast together in the great outdoors, all of that deserves attention and encapsulating. Mind you, any of these things I’ve listed above could take up to 60 minutes to two hours, but time can be split between details and getting ready moments easily. If you’re having a boozy brunch with folks before your elopement, we won’t shoot faces or people while you eat, we’ll just photograph details instead, like all of your special details along with the food you’ve made or ordered in. We don’t have to capture the entire hair and make-up regiment, just the last few parts and capture details before you’re done.
It isn’t either meet at the aisle or have a first look, you can do both. Have a special moment before you meet at the top of the mountain, end of the aisle, on the beach, wherever. Use this moment to pray. Maybe you want to say private vows. Or maybe you don’t want to look at each other, but touch each other, take in the sights together before you start your ceremony.
This moment can simply be a way to take a break from what might feel like a rush or chaos. Your photographer will coordinate this moment as well as photograph it. Though that might sound easy, making sure you don’t see each other before you’ve both turned around requires a bit of coordination and chaos for your photographer. The 30 – 60 minutes includes the coordination, going to the spot you’ll meet, directing you, and the private moment you’ll take together.
A ceremony can be as simple as signing paperwork or it can be a fully guided ceremony by an officiant who leads you through your vows, a unity ceremony, religious rites, all the way to your first kiss. Of course you can have something in between all that. It’s your ceremony, pick and choose which things are most important to you and make sure to include them. Generally 10 – 120 minutes is what you’ll need your photographer for this portion.
Every celebration looks different. It could be a night on the town, a quick dinner, a cocktail hour, maybe all of the above, but in any case, the celebration can take anywhere from 60 minutes – 3 hours. This is an opportunity for your photographer to capture all the fun stuff you’ve planned for your elopement. A reception does not have to be eating and drinking, it can be games, it can be plans you make over the course of a whole trip with your folks, it can be a catered or privately cheffed dinner, it can be an excursion you planned with your new spouse, it can be anything and this is why this portion has the most time for your photographer. If you’re planning something super special, those moments deserve to be captured too.
We provide a 20 minute time out for meals so that we’re not photographing anyone eating and typically, we’re eating with the couple and their guests, as well at this time. That could be snacks and/or meals. At this point we’re on break as well and generally, taking photos of people eating isn’t a thing for us. This 20 minutes isn’t accounted into the amount of time for collections. This might not be for all elopement photographers but we do this as a courtesy. Everything before and after physically eating, however, is included, for example service time, cooking time, etc. because this is all time that you’re connecting with your spouse or family members while you wait. The details in the food are also captured because, well, when do you get the opportunity to have a whole day of your favorites?
We consider any time moving “travel time.” This is where the buffers come in. If you’re in your Las Vegas hotel getting ready and you’re heading downstairs to meet your spouse for your first look, that’s going to take some time. I’ve timed it many times and generally something like this takes up to 15-20 minutes between making sure you have everything you need, grabbing the last minute things you’ve forgotten, walking to the elevator, waiting for the elevator, taking the elevator, navigating your way through the hotel/casino, doing last minute checks of shoes, make-up/hair, 15-20 minutes goes by pretty quickly, but also because Vegas hotels are huge.
Then there’s times where you’re driving from one location to another, hiking, taking a helicopter, waiting on your limo, etc. Some of these things are beyond your control and hurrying up and waiting might be part of your itinerary. Moments like this add up during your day. That’s why it’s important to have a timeline in place so you know how long things will generally take. Tap here to learn how to put together a robust timeline. I even provide examples. Your photographer may or may not have travel time included, which means your 4 hour collection just became 2 hours of photography coverage because your photographer has to drive up to 2 hours to go from location to location. Make sure to ask
I know, you know we’re artists and that we’re all sensitive and stuff but here’s a list of questions that you can absolutely ask your photographer before you decide to hire them.
This is all a matter of preference. Couples who are choosing a photographer based on their art understand that they have a style with which they resonate most. But it’s not just in the way their images look.
This is how you’ll make sure the photographer you choose is right for you.
– Full elopement planning. Personalized U.S. elopement guide. Questionnaires, vendor recommendations, permitting, and client portal access. Unlimited planning and access to your elopement team. Everything above.
– Explore locations like Red Rock Canyon, Rainier Mountain, and Seychelles. Tap here for more information on elopement locations.
-Travel expenses ALWAYS included.
Ceremony Services
– Officiant services by Pop Andrini.
– Marriage license guidance.
– Custom ceremony.
Photography
– From 4-16 hours of professional photography coverage by Mari Andrini.
– Drone footage (location and weather permitting).
– Sneak peeks within 24 hours.
– Final images on a secure online gallery.
Las Vegas and San Diego elopements starting at $4000
U.S. elopements starting at $4000
International elopements starting at $7000
From $4000-$14000
I hope I’ve answered your question of how much time you need with your photographer. Though other elopement photographers might have different collections with different hour coverages, as a photographer myself, I want you to know that I value your elopement. This is a day you’re marrying the love of your life and though you have decided to elope, it doesn’t mean it’s any less important than if you had a big wedding or a courthouse wedding. In fact, I think you’re dope for choosing to do you.
Discover the artful audacity of adventurous elopements and book with us today!