Tips on Hiring an Elopement Photographer

With hundreds of amazing photographers, it can be hard to know which elopement photographer you should hire.

Let’s be real. Almost every photographer you’re interested in takes great photos.

They likely all do great work and are amazing artists. That’s not what this blog post is about.

If you are wondering how to hire an elopement photographer I’m going to talk about the most important factor you should consider.

Plus fire practical questions to ask each elopement photographer before you book them.

Let’s get into it.

1. do you vibe?

Hands down the most important question to ask yourself - do you vibe with your photographer? It’s essential to feel comfortable around your photographer.

The best way to find out if a photographer is a good fit is to talk on the phone. Your homework: pick up the phone and talk to each potential photographer.

It might feel awkward at first, but if you don’t feel like you are gabbing with a friend by the end of the conversation, it might not be the best fit.

If it feels weird on the phone it’s likely it won’t be any different in person.

You deserve to be yourself on your wedding day and have a photographer that celebrates that!

2. outdoor experience

Let’s be real, elopements are not like traditional weddings, and adventure elopements are on a whole other level.

It’s important to make sure that your “adventure” photographer actually has experience in the great outdoors.

Be open with them and communicate what you want your day to look like.

Here is a list of questions to ask your potential outdoor elopement photographer:

what is their outdoor experience?

They do not need to be outdoor guides or have any formal certifications or training. However, if your adventure elopement photographer doesn’t list any outdoor activities this could be something to consider.

what is their favorite hike?

If you are having a hiking elopement and they cannot list a single hike - that could potentially be a red flag.

will they help you find a location?

Not all elopement photographers will help you find a ceremony location, which is fine, just know what you are getting upfront.

If you are new to hiking, it’s great to find a photographer that is experienced in the outdoors and can help you find a location that matches your outdoor experience.

are they comfortable with your elopement activity?

Talk to your photographer about your elopement and make sure they are on board with your elopement activity.

For instance, a skydiving elopement would be a dream for me to shoot, other photographers may not feel the same way about jumping out of a plane. If your photographer isn’t confident in their surroundings it will show in their work.

3. backup system

It’s essential that all adventure elopement photographers are overly prepared.

Dropped camera. Lost backpack. Bad weather. Stolen laptop.

You need to make sure your photographer has a backup system if shit hits the fan.

Hopefully none of these “what if” scenarios take place. Ask them a few of these simple questions to see if they have a backup system in place.

do they have two camera bodies?

This is essential if one camera is dropped, broken, or doesn’t work. A photographer should always carry two camera bodies during an elopement.

what is there back up system?

Inside a digital camera, photos are written onto a small plastic SD card. All of your wedding photos live on those cards until your photographer downloads them onto a computer, external hard drive, or internet server.

If something happens to that card before copies are made to multiple locations —- your wedding photos will be gone forever.

Ask your photographer what their backup system is. If they cannot quickly tell you two other locations they store your images = major red flag.

what will happen if there is bad weather?

There is no right or wrong answer to this. I think it’s good for you to know what your photographer’s policies are.

Usually, photographers will not allow you to transfer dates due to weather.

4. technical stuff

Everything you and your photographer agree upon must be put in writing.

Contracts are industry standard and any photographer that won’t send you one raises a major red flag.

There are no right or wrong answers with the following questions - this is nice information to have.

• when will your edited images be delivered

• what is the method of delivery

• will you be allowed unlimited downloads

• do you have printing rights to the images

• approximately how many pictures will be delivered

5. pricing

No matter what photographer you choose the most important thing to know is what is included in the package price.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions and always read the fine print.

Remember, if they don’t give you a contract, girl get out of there.

• is the cost of travel, food, and accommodations included

• if not, how are those costs determined

• what hours are included per package

• how much do they charge per additional hour

• what happens if you need more time on your wedding day