How to Become an Elopement Photographer
One of the questions I get asked fairly frequently is, “How did you get into this? How did you become an elopement photographer?”
It’s a great question — it is the coolest job in the world, after all (if I do say so myself).
Whether you’re already an established photographer but want to transition into the elopement niche or you’re an aspiring photographer and know this is the career path you want to follow, figuring out how to become an elopement photographer can feel like a daunting task.
That’s exactly why I put this guide together! I was once there, too, just starting out and with a gazillion questions. After shooting hundreds of destination and adventure elopements, all of them unique, I’ve learned a few things. Here, I’m discussing my best proven tips for becoming an elopement photographer.
Tips to Become an Elopement Photographer
It may seem overwhelming trying to figure out where to start, but having a plan with actionable steps can go a long way in helping you become an elopement photographer!
1. Be adventurous & travel
The number one tip for how to become an elopement photographer, particularly if you’re interested in “adventure elopements?” Be adventurous.
It really is that simple! To be clear, you don’t have to do something insanely epic everyday, but you do have to “walk the walk,” so to speak. And in this particular case, that means getting out there and actually adventuring. Not only will your clients and potential clients see right through it if you don’t, but you’ll be setting yourself up to fail.
Think about it like this: if you don’t travel regularly, how can you advise your clients on what they should pack? If you don’t genuinely enjoy hiking, you’ll be miserable on the trail as you lug heavy camera gear and try to shoot. If you don’t actually spend time in nature, you can’t possibly understand golden hour lighting in different areas, micro-climates, potential wildlife to watch for, or Leave No Trace principles.
Another thing to consider is that if you’re trying to attract adventurous, outdoorsy couples and you’re simply not that, you’re going to struggle to form a genuine connection. Keep in mind that couples choose their elopement photographer based largely on their connection and how well they mesh, so it’s incredibly important that you don’t try to fake this part!
2. Expand your portfolio & set-up styled shoots
So how exactly do you get the adventure and travel experience you need to become an elopement photographer? Set up styled shoots! You need real-life experience to develop your portfolio and become more comfortable and knowledgeable, but “practicing” on someone’s actual wedding day isn’t the way to go about it.
Instead, set up styled shoots, specifically sessions that reflect your vibe and branding. If you primarily want to shoot mountain elopements, set up mountain shoots. If you love the desert, set up shoots in the desert. You can use social media to find couples (more on that a little later!), and join photography groups that frequently set up “photography retreats,” which typically include at least one group styled shoot.
Doing this will not only build out your portfolio, but it will also naturally give you invaluable skills and experience. You’ll learn about how to build elopement day timelines, travel and hike with your camera gear, pose your couples, interact with different group sizes (lots of modern couples elope with family or friends!), scout locations, and so much more!
3. Be the expert
We just touched on this, but learning elopement photography skills is incredibly important. There are so many more pieces to the puzzle than simply buying the right gear, having a great marketing strategy, or even being an excellent photographer.
Your couples will hire you because you’ve successfully convinced them that you can give them an experience that no other elopement photographer can. In order to grow your business and keep booking clients, you must deliver on everything you promised them, and that means becoming an expert in each aspect of elopement photography.
Be relentless in learning the right skills and gaining real-life experience in everything that could possibly help you grow. Find the best locations (and learn everything you possibly can about them!), learn the most flattering poses that will wow couples, invest in some courses or workshops, connect with more experienced photographers, figure out how to connect with your couples and make them both feel safe and comfortable, and of course, deliver photographs that will take your breath away.
4. Create a website & your brand
In today’s world where people have immediate access to virtually everything and more choices than ever before, branding is paramount. I’d even go so far as to say that creating a brand that accurately reflects you and your work is one of the most important steps in becoming an elopement photographer.
Note that I said you and your work — yes, clients have to fall in love with your work first, but remember, it’s critical that you mesh well on a personal level.
If you’re trying to become an elopement photographer (or you are one already), lean into that 100%. When people look at your website or social channels, there should be absolutely no question that you’re an elopement photographer. Not a traditional wedding photographer or an adventurous landscape photographer who can or occasionally does shoot elopements, but a full-time elopement photographer.
This will instill confidence in couples interested in hiring you that you are an elopement expert. That’s exactly what they’re looking for — an expert — so use your website and all associated branding to convince them of that. Doing so ensures couples that you are providing them value no one else can. I don’t mean in terms of money, but rather with the experience and inside knowledge you can offer them to create an unforgettable experience.
Getting to witness moments like this is one of the main reasons to become an elopement photographer!
5. Become a marketing pro and get your work in front of your ideal audience
Piggybacking on everything I just said, being an elopement photographer is essentially being in marketing. We have countless amazing marketing tools today, and many of them are FREE! It’s up to you to learn how to best use them.
That doesn’t necessarily mean growing your Instagram account to hundreds of thousands of followers (although, of course, if you can, that’s amazing!). Instead, it means marketing your photography business to the right audience.
Anyone can put together a quick sponsored post on social media or throw a blog post up on their website, but if you don’t have a strategy or do it without intention, there’s a very real possibility that those efforts will go to waste.
Figure out which channels work best for you — Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok are all great for elopement photographers. Once you gain some traction with one or two, stick with it! If you get engagement (or even better, inquiries!), that tells you that you’re on the right track.
And on the flip side, don’t be afraid to ditch a specific platform if you’re not seeing any results. YOUR clients may simply not be there, and your efforts will be much better rewarded if you focus on what IS working.
Next, invest some time into learning SEO. Do keyword research and figure out what your target audience is searching for, and look into different versions of the same keyword. For example, “how to plan an elopement in ____” has the same search intent as “planning an _____ elopement.” This is equally important on social media as it is for blogging.
If you have NO idea where to start with all this, don’t worry! There are so many resources and tools we have at our disposal, so you don’t have to start at expert level. We’ll dive into more details about some of the best sites, apps, courses, and other worthy investments a little later.
6. Create an incredible experience from start to finish
Being an elopement photographer is about so much more than just delivering great pictures. Couples who choose to elope are generally seeking an intentional, meaningful experience, and that starts from their very first contact with you. That’s why it’s SO important to have strong, consistent branding that truly reflects you and your business — you want your potential clients to have that “Aha!” moment the second they land on your website or social media pages.
From there, every step is equally (and increasingly!) important. Get potential clients on the phone as quickly as possible, find ways to connect with them, follow up and stay in touch, act as their personal guide and elopement consult as their wedding date approaches, and then be the best elopement photographer/travel planner/logistics coordinator/makeup-toucher-upper/laugh-inducer that you possibly can on their big day.
And the couples’ experience doesn’t necessarily have to end when you deliver their photos. Periodically post photos from their elopement (recycling content like this over a long period of time is an excellent marketing strategy, also!) and tag them, and continue to engage with their social media posts. You never know where your next referral may come from!
7. Never miss an opportunity to grow
One of the most important things you can do for your career, even long after you become an elopement photographer, is never stop growing and learning. Even the best, most experienced photographers have areas they can improve in and likewise, newbie photographers have valuable things they can share with and teach others.
Growth comes in many forms in this industry, so as long as you’re open to it, you’ll have plenty of opportunities. Take courses, sign up for workshops and retreats, connect with other photographers in social settings, upgrade your gear, join online photography and elopement forums, make yourself available to be a second shooter periodically, and travel to new places.
All of these experiences (even the not-so-great ones!) will only help you learn and grow in the long run!
Best gear for elopement photographers
As I mentioned, tools and resources are an extremely important aspect to becoming an elopement photographer and growing your business. This includes physical camera gear, as well as intangible “gear,” like photo editing apps, location-scouting tools, photography courses, and more. Here are some of my most-used and highly recommended items, apps, and other resources.
Camera Bodies:
Sony A7 III
Sony A7 IV
Canon R6
Nikon Z7
Camera Lenses:
35 mm
85 mm
24-70 mm
70-200 mm
Accessories:
Camera Harness
Extreme Pro SD Cards
SD card holder
Camera rain cover
Hiking Backpack/Camera Backpack
Extra Accessories:
Clear Umbrellas
Hand warmers
Rain Coat
First Aid Kit
Sewing Kit
Best Programs:
CRM such as Honeybook or Dubsado [Honeybook code for 20% off your first year : http://share.honeybook.com/bethany25487 ]
SSD (Solid State Drive or Hard drive)
Web Gallery such as Pic-Time, SmugMug, or Pixiest [contact me for 1 month free of Pic-Time]
Adobe Lightroom & Photoshop
Photo Mechanic
JPEG Mini
Blog Stomp
Tailwind [contact me for 1 free month of Tailwind]
Google Earth Pro
Best Investments for Elopement Photographers
The Art of Adventure Weddings & Elopements
The Elopement Photographer Course
Ready to take the next steps to become an elopement photographer?
Whether you’re already a photographer or you’re still trying to break into the industry, I would love to connect with you! Please feel free to reach out with any questions (or tips — remember, always be ready to grow and learn!). Good luck on your path, I’ll be rooting for you!