Things to Consider When Hiring a Photographer for Your Elopement
These days, there are an increasing number of engaged couples deciding to stray away from tradition and elope rather than holding a full-fledged wedding. However, while planning an elopement certainly doesn’t have to be as big of an ordeal as an intricate day-long party with all of your family and friends would be, there are still a number of pieces of the planning process that ought to be taken seriously. One of the more important bookings you’ll make for your elopement, for example, will be your photographer. Here are a few things you should keep in mind before selecting one to hire for your special day.
Your Overall Elopement Budget
There might be a number of reasons behind your decision to elope, but a key deciding factor for many couples who choose elopement is a lack of desire to pay tens of thousands of dollars for an entire wedding. Weddings can be remarkably expensive these days, and with your future to think about, you and your spouse-to-be might not want to put that big of a dent into your savings. However, if you don’t allocate the funds for your elopement properly, you could still end up in serious financial trouble.
Establish the top priority items in your budget at the beginning of your planning process. Whether it’s for tickets to get to the beautiful destination you’re eloping to, a romantic honeymoon suite for after your nuptials, or a skilled photographer to capture those precious moments throughout the elopement, determining how much you can allocate toward the things that matter most will make it easier to set the rest of your budget and stick to it. To do this successfully, make sure you’re consistently monitoring your online bank account, or make a spreadsheet detailing the whole of your budget. That way, you can have confidence in the fact that you’re not overspending and that your allocated funds are going exactly where they should be.
Elopement Travel & Accommodations
If you’re planning an elopement to somewhere a little more exciting, it’s important that you sort out your travel plans early on. Figuring out the logistics for how you’re getting to your destination, transporting any dresses, suits, or other special occasion clothes and accessories, and what your accommodations will be upon arriving are all crucial steps in your plan-making process. However, it’s just as important to make these logistical decisions for any guests you invite and professionals you hire for the occasion, like your photographer.
If you’re hiring a photographer who lives outside of the area in which the elopement is taking place, you’ll likely have to pay additional fees to cover any travel expenses and lodging needs they may have. But if you’ve fallen in love with this photographer’s work and are dead-set on hiring them regardless, go for it! This is a once-in-a-lifetime moment, and you’ll want to have it documented properly, so it’s entirely worthwhile to spend a little more on someone you know has the training and talent to provide you with beautiful, high-quality pictures from your special day.
Elopement Locations
Once you’ve decided on your general destination, the next step will be choosing a venue for exchanging your vows. You could always just have the ceremony at a local courthouse, but where’s the fun in that? Again, this is likely to be the only time you elope in your life, so why not pull out all the stops and select a venue that will make the day even more memorable?
Choose a location that offers photographic appeal, especially if you’re already eloping to a place that’s filled with spectacular natural beauty. The primary focus of your day should, of course, be celebrating the commitment you and your spouse are making to one another, but doing so in a gorgeous national park or surrounded by crashing ocean waves will make the energy of the day all the more exciting and intense. What’s more, the stunning photos your photographer captures will wow your friends, family, and social media followers!
Photography Style Alignment
As you’re researching potential photographers to document your elopement, consider how you would ideally like the photos from your event to look. You may already have a certain aesthetic for your shoot in mind, so choose a professional whose artistic style aligns well with your vision.
When you’ve settled on someone who can bring your photographic dream to life stylistically, it’s important to make sure that they’re also someone who can capture the essence of your relationship. Choose a photographer who encourages you and your partner to be your weirdest, goofiest, most authentic selves— don’t be afraid to laugh and have fun with it! The more you’re both able to relax and be real around your hired professional, the better your elopement pictures will turn out.
