One of the biggest questions my couples have on our initial consultation is “how much time do we need for our elopement?” And like any good question, it doesn’t have a quick and easy answer that’ll be the same for everyone. But I’ll share what I think based on my experience from twelve years as a photographer and almost 300 wedding and elopements to help you figure out what’s right for you.
Without a doubt, I think my galleries as a whole are stronger the more time I spend with you on your wedding day. Most of my couples now book 8-12 hours of photography, because it allows us to plan a relaxed day from getting ready all the way through celebrations, without ever feeling like we’re rushing from one thing to the next. A full day of photography also means a full day of adventure (whatever that looks like for you), rather than spending much of the day just waiting for it to begin.
But I also don’t believe that full day coverage is right for every couple, and I never want to push someone into a collection they don’t want or can’t afford. I’ve photographed many, many elopements where 2-4 hours was enough for what the couple wanted, and we got beautiful photos in that time. I just think it’s important to know what you’re getting with less coverage, so you can make an informed decision.
Gut check on how much time you need
Picture your wedding day. You woke up next to your partner all giddy with excitement, had coffee together on the patio, then headed off to different spaces to start getting ready. When you finally see yourself in the mirror, all dressed up in your wedding attire, it all starts to feel real. You walk outside to see your partner waiting for you, and get to share one of those moments that’ll stand out in your memories for the rest of your lives.
At what point would you like your photographer to arrive?
I will tell you it feels abrupt to walk into a wedding day and immediately start photographing the first look. And I can always tell when my couples see me walk in and start thinking about whether they’re running behind schedule, or if they should be doing anything else now that I’m there. By starting your photography coverage at least an hour before your first look, ceremony, or first major event of the day, we all get to ease into the day—and the photos will be better for it.
Multi-day elopement (16 hours)
While most couples won’t need a photographer for two (or more days), here are the scenarios where I’ll recommend having a photographer for more than just a full day.
The first is if you’re torn between an elopement or a micro wedding, and want a day for yourselves and a day with your guests. By having two days you can really take your time and make each day a relaxed experience, rather than trying to squeeze too much into the same day. This is especially great if you want a longer hike for your elopement, or something like off-roading, boating, backcountry skiing, or another adventure that takes a lot of time. While you could do your adventure in the morning before meeting up with your guests in the afternoon, that makes for a long day, and you might be exhausted before you make it through dinner.
The second is if you’re having a hard time choosing just one location for your elopement, and you want to include two (or more) places that are further apart. In Colorado, that could look like having a day of hiking in the mountains before a day of camping and stargazing at the Sand Dunes, a day of skiing before heading west to the desert, or any other combination you can dream up. I’m photographing a two-day elopement in northern Norway this winter, where the couple wanted two days to double our chances of seeing the northern lights.
And the third is a hypothetical scenario that I haven’t encountered yet, but would love to photograph one day: a backcountry hut trip where having your photographer stay overnight is the only logical option. (I’ve only done this as a day-trip with a day after session, but just picture the epic photos we could get from having sunset, a starry night, and sunrise all in the same place.)
Full day elopement (12 hours)
Full day elopements are great for couples who want a longer hike or adventure, time alone and time with guests, or locations that require a lot of transportation time in between. The more time we have, the more options you’ll have for locations, from choosing lodging that you love even if it’s not necessarily the closest option, to exchanging your vows in complete privacy because no one else had made the longer drive or hike for sunrise.
Half day elopement (8 hours)
Eight hours is probably the most common photography collection across weddings and elopements, and it’s often exactly enough time to capture everything from the end of getting ready through the beginning of celebrations. But the time goes by quickly when you start including multiple locations, or want enough time for a hike or activity while also having downtime for slower moments like a meal with guests. You can have a great experience, and get great photos too, but be careful not to pack too much into an eight hour day, or you’ll find it just as a stressful as a bigger wedding where everything is scheduled down to the minute.
Short elopement (2-4 hours)
I consider anything under four hours a short elopement—and sometimes that’s all you need. If you’re eloping without guests, you want a location that doesn’t require any hiking, and you don’t want photos of getting ready before or celebrations after the main event, you might be perfectly happy with just a few hours of photography coverage. But only having your photographer for a few hours doesn’t necessarily mean it’ll feel less like a photo shoot—it can often have the opposite effect. If you try to fit a first look, ceremony, group photos, portraits, and any traditions like toasts, a first dance, or even a simple picnic meal, into a short amount of time, your wedding day will fly by with little time to take in the experience and live in the moment.
Because I only photograph one elopement a week, I have chosen to prioritize longer collections first before opening up for shorter elopements booked on short notice. There’s no hard line on exactly how far in advance that is, so please inquire even if you know you want a shorter collection, and I’m happy to share more information.
How long should we book our photographer for?
It can be hard to imagine how you’ll spend a whole day with your photographer when you don’t even know where you’ll be eloping yet. Many of my couples book an 8-hour day at first, then add extra hours later in the planning process if they decide it’s necessary. Once you have picked locations, booked your lodging, and have a feel for how you’ll spend the day, I will help you create a timeline with enough breathing room to never feel rushed or like we’re behind schedule.
More than anything, I want you to look back on your elopement day—even the parts that weren’t photographed—and remember the whole experience without regrets.
