Question 1

WHY IS PHOTOGRAPHY SO EXPENSIVE?

Accepted Answer

They are paying for the overall experience. I speak confidently about my rates, I am clear about the process (I.E. walk through your contract and package details), and establish strong client relationships.

Once you reach out to me, we’ll talk about what you’re envisioning, what feels like YOU as a couple, and what you want your experience to be like. It’s totally fine if you have no idea at all - we can start from scratch.

Then we will jump right into the planning - we’ll find your specific locations to exchange your vows and make an incredible experience, craft your stress-free timeline, and everything in between.

The bride and groom don't have to take on all of that responsibility alone. Whether you're both swamped at work, overwhelmed by the sheer number of decisions you need to make, I am here to make the process much easier and more enjoyable.

This is valuable because I’ll: 
- Take responsibilities off your plate.
- Help with scheduling. 
- Give you all of my insider knowledge. 
- Help with communication with other vendors. 
- Expose you to new ideas. 
- Offer advice. 
- And of course, day-of assistance.

I am so much more than just a photographer. I personally help couples with all sorts of things, such as:

- Knowing the best times to elope in certain locations
- Knowing & preparing for fast changing weather conditions, having backup locations & plans in place.
- Giving you fun or unique ideas for things to do
- And taking beautiful photos of your special day!

Question 2

WHY CAN'T WE DO A 2-HOUR ELOPEMENT?

Accepted Answer

A shortened elopement isn’t worth it!

It might seem crazy to have an elopement coverage that lasts 6 or 8 hours, but if you’re planning an elopement day that really celebrates the day you get married and is full of experiences and adventures, the bigger challenge can be to have a day that fits within that time! Believe it!

Typically, it is standard for full day wedding day photography coverage to be anywhere from 8-10 hours, so why should an elopement day be any different? Full coverage ensures you get to have your entire story captured - from the moments you get ready and put on that wedding dress you’ve fallen in love with, to an oh-so-special first look, a short hike to the overlook of your dreams where you then have a perfect ceremony, to the end of the day when you share your first celebratory meal together as newlyweds. Your elopement day deserves to be an adventure and an experience, not just a ceremony and some portraits.

This is the reason my coverage often starts around 6 hours. I want couples to value the full story of their elopement day, and believe that they deserve to have that full story captured. The day still flies by whether you have 100 guests or zero, and the memories fade. But photos will help keep those moments alive for years to come. Yes, I know it’s cheesy - but it’s true!

An all-day elopement is not the same as an all-day photoshoot. Just like on traditional wedding days, there will be times to get those beautiful epic portraits, but primarily, the goal for most photographers is to take a step back to capture moments as they happen. It’s not about a million poses, but documenting your wedding day as it happens. The in-between moments, the emotional moments and the happy ones, the adventures and the quiet time as you soak it all in.

Question 3

WHEN SHOULD I EXPECT THE GALLERY?

Accepted Answer

Wedding/elopement photographers typically deliver fully edited photo galleries 6-8 weeks after the wedding day.

Other sessions are delivered within 2 weeks.

Question 4

WHY SHOULD I ELOPE?

Accepted Answer

An elopement is an intentionally intimate, deeply meaningful celebration of your relationship and love that is completely focused on the two of you. Elopements center the focus on what matters the most - two people exchanging their vows and committing the rest of their lives to one another!

Eloping allows you to set aside stress, expectations, and throw out any traditions you don't feel connected to. You can elope just the two of you, or you can elope surrounded by your very closest family and friends.

Imagine this… You get to create a once-in-a-lifetime, incredible day that perfectly encapsulates everything the two of you are and that you love. Now start dreaming it up! From things like traveling somewhere you’ve always dreamed of going together, heading out to a viewpoint that is as epic as the vows you’re about to read, adding in your favorite activities (i.e. hiking, great food, the best snacks and desserts, sharing a first dance next to the waves of your favorite beach.)

Your elopement day can be so much more than a quick ceremony and some portraits in a beautiful spot. It can be an adventure & a day you can look back on with pride.

Question 5

WHY DO I NEED A SECOND SHOOTER?

Accepted Answer

Do you really need to have a second photographer at your wedding? I understand - finding, booking and paying for one shooter is enough work. But before you brush off the idea of multiple photographers as unnecessary, know there are some very valid reasons for having more than one to capture your day.

For one, there's the challenge of how to photograph your ceremony. There's something so special about being able to capture multiple emotional moments throughout. You'll want your walk down the aisle and your partner's reaction to it, your vows and your parents' reactions. You get the point - so much happens simultaneously.

If your wedding is on the larger side, you can hardly expect one photographer to snap every memorable moment happening in every corner of the room. I think a second shooter is always worth it, even if you're only inviting a small number of guests. For example, with two shooters, one can take your post-ceremony portraits while the other snaps photos of your guests at cocktail hour. If you and your partner both want getting-ready photos, but you're getting ready in two separate spaces, having two photographers is a godsend.

All in all, having a second shooter allows you to add tons more images to your final gallery. This includes more coverage during your ceremony, more creative angels during the couple portraits, more points of view during your first dance - the list goes on!

Question 6

CAN I HAVE THE RAW FILES?

Accepted Answer

The reason why photographers do not give RAW files to their clients is that the RAW files are a form of negatives owned by them.

RAW, straight-out-of-camera photos look unfinished. While editing, you can retrieve the details, crop the photos, edit something out, emphasize something else…You have a vision, and the client doesn’t know what this vision is.

Question 7

ARE THERE ANY LIMITATIONS ON LOCATIONS?

Accepted Answer

LEAVE NO TRACE ETHICS!

You may already be familiar with LNT (as quite a few outdoor-enthusiasts are), and if so - this guide can work as a handy dandy refresher for you. If not, don’t fret! LNT principles are easy to understand, and if you love Mama Nature as much as I do, you’ll be so glad to have this information in your back pocket (Not literally, unless you feel like printing this email out. That would be very flattering!) as you continue to adventure outdoors.

BONUS: These guidelines can work as a valuable resource for your guests as well (if you choose to have any) on how they can be respectful of the outdoors during your elopement. If guests will be a part of your day, go ahead and forward this email along to them!

What is Leave No Trace? The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics is a non-profit organization that aims to protect the outdoors by teaching and inspiring people to enjoy it responsibly.

According to the LNT website, nine out of every ten individuals in the outdoors are uninformed about the impact they have on the environment. For this reason, the organization has produced an easy-to-follow set of principles for everyone to use as they enjoy the outdoors.

For more information about LNT and their mission, visit www.lnt.org.

What are the LNT principles? The LNT organization has formulated seven foundational principles for us to follow. These principles are simple and suitable for any individual to implement in any outdoor setting. Their aim is to minimize the impact we have on the outdoors. To put it simply: when we go out and enjoy nature, there should be absolutely no trace of us having been there once we leave.

Here are the 7 Principles:

1. Plan Ahead & Prepare
2. Travel & Camp on Durable Surfaces 
3. Dispose of Waste Properly
4. Leave What You Find
5. Minimize Campfire Basics
6. Respect Wildlife
7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors

What does this have to do with my session? We are so lucky to have so many beautiful, natural places to take photos. If it weren’t for the great efforts of conservationists, NPS employees, and visitors implementing LNT principles, these places would likely be nothing compared to what they are today. In fact, some of these places might be closed off to visitors altogether! So in order to continue enjoying these natural places we hold dear, we should try our very best to take care of them.

Sounds great! What can I do?

It’s simple: be prepared! If you take the proper steps beforehand to implement LNT principles, you won’t have to stress about it much at all on your big day. Plus, I’ll be your primary resource for planning and answering any questions you may have on the subject.

Here are some ways you can prioritize the environment on your session day:

• Acquire the proper Special Use Permits and/or Commercial Use Permit - these fees and permits are here to protect the environment and provide funding for the people who maintain it!

• Pass along LNT information to your guests (if you plan to have any). Go ahead and copy/paste, or forward this information and send it along to your guest list! This is a very important step in minimizing the impact your event has on the environment.

• Stay on the trails and in designated visitor areas! I know it’s tempting to wander off the beaten path, but the photos aren’t worth it. Plus, I’m your photographer, and I’ll say, “Nope! Not happening!” Always, always, always stay on the trail and avoid stepping on vegetation. If there is no trail, we must be mindful of our surroundings and take care not to damage the area. Our ecosystem is more fragile than you’d think -  in moments, we can damage vegetation that takes decades to grow back!

• Pack everything out. Duh! Leave No Trace that you were ever there! Anything we bring with us to the outdoors must come back with us when we leave. Yep, this includes human waste, too - so be sure to visit the restrooms before we get on the trail.

• Leave the confetti at home. Even biodegradable confetti will leave an eyesore for other visitors. A fantastic substitute? Bubbles! Or hugs. Hugs are always a good option too.

• Leave what you find. The best souvenir is an incredible memory (and you’ll have photos!), so leave the wildflowers, rocks, bugs, etc., for future travelers to enjoy.

• If you plan on having a campfire on the beach (or elsewhere), you’re more than welcome to do so! As long as there isn't a burn ban in place (which is possible, especially in the summer months), just follow these important guidelines:

Any wood you use must be from the area. If you’re on the beach, it’s preferred that you burn driftwood, so there’s typically no need to purchase a stack of wood from the store.

Do NOT burn plastic or other trash. This will just leave a mess for someone else.

Before you leave, make sure the fire is completely extinguished.

• Respect wildlife! If we come across any fun wildlife during your elopement, we will respect their space. And I’m sure you already know this, but don’t feed the wildlife.

• Be considerate of others. Believe it or not, there may even be another couple who’s eloping at the same time/place as you! More and more couples are making the decision to elope every year, and while we always try our best to find somewhere private and intimate, there’s a chance we’ll need to share the space with someone else. Luckily, kindness is contagious. If we’re kind and respectful of others, you’ll usually find that they’ll be more than willing to share the space. Mama Nature sure is beautiful, and we all deserve the opportunity to enjoy her!

Well folks, there you have it. That’s LNT + elopements in a nutshell. I know that was a lot of information, so if you have any questions about how this may relate to your elopement specifically please don’t hesitate to shoot me a response.

Question 8

DO YOU HELP WITH POSING?

Accepted Answer

The first remedy against feeling awkward in front of a camera is knowing that you’re not alone in this feeling. Except for professional models. But I'm sure they felt uneasy or nervous when they first started.

The best thing you can do is to just interact with the person/people you're shooting with like you normally would! This is photographer heaven - trust me! Throughout the shoot I will guide and direct you into poses or activities that bring out natural movement, but if you keep looking at the camera that's when it’s going to feel awkward AND you’ll see it on camera.

I'm a big believer in a good mood board to help you plan a shoot and prepare yourself mentally for what you're going to be shooting. But if you have too many Pinterest pictures in your head and you're trying to make those happen instead of flowing with natural moments it's going to feel forced..

I always welcome it when clients want to send me pictures of what they want because it means they want to make sure I'm on the same page with them!

Inspiration is great, but overall, trusting your photographer to do the job that you hired them to do is waaaaaay better! And if something doesn't go according to plan, just let go and trust that your photographer will still make it work.

Bonus tip: close your eyes when you kiss (open eye kisses look slightly awkward on camera) - you can thank me later!

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