Whether you’re a couple planning your elopement or a photographer looking to jump in the elopement industry, we’re going to go over the basics of planning an adventure elopement to make the elopement super fun and stress free!
Choosing locations
Outdoor elopements are amazing for stellar views, fresh air, and most permits are significantly less than a wedding venue. Research different locations by going to All Trails, Instagram, etc for general vibes or trails you want! Keep in mind how long the hike is, the difficulty, and that you may be wearing not ideal hiking clothes. Time of year with snow in mountains, fire season, or rain may affect the locations you like, so have a plan A,B, and C just in case!
Check out my video on how to location scout in my online photographer’s education platform, Basecamp!
What to include in your timeline
Your elopement should be an experience! Don’t try to pack too much together where it starts to just feel like a long photoshoot. Look up drive times in between each location, check alltrails to see how long the hike may take. Activities like the ceremony, getting ready photos, and other cute ideas like reading letters, first dance, dinner, etc, should all have a generous amount of time in case of hiccups! I usually put 30 min for a ceremony, 1 hour for getting ready, and talk to the couple about how long their activities want to be. Keep in mind the sunset time, if a park closes at a certain time, or ending a bit early if the weather is bad and the light goes faster!
What to Pack
I love bringing things to make the elopement day go smoother! I carry snacks in case my couple’s blood sugar is low, a first aid kit for little scratches, my garmin in reach in case we’re out of cell service, and back ups to all my camera gear! It’s best to dress in layers since you never know what the weather will be like outdoors or how much it changes!
Here is a link to everything I’m loving for destination photo sessions!
Looking for more resources to start your elopement photography business?
I have an entire online platform full of videos for all levels of photographers! We cover everything from finances and marketing to shooting and editing! The video library grows monthly, but you’ll also get to join my private instagram and facebook group to ask questions, meet other Basecampers, and get social media plans weekly!
Join Basecamp!