If you are building out your budget for an elopement and want to know how much does an elopement photographer cost, I am here to be totally transparent with you. TBH I really don’t get all of the photography websites that ask you to call them before they even give you a price range. Your time is valuable! You can find all of our package starting prices at Honeybee Photography Packages. Take a look, and if those look good to you, then I can’t wait to talk and share even MORE about what we do! Or if you have any questions, please reach out. But I am not going to keep my prices held hostage until you talk to me. 

How does elopement photography work?

No matter who you choose to be your elopement photographer, I have compiled a list of things you should be looking for / asking about for your elopement photographer. There is a LOT that goes into elopement photography, and you should be knowledgeable about what you are looking for! We are here to help those who “don’t know what they don’t know.”

Experience

You should be looking for someone who has been in photography for over 10 years and who has photographed 100+ couples. With an adventure elopement, anything can happen. You’re outside – rain and snow make a big difference in how you photograph. You have to keep your equipment safe, the couple happy and smiling, adjust the lightning! There is a LOT that goes into photographing elopements and experience really does make the difference here.

I have heard horror stories about couples that go with someone inexperienced and then don’t like ANY of the photos. Paying more for a great experience is a money saver compared to picking the cheapest option and having photos you don’t want to look at. This is your best day ever!! You should have tons of photos that stir up those memories for you. When you are looking at how much does an elopement photographer cost, you also need to be thinking of the output you are going to get!

Location Matchmaking

This is actually one of my FAVORITE things to do. I love learning about a couple, what’s important to them, and matchmaking where they should have their ceremony! I literally spend hours on this, that’s how important it is. We capture elopements worldwide, if we haven’t been there yet we will be like Scooby-Doo, solving the mystery of the perfect place for you!

Story Time!

Even if you already have a spot in mind, it is still incredibly important to have an elopement photographer who can craft an AMAZING back up plan. For instance, Connor and Becky flew from New York to Denver to Bozeman, then drove 5+ hours to the Whitefish / Kalispell area of Montana for a Glacier proposal (albeit Becky was NOT aware of that when they came out!). Connor and Becky had planned on going on a hike to Avalanche Lake. An excellent choice, we know. Maggie and James got married at Avalanche Lake! But the universe had other magical plans for Connor and Becky.

That area floods DAYS before Connor and Becky come out. Ohmygosh, could be a disaster, but we pivot! The stakes are high, Connor is here, and he’s so invested in making it a once in a lifetime moment. Being an expert in the area, we present Connor the option of a Glacier proposal at McDonald Creek. It’s 5.5 miles with a gorgeous boulder outcropping at the end. SO COOL. You can also catch a beautiful view of Mount Stanton in the back. It’s the perfect location. But, there are a couple more hoops.

Making it Happen

First is the Going-to-the-Sun Road Corridor ticket system. Connor has to secure those tickets and our man made it happen. Next was to assure Becky this hike was going to be epic. See, our girl, bomb-dot-com Becky, usually plans everything out as she had with her unbeknownst Glacier Park proposal. So she had to trust Connor without doing her typical amount of research. Which means she was unknowingly trusting us. 

When they got to hike early in the morning, people were pouring in, but NOT where we were. At the trailhead it’s only one other car (erhm…. mine). GREAT for photos. Terrible for assuring Becky that this was a legit hike. Becky goes with it, (we silently cheer!), and they start their adventure. Connor wants it to be so special, and I want to guide them to this epic proposal where she has this amazing experience and get fiancéd! When you are researching how much does an elopement photographer cost, this is the unspoken badass shit you should be inquiring about!

Timeline

Ask your elopement photographer how they feel about spontaneity! During an elopement, there will be pieces that are out of your control, which is why full day coverage is the only way to go. This allows time to be spontaneous which is REALLY important. I know, I know, it can be hard for our type A couples who want the schedule detailed and drilled down, but that’s not what’s best for your elopement. Your elopement photographer should leave 15-20 minutes on either side of the items in your timeline. It seems like a lot, but when you want to stop in the middle of a vacant road to give your partner a twirl, the magic will be worth every second!!

Lighting 

As mentioned before, having a photographer that is prepared for lighting is a non negotiable on an adventure elopement. You’ll be out in the sun casting shadows. You may be drenched in pouring rain under storm clouds. You NEED someone who knows what to do in a variety of situations. Pro tip – ask your elopement photographer for a few different galleries before you book so you can see their range!

Wedding Album

While having guests at your elopement or eloping with just the two of you is totally UP TO YOU, make sure to share your sweet happiness with those who love you!. Eloping is an intentional choice and you want to elope for a reason. So – let your family know about your plans (or don’t!), then have a party and share your wedding photos and video! We can design a keepsake wedding day album for you and your loved ones – we can even make clone parent albums. Let’s be honest, out of all the Top 10 Things Couples Forget When Planning Their Adventure Elopement, don’t forget the parents!

how much does an elopement photographer cost and does it include videography

If having videography is important in your wedding, find yourself a photographer who offers both!! This is very much the right hand and left hand working together. Hiring them separately is a sure way to get a clunky experience. Some photographers have videography as a package add on, we really feel like videography is so much fun on an adventure elopement so it’s included in our packages!

I also have to add that not all couples know to look for it, but drones are so fucking cool. ESPECIALLY the views you get at the top of the mountains, valleys in the background, out on a lake with water surrounding you. If you also are obsessed with the photos you can only get from a sky angle, make sure your photographer has a drone.

Compatibility

MAKE SURE YOU LIKE YOUR ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER!! You are going to spend allll day with them so make sure you get along! You want to feel at ease and comfortable to share your vision! This day is all about YOU! 

It’s not just about how much does an elopement photographer cost but also do you have shared values?

“A person who is nice to you but rude to the waiter, or to others, is not a nice person.” – Bill Swanson. That’s how we feel about our adventure elopements. If your photographer seems super great but doesn’t think about others, or in our case, the environment, they are just someone we personally would not choose. It’s important to be in touch with the environment ESPECIALLY as an adventure elopement photographer. It’s where we spend all our time! We have to take care of it.

My definition of conscious tourism: It’s not about the gram, the clout, or the crossing off of boxes. It’s about social and economic justice. It’s about extending ourselves to learn more about others and opening our hearts and minds. Your travel experiences should be fulfilling, but also mindful of the environment and local cultures. It makes us become more culturally and economically aware. When we learn more about other cultures, we learn more about ourselves and our place in the world, how we can give back, and how we can be kinder to our fellow human beings!

Leave No Trace is not a new concept to our outdoor hiking community. There are 7 principles to be aware of and apply them when you can!

1. Plan ahead and prepare
2. Travel and camp on durable surfaces
3. Dispose of waste properly
4. Leave what you find
5. Minimize campfire impacts
6. Respect wildlife
7. Be considerate of other visitors

You can learn more here. As long as you remember to be a good fucking person, you should be set!

We also take it a step further to leave the world better than when we found it! We donate 1% of every collection booked to our couples’ choice of National Parks Foundation, NAACP, or The Environmental Defense Fund.

How much does an elopement photographer cost? You are adding in planning time and permit research to each package.

You are LEANING on your elopement photographer as the expert. They should know how to plan and pull permits. This is their job and I’m going to have a wild guess that this is your first adventure elopement. Don’t be afraid to ask questions! The planning and research should be included in whichever package you go with. 

Alright now that you know how to choose your elopement photographer, let’s get into the numbers of how much does an elopement photographer cost.

Why does elopement photography cost so much?

Photographers’ fees go towards not just their art (which is intangible and priceless), but studio rent/mortgage, insurance, new equipment, editing software fees, gas, travel, that hot new drone mamma got for Christmas, etc.

Now, we aren’t afraid of a little competition! While a lot of photographers don’t list their pricing online (you know our stance on that), below are some who do! We respect the hell out of that. The list below is based on our own research, we are not affiliated with any other photographers and these are just SOME of their packages so you get an idea! Evaluate the package pricing and what it includes. All of these elopement photographs fall into the categories of experienced to luxury. 

How much should you spend on an elopement photographer?

California San Francisco City Hall Elopement $4,200

• Next day sneak peaks
• Online gallery for viewing and orders
• Edited digital images on a custom flash drive

Washington Adventure Elopement $6,500

• A final edited gallery delivered in an online gallery with high-resolution files to download. 
• Share your gallery with your loved ones and print the photos wherever you like.
• Expert guidance from start to finish 

Oregon Sunrise & Sunset Elopement $7,000

• Split your day between two (or more) locations during the best lighting of the day at each spot and have a break in between.
• Coverage: 10 hours split between morning and evening with a break in between.
• Vendor recommendations
• Permit assistance

How much does elopement photography cost in Colorado?

Colorado Wilderness Elopement $6,000

• 8 hour coverage
• Custom timeline and elopement packet
• Online photo gallery
• Permit assistance
• Next day sneak peak
• 420 friendly

Our Favorite Adventure Elopement Photographers

Montana Honeybee Adventure Elopement $6,400

• Photography and videography
• Husband and wifey team
• Digital online gallery and next day sneak peaks
• 100+ page elopement guide
• 7 day elopement planning bootcamp
• Location matchmaking
• Wedding day timeline
• Permit assistance
• Full planning with Wild Montana Wedding

General Pricing Info

If you are finding photographers around $3,000 or less, they may just be providing photos and a digital galley. We call this style a “turn and burn” because you receive the digital images, but the service stops there. The planning/location help is probably minimal. Experienced photographers usually charge $4000-$8000 for an 8 hour day and an online digital gallery. You might also get some planning help here with location.

Photographers photographing in the 10+ year mark are luxury photographers. They are likely photographing for $8,000-$12,000 for 8 hours of coverage, they offer planning services (ahem, location matchmaking, elopement planning bootcamp/guides, timeline assistance, take care of your permits). They also might offer to design you a wedding album. A physical keepsake of your wedding day adventure. This is something you DEFINITELY want. These people know their locations WELLLL and their art even better. They are also really great business owners, so the client experience is top notch.

At Honeybee Weddings, we bring all the planning goodies to the table – from location matchmaking to custom spots, a vendor referral list, 100+ elopement guide, 7 day elopement planning bootcamp and a wedding day timeline. We’re all about making sure your big day goes off without a hitch.

Elopement photography versus wedding photography

A misconception is that elopement photography is cheaper than wedding photography. Here’s why that isn’t the case. As an elopement photographer, we are your wedding planner, day of coordinator, back up plan guru. It requires a TON of creativity. At a wedding, you sit down, have a nice meal, dance a bit, bada bing bada boom, done. 

Have you started planning the activities for your elopement? We are out here researching hikes, boats, helicopters, AND a dinner and dancing spot if you’re into that! While we have been to the same place twice, NO elopement looks anything like another one. You are not a cookie cutter; you are an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink. Looking for more planning research? Check it out –

Complete Elopement Checklist

Alright beauties, we hope this helps answer the question how much does an elopement photographer cost. We are LOUD and PROUD of what we do. We make sure you GET what you pay for and have an unreal elopement which includes photography, videography, AND the fucking EXPERIENCE!! AHHHH I am so excited to connect with you. Reach out here!