Weddings are intimate, elopements are even more intimate where the focus is just on the two of you. Your photographer is by your side the entire time, capturing the subtle details to remember your day by while sharing with loved ones. Use my checklist below to help you decide on the perfect pairing:

–Find a style you love. Finding a style ahead of time will help you narrow down photographers. When you look at a portfolio (or let’s be honest, an Instagram page) you need to love everything from the poses to the editing to the tone of the photograph. Having a Pinterest board to share with a photographer also helps them understand your vision.

–Decide on a budget. Once you know the style you are going for you can set a budget. Not all photographers list pricing on their site so you may have to inquire to several. Having a budget will make it easy to quickly weed through to get to the options you are most interested in. I highly recommend letting your photographer know your budget. Even if you aren’t in their range, they can potentially make recommendations for other talent in the area.

–Schedule a call or Zoom meeting and really get to know your photographer. Like I mentioned you will be spending a lot of time together on one of the most important days of your life and you need to be sure it is someone you want to spend time with. You don’t need to be BFFs but it’s good to be on the same page and make sure your photographer gets your vibe.

–Look into the contract. You need to be sure there is nothing that is a dealbreaker for you especially if you and your vendor are both traveling for your elopement. Some of the most important things to note is payment schedule, retainer details, usage and print permissions, and any other clauses due to cancellations or postponements especially during these pandemic times.

–Discuss the process. Is the photographer go with the flow or do they love sticking to a strict schedule? Will they help you create a timeline or list of must-have photos? This, again, should mesh with how you two want your day to go.

Choosing an elopement photographer can be difficult but just like when you find your partner, when you know, you know. Click here to get started on learning more about an Iann Ivy Photography Experience.