Unfortunately, during this past summer, I’ve seen several couples scrambling to find new vendors just days before their nuptials. It breaks my heart to find out that the vendors they first thought they were hiring for their event aren’t real businesses.

In your search for an adventure elopement photographer, not only are you navigating a new trend, but you also must be wary of all the usual wedding scams.

Take a deep breath. Thankfully you don’t have to navigate elopement planning alone. Here is a step-by-step guide of what to ask your elopement photographer BEFORE hiring them.

1. Ask if they’re available to video chat or take a phone call

Most vendors want to get to know you before taking you on as a client. Video chats help everyone get to know one another, give you a chance to discuss your plans, and see how each photographer’s style differs.

You’ll be spending a lot of time with this person on a very important and personal day, so you’ll want to get along with them well. Use the time during this call to see how well you vibe, how well they listen, and what kind of problems they can solve for you.

Scammers don’t usually want to chat over video or the phone, so be wary if the photographer you’re looking into doesn’t want to meet you (or ask questions) before you book.

2. Do they specialize in adventure elopements?

Most photographers love the idea of photographing beautiful places, but not everyone has outdoor experience. This matters.

An experienced elopement photographer will know the ins and outs of the locations they suggest for your elopement.

Why is this crucial?

Not all locations are the same. There are seasonal road closures and dangers, 4x4 roads, and unpredictable weather to start.

The last thing you want on the day of your elopement is to be uncomfortable, putting yourselves in danger, or trying to create new plans on the spot because of unforeseen events.

An experienced adventure elopement photographer will be able to make location recommendations within your comfort and skill level, whether it’s miles deep into the backcountry or just off the road. Wherever you’re hoping to explore, they’ll be able to help you prepare for current conditions.

3. Do they offer to cover full elopement days?

First, elopements are different than traditional weddings. You’ll want someone who recognizes this and offers full-day elopement coverage.

If you don’t want to feel rushed, you’ll need at least 6 hours of photography coverage, and your elopement photographer should also help you map out your day to create a timeline that reflects your values.

4. Where can you find reviews?

You should be able to find real reviews on places like Google, Facebook, Wedding Wire, Yelp, or other sites for anyone you’re looking to hire. Do beware that vendors can pay to remove negative reviews on Yelp and Wedding Wire.

Make sure the reviews are legitimate by looking at the dates and places they were written from. If they’re from irrelevant countries or were all made within a short time frame, they’re likely not real.

Ideally, reviews will have details from past clients, not just star ratings. Read through them to get a better understanding of what it’s like to work with the photographer you’re thinking of hiring.

5. Ask to see a full elopement gallery

This is one of the more important questions to ask. Photos on photographers’ websites and Instagram profiles are the highlights of their work and not necessarily what your photos will look like. Also note that if their images have an inconsistent style or editing, they could be stolen.

You’ll want to see full photo galleries of elopements they’ve shot in the past. This gives you a better idea of what all your photos will look like and weeds out scammers who put effort into making a website with stolen images.

6. What kind of planning and support do they provide?

Some adventure elopement photographers, like myself, help plan your elopement.

For example, I give each of my couples a custom location list, custom timeline, vendor suggestions, a packing list, a guide to exploring Washington state, and more.

If you’re not sure what a photographer includes when booking them, ask.

Here are a few things to consider:

Will their location suggestions be customized to fit your needs?
How familiar are they with the area you’re considering eloping in?
Will they help you figure out what permits you’ll need to get married on public lands?
What about making a backup plan in case of foul weather?

7. Do they have a maximum capacity for guests?

Some elopement photographers only allow up to a certain number of guests.

As of writing this, I have no cap on the number of guests you invite to take part in your day, although the more people you have, the more it limits what you can do.

8. Are they licensed and insured?

This is the official way to know that a business is legit. Businesses register by the state they’re in so it’s easy to look them up, see that they pay taxes, and are real enterprises.

Click here to look up photographers registered in Washington state.

9. Know that you’re not booked until you’ve signed a contract and paid a retainer.

This is standard practice in the wedding industry. If you’re interested in hiring a vendor but still need time to think about it, ask if they can tell you when someone else inquires for your date. That way you have time to weigh your options without the pressure of someone else booking your date unknowingly.

When you’re ready to make things official, sign their contract and pay the retainer fee, which is usually 50% of the total booking cost.

10. Ask questions about the contract

Most, if not all details should be laid out in your photographer's contract, but please ask if you have any questions.

I love it when people ask me questions about my contract because it shows that they read it and will know what to expect when hiring me.

You should know the basic details like how many images you should be expecting to receive when you should have them by, and what if anything is expected of you before your elopement.

Hiring your elopement photographer is a huge decision — they’ll not only be a crucial part of your elopement day, but they’ll also be the ones preserving precious memories. A bit of due diligence goes a long way in making sure you’re hiring the right vendors for yourselves.

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