Photography Differences with Elopements and Traditional Weddings

[@jillianharvey]

Thanks for your insights on elopements vs traditional weddings-very helpful from your perspective as a photographer :)

[@cavinelizabeth]

You're welcome!!

[@kaitlynverrelli5769]

SO THRILLED to see that you made this video!!! Thank you! Absolutely love the advice and feedback from your point of view.

[@cavinelizabeth]

You're so welcome Kaitlyn!!

[@luiebr]

I've just start doing some elopements and this was so helpful, thank you :)

[@cavinelizabeth]

Glad it was helpful!

[@nataliealexandraa]

I have a question: what do you, as a photographer, do if you’re shooting at a venue that just doesn’t have a lot to offer as far as backgrounds for photos? Maybe it’s a winery and all they have is the vineyards, do you just shoot all of the portraits there? Or do you want to have more variety? What if the only pretty spot is where they have the ceremony, do you shoot the photos there? I’m just very curious because having beautiful photos and portraits is very important to me and it’s the #1 thing I’m considering while choosing a venue. So I just wonder what you do as a photographer if maybe there is only one spot that makes for a good background? Or is it very important to you to shoot in a variety of locations? Sorry if this question is hard to understand.

[@cavinelizabeth]

That's definitely a tough situation. When it happens, I just focus on providing as much variety with posing and composition. Lots of wide and also varying levels of tighter shots. Usually I let the light lead me and the backdrops are secondary. :)

[@nataliealexandraa]

Cavin Elizabeth Photography okay, good to know, thanks for your reply. :)

[@AdorkableLiz77]

Do you do a lot of elopement wedding at San Francisco courthouse? I'm going to plan my wedding there because its absolutely gorgeous!

[@cavinelizabeth]

I've done engagement sessions there but no elopements (yet!) :) It's a stunning location!

[@Rebelleflwr]

I have a friend that wants to do that! It is a beautiful location, I wish they had more places like that for weddings!

[@AdorkableLiz77]

@@Rebelleflwr I know right?! Most places that pretty are stupid expensive 😫.

[@jessann5581]

I so needed this video 6 months ago. Unfortunately we are to far in to up and elope. 😭

[@emptyskullify]

What is the difference between elopements and engagement, from a photographer's perspective. The styles seem very similar. Mostly couple's portraits. Thanks!

[@cavinelizabeth]

The portrait part is the same except different outfits. But the elopement would include a ceremony whereas engagement would be just portraits. Hope that explains it!

[@emptyskullify]

@@cavinelizabeth Thanks! Would you say elopement shoots are alot less popular than engagement shoots?

[@jamiecashman117]

I've been looking for a video like this for awhile. Loved the advice! My partner & I are eloping and I wanted to have a videographer there so we can show our ceremony to the family afterwards. The issue I came across was... if the ceremony is just the photographer, videographer, officiant and us (no guests), will it feel staged w/ all the cameras or take away the feeling of the intimate ceremony?

[@cavinelizabeth]

I don't think so at all! As long as you only have 1 video person and 1 photo person, it should still feel intimate. You'll be so focused on the ceremony and vows you hopefully won't notice the cameras :)

[@stephanienicolego]

My husband and I eloped this past summer and our vendors (officiant, photographer and 2 videographers) were half the number of our guest count and they definitely didn't take away the feeling of our intimate wedding at all! We have zero regrets especially now that we have so much photos and videos to look back on :)

[@erinwhipple4666]

I’m planning on having a micro wedding and don’t know how much to allocate for photography in the budget. What would you say is typical if I just want like 5 hours on the day of? No engagement photos or anything

[@cavinelizabeth]

It would really depend on where you're located and the skill/style of the photographer. You could find someone anywhere from a couple hundred dollars who's newer to the industry to someone who charges around $5000 and is highly sought after and internationally published. If I was having a microwedding of 20 or fewer people, I would probably make photos my top spend :)

[@iluvzurara2]

Did you study photography? If not what is your academic background? I saw a video where you said you took a lot of online classes and worked as a second photographer but curious to know if you also studied photography

[@cavinelizabeth]

I have my master's degree in International Relations. My photography knowledge came from practice, online workshops, research, etc. :)

[@iluvzurara2]

Cavin Elizabeth Photography thats amazing! What inspired you into the photography and specifically the wedding industry? Would love a video describing your journey if you haven’t made one yet!