When you start looking into eloping, one of the biggest decisions you’ll make is choosing your photographer.

Your elopement photographer isn’t just showing up to take photos. They’re helping guide your timeline, your experience, and honestly the way your entire day feels. So knowing the right questions to ask an elopement photographer can make all the difference.

I’ve been in the elopement and wedding industry for over 7+ years now, and I specialize in working with couples. And over time, I’ve seen what works, what doesn’t, and what couples wish they would’ve asked beforehand.

1. What is the best time to host our elopement?

I have very strong opinions on this answer!

I truly believe that hosting your elopement at sunset is the best thing you can do for yourself and for your photos.

Your ceremony doesn’t necessarily have to be right at sunset, but we want to make sure that we are out shooting portraits around sunset time together. If you are booking a beautiful session here in Big Sur, Carmel, Monterey, or anywhere on the California coast, you are most likely looking for that golden hour Pacific Ocean scenery. So do yourself a favor and set aside specific time to be shooting around sunset.

My typical elopement packages are four hours long. I like to set my end time 30 minutes after sunset. For example, if sunset is at 7:30 PM, then our elopement experience will be 4 PM to 8 PM.

That is plenty of time to meet you at your hotel or Airbnb, capture some beautiful, getting ready shots, possibly a first look, and maybe even some close friends and family group shots.

Then we head out to your ceremony spot, wherever that may be, and we typically close our time out together with couples portraits around sunset.

I highly recommend avoiding midday elopement experiences when the sun is high in the sky. It may be beautiful outside to walk around, but your photos won’t capture the drama and all of the location you will be in.

The only exception is if your elopement is in the forest or trees where lighting is more controlled. But if you’re by the water, beach, or cliffside, you’ll definitely want to stick to sunset.

2. Will we get all of the raw photos from the day?

This is one of the most common questions to ask an elopement photographer, and it’s totally valid.

But here’s my take after 7+ years in the industry: I am a huge believer in not delivering raw photos. I only deliver edited, finished products to my couples.

Modern digital cameras capture photos in a format that most computers can’t even open without special programs. And even if you could open them, you’re not seeing the full vision.

For example, I might underexpose a photo to preserve all of the detail in the sky during sunset. That means you might look dark in the raw image. But in post-production, I bring everything back to life and balance it out beautifully.

Here’s the analogy I always use: hiring a photographer and expecting raw photos is like ordering a cake from a bakery and asking for a bag of flour and eggs. You hired the artist to deliver a finished masterpiece, not the ingredients!

Trust your photographer to make a beautiful art. You don’t need or want the raw photos. If anything, looking at those will lower the overall experience and, honestly, be a bit confusing.

3. What is the cost of an average elopement?

Photography services are not cheap. And if they are… I would be skeptical.

Good professional photographers know the value of their services, and your photos are an investment in a lifetime of memories. With that said, photography cost ranges all over. And fluctuates every year. 

In Big Sur and the Monterey Peninsula, you can expect luxury and top-tier photographers to charge anywhere from $700–$1000 an hour (as of 2026).

$2000-$4000 for a two to four hour elopement experience is quite common and expected in this particular area. I even have friends who charge over $5000 per elopement regardless of timing and don’t shoot less than four hours. 

Anything significantly lower usually means someone is still building their experience or refining their process.

I am an open book when it comes to investment in your perfect day. I want you to have all the details and am happy to answer any questions that you have.

I also believe each elopement experience should be customized and personalized for each couple to create a unique experience that is special to them! That of course changes the timing and how you spend each hour with a couple during their day.

Click here to send me a message and I will give you my 2026 elopement investment guide to give you a good idea of what it looks like to do photography with me.

4. What kind of experience will you create for us?

Sure, you’re hiring someone for photos, but you’re also hiring someone to be part of your day.

For me, this is everything!

My photography business was actually birthed from the roots of my Christian faith. I felt called to serve people, and photography became a really special and unique way I could do that. I want my business to serve. Serve people well and create unforgettable experiences!

One of my favorite things about elopements is that over half of my couples are from out of state or even different countries. They’re traveling all the way here to Big Sur, and I get to be a guide in one of my favorite places in the world. That’s not something I take lightly.

Elopements are simpler than big weddings. There’s something really small and intimate about an elopement experience that really helps a couple relax and focus in on their love for each other and being in the moment. The timeline is more loose than a large wedding and the focus is all about them and not pleasing any number of guests!

5. Why do we actually want to elope?

Okay, so this isn’t a one of the typical questions to ask an elopement photographer, but it’s a really important question to ask yourselves!

Why do you want to elope versus host a big wedding?

If you can really answer that question, then you’re onto something.

There are no rules anymore when it comes to weddings. You can get married however you want. If you want a personal, romantic, intimate experience that is centered around you as a couple, then eloping is probably the right move.

There’s no one to entertain or feed or please. You get to craft your dream day and focus on what actually matters.

And you get to work with a photographer who will guide you to some of the most beautiful places in the world to capture it all.

What’s better than that?

At the end of the day, choosing your photographer is about more than just liking their photos.

It’s about trust and connection. It’s about finding someone who understands your vision and can guide you through the experience from start to finish.

If you take anything from this post, let it be this:

Ask the right questions.

Trust the process.

And choose someone who makes you feel excited about your day.

Because when you have the right photographer, your elopement won’t just look beautiful, it’ll also be unforgettable!

If you’re currently planning your day and want someone who will help you create an intentional, stress-free, and genuinely fun experience, I’d love to connect and make something incredible together!