Elopements & Couples Photo Session:
What’s the difference?

Picture this - you’ve just finished getting ready in a cute Airbnb home and are sitting down to finish writing out your vows. It won’t be long before you are standing in front of your partner getting ready to marry your best friend. You envision it now - standing at the top of a hill overlooking the ocean, feeling the sun on your face and the wind in your hair. This is the spot where you got engaged and it is now the spot where you will commit to spending the rest of your lives together. You are filled with excitement and can’t believe this day has finally arrived!

The above is an example of what an elopement day can feel like. The anticipation, the excitement, the adrenaline, the emotion - you get to experience it all! Marriage is a big commitment that should be celebrated in a special way - your way!

I often get asked if couples can wear their wedding attire to a photo session and while you can absolutely wear whatever you want to your photo session, there is a big difference between an elopement day and wearing your wedding attire to a photo session. So, I decided to create this blog post on the difference between an elopement & a couples session to address 3 of the main differences between an elopement and a couples session.

What is an Elopement?

An elopement is a true celebration of your love. It is an event that signifies the start of your married life together. Unlike what the word used to mean (running away to get married in secret), eloping now means planning the wedding day your way and forgetting about industry trends. An elopement is all about creating a day that celebrates you, and a day that is planned around things that matter the most to you and your partner.

Want to learn more about elopements?
Check out my blog post on What is an Elopement?

What is a Couples Photo Session?

Ever just wanted to have photos with your partner that weren’t just taken on an iPhone? Something you can actually print, cherish, feel good, adventure, create memories, and enjoy? Well, that’s exactly what a couples’ photo session is for! A couples session is a time set aside to take beautiful, professional photos with your partner that document a particular phase of your life (or can also be just for fun!). It is a time when you can simply enjoy being together and doing the things you both love most.

Viktoria & Victor

See more couples’ photos inspiration from this Marin Headlands Engagement Session

Full gallery

You can plan a couples session for any event big or small whether it be an engagement, proposal, honeymoon, or anniversary, or for no event at all. You don’t need a reason to take couple's photos other than the fact that you want to celebrate your love and spend time together just having fun!

A couples’ session can also take place wherever you want it to. I like to approach couples sessions with a super creative nature while creating a fun and relaxed environment. Want to dress up and hang out in your favorite city? Perfect! Feel like relaxing and hanging out at home for an in-home session? That’s great too - these sessions are actually some of my favorites! The good news is that a couples’ photo shoot can look like anything you want. Anything is possible!

Couples Sessions & Elopement Packages

3 Differences Between an Elopement and a Couples’ Photo Session

An Elopement Includes a Legal Aspect

First and foremost, the main difference between elopements and couple photo sessions is the fact that one session type involves a legal aspect and one does not. An elopement is a wedding day in the sense that you and your partner must go through the process of ensuring your marriage is valid from a legal standpoint. This involves applying for the correct licenses and permits and ensuring that there is someone present who can officiate their ceremony.
(Note - not all states require an officiant so this can vary depending on location.)

When you book me for a couples photo session, however, there are no state or country marriage licenses that we need to apply for. Many times, all that is needed is a permit to take photos on any public or private property so the process can be much simpler from a legal and planning perspective.

2. Elopements Include In-Depth Planning & Guidance

Though elopements can be planned with short notice, oftentimes, the reason couples choose to elope is that they want to plan an intentional day that has true moments that celebrate their love. You may not want to sacrifice all of the details or traditions that come with a wedding, but instead, you want to choose which details you include in your day - or even create your own new traditions. This can involve a lot of in-depth planning ahead of time and a huge part of what I do and love is guiding couples throughout the planning process. From finding and researching amazing locations to providing resources and vendor referrals, my goal is to help you plan your dream day! Plus, when you book an elopement with me, I will provide you with an elopement and intimate wedding planning guide to help walk you through each step of the process. You don’t have to plan this alone! Learn more about what it’s like to elope with me here!

A couples photo session, on the other hand, does not involve as many details and planning as an elopement day, as these sessions often include me and you and your partner. As your photographer, I will still help you with all the pre-planning details such as location recommendations and planning as well as an outfit guide to help you prepare.

3. Elopements and Couples Sessions Have Different Timelines

It’s probably no surprise that the way an elopement day flows vs the way a couples’ session flows is very different from each other.

An elopement day includes many different moments such as details, getting ready, a first look, as well as a ceremony, sometimes a reception, and any other special moments you choose to plan and capture. All of these moments combined together create the story of your wedding day. My job as your photographer is to capture those moments as they happen to help preserve your story and give you something to look back on and cherish for years to come.

A couples session also tells a part of your story but it does not include any of the wedding-related moments mentioned above. I typically approach couples sessions like a day where I capture you and your partner’s emotions and interactions with each other as they are in your day-to-day life, with a creative and artful spin.

How much time each session type takes also varies depending on what each couple wants and the experience you’re after. An elopement day starts at a minimum of 4 hours and can include up to 8 hours or even multiple days depending on what adventures you have planned. A couples session includes up to 3 hours, but could also be more depending on what you’re after. This allows us enough time to explore all the locations chosen without feeling rushing going from one spot to another. Letting the day flow and existing in the moment will make you so much more relaxed and comfortable in front of the camera, which will only result in way better photos that reflect your relationship.

Deciding whether to plan an elopement or a couples’ photo session all comes down to what you want to plan for the day? If you want to get married and plan a day to celebrate, then an elopement is the way to go! If you are looking to get fun photos with your partner that capture a particular phase in your relationship, then you may want to plan a couples’ photo session. No matter what your needs are, I am here to help you plan the best time to celebrate your love. For more information on what it’s like to work with me or to inquire about my services, head over to my contact page, and let’s chat about everything you’re after.

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FAQs About Elopements & Couples Photos

Locations all depend on the look and experience you’re after. Many couples sessions include only 1 awesome location, but the option to go to a few different spots is always possible. Keep in mind that the more locations you tackle, the fewer in-the-moment photos you’ll have. My advice is to make any location you choose secondary to your experience and have fun being together. That’s what will get you better results.
The simple answer is multiple locations. This will all depend on the type of experience you’re after and the convenience of the wedding timeline. Some elopements take place around 1 main location, while others require a few different locations. This is mainly to accommodate everything from getting ready, your first look, ceremony, sunset photos, and reception. There is no exact limit to the number of locations as elopement days should be fluid to make it much more enjoyable for both of you rather than rushing to tackle different looks.
Yes! If you want to show up to a couples’ session in your wedding attire, that’s awesome! If you are considering getting married though, you will want to think about planning an elopement.
Elopements can vary depending on what each couple wants. My elopement packages start at a minimum of 4 hours and can include up to 8 hours or even multiple days depending on what adventures you have planned.
I like to provide resources to everyone who books with me. Couples planning an elopement will receive the ultimate elopement and intimate wedding guide while those planning a couples session will receive the location planning, outfit guide, and location recommendations. Regardless of what you’re after, you will not be planning on your own.