FAQ

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What is an adventure elopement?

Is this a legal ceremony?

Can there be guests at an elopement?

I’ve been told eloping is a selfish act. Is it?

How can I include my family in the planning process?

How many guests is considered an elopement?

Can I bring my dog?

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Five hour minimum?

What is considered an intimate wedding?

Do you travel?

Travel fees are included?

Can I arrange your travel for a discounted fee?

What are your travel fees for adventure portrait sessions?

Do you offer payment plans?

Why do I need to pay you so far in advance?

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I am not comfortable with being featured online. Is there a way to ensure my photos are not shared?

What is your turnaround time on galleries?

If you’re already travelling to my area, can I book you at a reduced rate?

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Do you offer family photography?

Do you offer newborn photography?

Does maternity photography fall under “couples portraits”?

Do you offer services for LGBTQ+ couples and other minorities? 

We booked a portrait session but have recently gotten engaged! We’d like to book you for our intimate wedding or elopement! Can we apply our past payments towards a wedding collection?

What is the required deposit to book you?

How do you accept payments?

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Will you release originals/RAW photos?

Will you photoshop undesired qualities? 

Define retouching.

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Answers:

What is an adventure elopement?

  An adventure elopement is an outdoor elopement experience that is a little out of the ordinary. You dream, imagine, and begin planning an elopement experience of your dreams. There are no limits. Many people prefer to travel to a remote location, where it feels as if they are the only two that exist, and exchange their promises of forever with one another surrounded by breathtaking views and the sounds of nature. Some couples might plan a multi-day experience, some might drive to location, walk in a few hundred metres and exchange vows there. Adventure can be hiking through the forest and mountains or a helicopter ride to a glacier. It could be rowing to an island you played on as a child, or walking the beach to a secret cove. Whatever feels like magic to you, is your adventure.

 

 

Is this a legal ceremony?

That would depend on your location and the laws governing your marriage license, witnesses and officiants. Many people will sign the official documents before the experience, some will decide to sign them afterwards. Some couples choose to have an officiant present who can marry them at the location of their choice. 

 

 

Can there be guests at an elopement?

We often think of an elopement as a secretive act between two people and some stranger official, but an elopement can be whatever the heck you want it to be. Sometimes a small number of witnesses or guests are invited to attend.  Perhaps you have a child or children you’d like to include. Maybe you’d like to invite your best friend to stand along side or only the two sets of parents to the couple. Generally the guest list is pretty small, if there is one, due to the activity and/or seclusiveness of many elopement locations, and the experiences that the couple has planned for before/after the ceremony.

 

 

I’ve been told eloping is a selfish act. Is it?

First off, ouch. 

Secondly, I’d say that those people are misinformed on what an exchange of vows should be. Of course, getting married, however they choose, should be entirely self-centred to the couple. That is the entire point; for each person of the couple to demonstrate their freedom to choose the other wholly and fully. It is entirely about the couple. And this is where our tired wedding traditions are getting it all wrong. It isn’t about the parents, the wedding party, the color schemes, the guests, the vendors. It’s about the couple. Their love. Their commitment. Their celebration. That’s it. And that’s how it should be.

Some people in your life may not be fully supportive of your decision to elope or keep your vows private, and it’s okay to be sensitive to that, offer other ways to participate in your plans, but please remember that your hopes and dreams of a perfect day shouldn’t be compromised by the expectations of someone else. Nobody has a right to be at your wedding. You only owe the person you're marrying any consideration.

 

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How can I include my family in the planning process?

I feel that there are many ways to include important people in your lives in your marriage plans without necessarily having them take part in the ceremony.

Informing them of your plans to elope is often a kind and tasteful way to start.

Shopping for your attire together, practicing sharing your vows with someone very close, having loved ones present for signing your marriage license, including them in planning/decorating or simply being present for a reception dinner of sorts, taking scheduled time for a viewing of your photographs together are all some ideas on how to incorporate family and friends into your elopement plans.

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How many guests is considered an elopement?

I don’t know if there is an actual definition floating around about this question. 

Typically, we imagine an elopement as the couple. Perhaps an officiant and perhaps a photographer to document. That is not to say there are not variations.

If I had to say, I’d recommend a guest/witness list of 8 people or less. Part of the attractiveness of an elopement plan is the idea that there is no guest list to contend with. No hard choices to make, plan around and budget for.

A guest list above 8, and I think we are moving more into “intimate wedding” territory.

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Can I bring my dog?

Yes. I am a total dog person. Give me all the puppy kisses.

But there will likely need to be an extra person present though, who is capable to care for your pup at all times. You are fully responsible for the safety and care of your animal at all times. I will be covered in professional photography gear and will not be able to assist you in holding your pup at any time. I hope you can understand.

 

Five hour minimum for an elopement?

Yes. My elopements start at 5 hours of coverage. 

If we're going to do this, let's do it right. An elopement is no "less" of a celebration than a traditional wedding, nor does it deserve any less documentation or memory-making moments. This is a huge experience that you are embarking on, and not only will you want all of the must-have moments documented, but all the in-betweens, details and celebrations as well. 

If you are travelling to make this happen, it's even more of a reason to invest in the time and energy of a great photographer to follow you along the way to capture those epic shots you'll want to relive for the rest of your lives.

 You won't want to be scrambling for time, to "fit" everything in, stressing yourself out about a timeline. I offer a generous amount of time for an elopement because there are even more insanely fun, tender and emotional moments than any traditional wedding could offer. It only makes sense that the timeframe offered is also comparable to that of a traditional wedding. You still need to "get ready" and can have a "first look". You still need to get to your location and have fun along the way. You can still have a first dance, pop champagne, and have formal portraits taken. You might like to head back down the mountain to a small-town pub for some darts and beer! The possibilities are endless. It's all up to you! But let's allow ourselves enough time to experience it all.

If you're making even bigger plans, you can add additional hours at a reduced rate of $400/hr.

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What is considered an intimate wedding?

An intimate wedding is a still-beautiful experience with a very small guest list, of about 30 or less people. It incorporates the very most important loved ones into your ceremony and reception, and the day unfolds as a bit of a cross between an elopement and traditional wedding. Generally with a smaller guest list, there is more room for personal time between the couple, and personal time with their guests. But perhaps less mobility, seclusiveness, and ceremony options as you will need to plan around having so many guests present.

 

 

Do you travel?

Yes. 

I travel because this market tends to lend itself to these remote locations of a dreamers choice. There can be some hard, physical work to get to these locations and whether it’s by car, plane, boat or train, I’ll get there to make those whimsical memories of your day last forever.

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Travel fees are included?

Yes, for elopement collections only, and are subject to change. 

After your inquiry is responded to, you have 7 days to secure the current pricing.

 

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Can I arrange your travel for a discounted fee?

No.

In order to provide my top-quality service, for my comfort, safety and for overall insurance reasons, I must arrange my own travel.

 

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What are your travel fees for adventure portrait sessions?

Driving: beyond 60km radius of Kingston, there is a travel flat fee of $50.00, plus $.50 per km each way. 

If further than 400km, or a 4 hour drive, I would consider a flight instead if possible.

Flying: a custom quote would need to be arranged.

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Do you offer payment plans?

Short answer is yes.

A 40% deposit is still due at the time of signing a contract to secure your date and time. Payment plans are done in 6 equal payments following your deposit and include a convenience/processing fee. The final payment must be scheduled to be made 6 weeks before your elopement/wedding date. Why? Read more below.

 

 

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Why do I need to pay you so far in advance?

Many reasons.

I am totally committed to you, your partner, and your elopement or intimate wedding location and time. I will take time away from my family, turndown the possibility of other work, and I will travel to the ends of the earth, to be there to photograph your most special moments. I’d like the same commitment from you. 

When you secure a date and time, I am later unable to then fill that space with potential clients, the closer that we get to that date. Meaning, if there is a cancellation for any reason, I will need to recover any costs and be compensated for not being able to book another elopement or wedding on that date. Photographers generally book out 8-12 months in advance. Filling your date and time with another couple's wedding at the last minute is nearly impossible. 

The deposit you pay upfront is set aside and used to initiate the travel plans and secure accommodations, etc.

Less than 6 weeks before your wedding or elopement date, you will have many final loose ends to tie up and concentrate on, and you may possibly have other vendors trying to settle up as well. I would like to stay ahead of that and stagger the demand and workload on you, the couple. I’d like to get out of your hair and start getting jacked up for your exciting experience instead! Woo!

 

 

I am not comfortable with being featured online. Is there a way to ensure my photos are not shared?

Short answer, yes. I can totally respect that.

Let's discuss.

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What is your turnaround time on galleries?

That is a question where the answer will vary depending on the time of year. I am always intending to get your album to you as quickly as possible and am always working with a sense of urgency. 

Typically, you can expect your final album within 6 weeks of your elopement/wedding date, and 4 weeks for a portrait session. These are maximums.

This is a topic that is typically noted in your contract.

Rush orders on galleries can be made for an additional fee of $500, and are guaranteed within 2 weeks of your wedding date.

 

If you’re already travelling to my area, can I book you at a reduced rate?

For elopements, yes. If you are willing to arrange your plans around my current travel itinerary, then you may receive a small reduction in the cost of your photography coverage. Further accommodations, car rental, meals, incidentals and my time will still need to be considered though.  A custom quote would be required. 

 

 

Do you offer family photography?

It's worth inquiring. There are slower times in the business when I am able to make more time for this type of fun!

 

It is possible that I will offer “mini-sessions” a couple of times a year to cater to clients who fit a little outside of my normal niche. 

 

Subscribe to my email list to be the first to be notified when I am planning the next mini-session series. I will release the dates and times for mini-sessions to my email list only.

 

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Do you offer newborn photography?

I offer lifestyle portraits, not studio-type newborn photos. There's a big difference and I just want you to be very aware of this.

 

 

Does maternity photography fall under “couples portraits”?

Yes, and congratulations :) 

 

 

Do you offer services for LGBTQ+ couples and other minorities? 

Definitely, yes. I want you to consider me to be as inclusive of a photographer as possible. I have not been reached out to by many people from these communities but I am always open to considering your inquiry and if we are a great fit to work together!! Always!

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We booked a portrait session but have recently gotten engaged! We’d like to book you for our intimate wedding or elopement! Can we apply our past payments towards a wedding collection?

First congratulations!!! That’s HUGE news!

Second, For sure! It will take some maneuvering but we will make it happen! Get in touch soon to rearrange our contract.

 

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How do you accept payments?

I accept payments through my client management software, Honeybook. I'm prepared to accept payment via credit card or paypal. After your inquiry is settled away, and we've decided on all your detais and payment plan,  I will send you a contract to digitally sign, and an invoice where you will have the option to digitally pay in full, or have auto payments withdrawn from your credit card as per our pre-agreed payment schedule.

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What is the required deposit to book you?

I require a 40% deposit in order to book and secure your wedding date/time.

The reason for this is because I feel a 40% deposit represents your investment in me, your trust in me, my trust in you, and compensates me for holding that date and time, potentially losing out on other work as a result. 

It is standard practice for professionals to require a significant investment from clients in order to secure their wedding date/time.

A signed contract is also required to secure your date.

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Will you release originals/RAW photos?

Absolutely not. 

Taking the image is only 60% of the work, the other 40% comes from my creative touch and polishing of the images. I will not release any of my work as a RAW file, or unedited. I do not want my unfinished work circulating online.

 You will receive a finished product, in JPEG format, ready to be printed and shared online. If there is any further retouching needed, definitely ask, and I will fix any errors or imperfections for you. 

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Will you photoshop undesired qualities? 

Short answer, no.

Retouching images takes an enormous amount of time. I'm here to photograph you as you are.

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Define retouching.

Blemishes and imperfections on the skin such as bags under eyes, yes, I do retouch these on tighter portraits, but generally speaking, I do not offer body retouching of any sort. No face-tuning and no body-morphing. Retouching is simply limited to the skin texture and vibrance, and  any specs in the image like flies, or dust/dirt/hair on your clothing of key portraits.