ADVENTURE ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER

Ditch the rulebook

Elopement photography for couples like you who want to celebrate on your own terms, with someone who’ll help you build it just the way you dreamed it, wherever in the world that might be.

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Just your love story celebrated on your terms, anywhere your heart lands.

Here’s the part nobody
says out loud…

Choosing to elope is almost never just about the money or the logistics.

It’s about wanting a day that actually feels like the two of you and realizing somewhere along the way that the version everyone else was picturing wasn’t it.

That doesn’t make it simple. You might be excited and second-guessing yourself in the same breath. You might already know this is right and still be dreading the conversation with your mom. Both things can be true, and neither of them means you’re making a mistake.

The family stuff is real, and it’s okay to say that. Most couples who’ve been through it will tell you the same thing: the people you’re most nervous to tell are the ones sending anniversary messages two years later. It doesn’t always feel that way in the middle of it, but it gets there.

And the day itself? It can be so much more than you’re probably imagining right now. Not a scaled-down version of someone else’s wedding. It’s a day built entirely around what you actually want. Where you want to be, how you want it to feel, and what you want to remember.

SIGN ME UP

“It was one of the best experiences of our lives, and we’re so glad we get to have these photos forever to cherish.”

— Cheyanne & Sam

Think of it as your wedding, built into your honeymoon

An elopement isn’t a smaller wedding. It’s a different thing entirely and most couples are surprised by how much it can be.

A morning hike to a place that takes your breath away

Vows at altitude, just the two of you. Dinner at a place you found on the way down. Still in your wedding clothes, because why the heck not?

A day built around doing something you’ll never forget

A helicopter over a glacier. Cliff jumping into a lake. A hot air balloon at sunrise. Kayaking somewhere most people will never see. If the activity is the point, we’ll build the whole day around it—and I’ll be there for every bit of it.

A multi-day adventure with the people who actually matter

Camping the night before, mountains in the morning, your closest people around a fire. A photographer who was there for all of it, not just the ceremony.

A city you’ve always wanted to explore together

A rooftop, a long lunch, an afternoon with no schedule and nowhere to be. The kind of day that feels like you, not like a checklist.

Something quieter and somewhere that means something

A place with a story behind it. A few people who really get it. The rest of the day entirely yours.

One day or three. Local or halfway across the world. The only thing it has to be is yours. And if that gets your heart racing and your imagination running wild, then you’re in the right place.

Nobody tells you how much there is to figure out

Permits. Locations. Timing. Activities. What to do about families who want to come. Most couples start Googling and end up with forty-seven tabs open and no clearer idea of where to begin. You shouldn’t have to figure this out alone and when you book, you won’t.

Here’s what gets handled before your day even starts:

Couple dancing at garden of the gods in colorado

Location scouting focused on what matters to you

Not just “somewhere pretty”. The right place for the kind of day you’re imagining—whether that’s a backcountry trail, a city rooftop, or a place that’s special to the two of you.

Permit research and logistics, all sorted

National parks, public lands, private venues. Whatever your location requires, it gets sorted before it becomes your problem.

Activity planning with ideas you haven’t thought of

Constantly inspired by the artistry of haute couture designers and their intricate, high-fashion collections, which influence her approach to crafting elegant, editorial-quality wedding imagery.

A detailed timeline built around your priorities

A discerning palate for the finest wines, often indulging in a glass of aged Bordeaux while enjoying intimate dinners or curating my next creative project.

Check-ins and guidance all the way to the day

Bite-sized, not overwhelming. You’ll always know exactly where things stand and what’s coming next.

Capturing light, stories, moments beautifully.

So when the day arrives, the only thing you have to do is
show up and be in it.

Hey, I’m Mike

Ex-musician, artist by nature, photographer by trade.

I’ve jumped out of a plane despite being scared of heights, backpacked through foreign countries, and shown up to every elopement I’ve ever shot just like a friend who happens to have a camera. I know what it feels like to do things differently and catch heat for it. Which is probably why helping couples design a day that’s entirely theirs (and then fully showing up for it) is the work I love most.

5 countries. 35 states. And counting.
6+ years of showing up for real wedding days
100+ couples supported from inquiry to final gallery
7x published (still surreal, honestly)

HERE’S MORE MIKE

I’m not your hype girl. I’m invisible either.

Just someone you can genuinely be yourself around.
That mindset carries into the way I approach weddings.
I show up the same way I would for a close friend—present, easy to be around, and paying attention to what actually matters.
Which is probably why helping couples design a day that’s fully theirs—and then showing up to document it honestly—is the work I love most.

See what’s possible

A selection of elopements—every one of them different, and all exactly right.

The Investment

Half-day, full-day, or multi-day. We’ll figure out what fits your story together.

Everything you need to plan, experience, and remember the day.

All collections include:

A free consultation call

…so we can get to know each other, talk through your vision, and make sure we’re the right fit before anything is committed to.

Location scouting and permit research

…so you can concentrate on the fun part while I deal with the boring logistics.

A customized timeline

…giving you a day that flows smoothly, while you get to experience every second.

Activity planning

…for an elopement that lives up to all your wildest dreams.

Sneak peeks within 1 week

…so you can relive the feeling while it’s still fresh in your mind.

A full narrative gallery

…so you remember the entire story of your day, even after decades have passed.

From $4,000

get in touch!

Travel anywhere in the US is covered, with international availability on request. The more of the day you give yourself, the more there is to look back on.

Every elopement starts with a conversation.

LET’S START YOURS

“I’m a photographer myself, making choosing someone to capture my wedding much more difficult. Mike was, and is, an excellent communicator and professional in every aspect. He took a ton of notes on what we wanted, sat down with us to make sure we had as much of a plan as you can make on a wedding day and made it seem simple and straightforward the whole time. His handling of everything the day of was perfect.”

— Seth & Cece

FAQ

Let’s talk through the what-ifs

Short answer? Yes.

Longer answer? It depends on where you’re eloping. Every state (and country) has different rules around marriage licenses, waiting periods, and officiants. I’ll help you figure out what applies to your location and point you toward the right resources.

If you want the adventure without the paperwork stress, some couples choose to legally marry at home and treat the elopement as their intentional ceremony. Both are valid.

Sometimes. Sometimes not.

Some states require one or two witnesses. Some don’t need any. Some national parks have specific rules. We’ll check what your location requirements are early in the planning process so there are no surprises.

If witnesses are needed and you’re keeping things private, we’ll problem-solve. There’s always a way to figure things out.

Absolutely. A lot of couples do exactly that. Elope somewhere meaningful, then throw a party back home with friends and family when you’re ready.

It doesn’t make your elopement “less real”. It just means you chose intimacy first and celebration second.

You get to build this however it makes sense for you.

This is where most couples start to spiral.

Permits, ceremony location rules, photography restrictions. It can feel like a lot. I help research what’s required for your chosen spot and guide you through the process so you’re not Googling at midnight wondering if you’re about to get fined in a national park.

The goal is simple: you show up, fully present. I handle the prep work behind the scenes.

Then we pivot.

Mountain weather changes fast. So do coastal cliffs. So does pretty much anywhere worth going. I build timelines with flexibility in mind and always have a Plan B in my back pocket.

Some of my favorite images have come from unexpected weather. Wind, fog, rain—they don’t ruin the day. They make it yours.

And if we truly need to adjust the plan? Then that’s exactly what we’ll do. Deep breaths. I’ve got this.

This is usually the hardest part. You might get questions. Opinions. Maybe even guilt. That doesn’t mean you’re wrong.

I’ve had couples navigate this in all kinds of ways. With heartfelt conversations, boundary-setting, inviting a few key people, or even choosing to keep it private until after.

Here’s the thing: you’re the ones who wake up married the next day. Not them.

You can be thoughtful and still choose yourselves.

Let’s figure your day out, together

We’ll talk through what you’re imagining, what you’re unsure about, and what would make this feel fully like you.

START THE CONVERSATION