Elopements are a beautiful thing; a union between two people, either by themselves or with select family members present, recognized by the eyes of the state. A lot of times these events are informal, relatively flexible, and at the leisure of the couple. A photography session for the elopement should be the same. There are a few things that should be considered, however, in order to accomplish this objective, all to further the story of your love.
1. Choosing the Perfect Location
A photography session in honor of an elopement should be represented by the perfect location; one that captures the beauty of the love that you share with one another. For some couples, that may be surrounded by the beauty of nature. For others, that may be the artistic composition of the city. Whatever choice you come to, considering the logistics of the location will help serve the photographer and thus the process of the day. In the Indianapolis area, some places that I might recommend is Monument Circle. The historical significance of the pillar erected in that area is amazing. You can add your mark of history to that ledger. Now, as far nature goes, while there is not much in the way of nature in Indianapolis, venturing out just a little bit can yield wonderful results. About an hour from the city, there is Cataract Falls, a beautiful reservoir surrounded by a majestic tree line and a magnificent waterfall. Either would be wonderful places to consider, providing the weather is acceptable on the given day.
2. Coordinating Outfits and Styling
Once you have lined up the location of the session, it may be wise to consider what outfits you would wear for the photos. Keeping in mind the location, you may want something to compliment the area and will look visually appealing in your photos. Certain color palettes and textures will benefit the area. For an area like Cataract Falls, a palette like Earth tones, which includes beige, brown, and green, would create a visual complement for the photos. For a city, however, colors like white and gray would create that match. Textures are perhaps not as important, but I would recommend not wearing any pinstripes. At the end of the day, though, I would recommend wearing what you feel comfortable in and what reflects a bit of your personal style. Whether that is some form of jewelry, a watch, or hat, adding a flare of your personal style is a better reflection of who you are and how you think.
3. Planning Out a Timeline
This element might be the most crucial for the session and how smoothly it runs. Creating a timeline for the day of the session will allow you to properly think about how much time is needed at the location you have selected, how much time the photographer needs to allot for your session, and how much time it takes to even arrive at the location. You can also create that perfect photography session if you utilize the natural assets of what a lot of people call “golden hour”, which occurs twice in a day – when the sun first comes up and the last hour when the sun sets. This can provide that natural look to your photos, which I think most people are seeking. In addition to the timeline, I would like to recommend adding additional time simply to be flexible for spontaneous moments.
4. Prepare for the Unexpected
It is pretty much impossible to account for every possible outcome. But some people have a tendency to try. All I can say about it is to prepare for the unexpected. Anything can happen at any time. But planning on something going wrong is setting yourself up for success. Whether it is a spontaneous moment, a change of location, or unexpected weather conditions, it never hurts to be prepared. Sometimes you can create the best out of an unexpected situation, utilizing these ideas to your benefit. By taking these situations, you can turn them into opportunities for creative and dramatic shots.
Creating the perfect session is far from easy. It is going to take work. But I promise that all of that work will pay off for your special day, making memories for years to come. These four details are pretty important to making the session go well, but what I want to stress is that having fun is just as important as those prior points. A day dedicated to capturing the love you share with your spouse. I want to emphasize that component of it rather than the details, but I also want you to be prepared. I hope to have added something to your plan and that you have an excellent day.
Warmest regards,
Logan Clark