Top 5 Tips for Getting Amazing Photos for your Scotland Elopement

Planning your Scotland elopement can be a very exciting but also slightly nerve-wracking experience. Most of us grew up with a certain idea of what a traditional wedding should look like and while this idea is a good and beautiful one, it may not be for everyone. As a Scotland elopement photographer, I love helping my couples design a day where they can truly be present and enjoy the experience, letting go of any expectations and having the day that feels just like them. Here are my 5+ tips that will help you have not only a wonderful elopement experience, but amazing photos too to remember it by!

Hold hands and face each other during the ceremony

While your celebrant may not think to mention this, you absolutely do not have to stand two feet apart with your hands by your sides during the ceremony and vow exchange. As a Scotland elopement photographer, I absolutely love when my couples face each other and hold hands during all or part of the ceremony because not only will it feel more intimate for you as a couple, the photos will also show just how close to each other you felt on your wedding day. Intimacy is a huge factor for most couples choosing to elope so don’t be afraid to ask your celebrant  if it’s okay to face each other rather than them and hold hands if this is something that you would like to do.

Be creative with your styling

This is your wedding day and you don’t have to look like the typical bride & groom images you see on wedding blogs unless you want to. Choose clothes and accessories that really feel like you and don’t be afraid to ask for help finding vendors. As a Scotland elopement photographer, I’m always more than happy to recommend other wedding suppliers I have worked with to my couples that offer unique and artistic options for your elopement look! Speaking from personal experience, I always wish that I was more intentional with my styling on my wedding day and wasn’t so worried about making some untraditional choices.

Include some fun activities in your elopement day that feel like you

There are so many fun things you can do at your elopement - you can rent a boat and go sailing on a lake, go wild swimming, do a sunrise hike and say your vows at the top of a mountain or simply stop at a local cozy pub for some beers to celebrate your wedding day. Having an elopement means that all pressure is off you and you can really make the day whatever you want it to be! And while it may seem unnecessary to have photos taken during these activities, I would strongly encourage you to do just that. Doing things together is a massive part of most couples relationship and the photos of you being your authentic selves and doing the things you love together might end up becoming the most precious memories years down the line.

Let go and be present

I’ll say it louder for those at the back: LET GO of all that you can’t control and try to be as present as possible before and during the ceremony, during any activities, as well as when you’re there with your photographer to simply take photos. Trust me, I know how difficult it is for someone who loves feeling in control of all aspects of her life to really let go, but it is so so important to do that during your elopement day, and especially when you’re getting photos of yourselves taken. Choose your photographer wisely and make sure that you both love the way they shoot/edit and you also feel comfortable with them as a person. A pre-booking video call is a must for me for that reason. Your photos will look one million times better if you feel comfortable with your photographer, if you feel like you can truly trust them as a person. It is absolutely so not worth it going for a budget photographer whose style you don’t love or who you don’t connect with as a person because these photos will be the only thing from the elopement that remains with you years down the line.

Communicate with your photographer (and other vendors) during the day

As much as we try to serve our couples to the best of our ability as Scotland elopement photographers, we still need you to tell us about any fears or expectations you have. Do you have a ‘good’ side and prefer most of the photos to be taken from that angle? Let us know. Do you need a break to get a cup of tea or are you feeling cold and want to go and warm up somewhere for a little bit? Tell us about it. Do you have a certain artistic shot in mind but not sure if it can be achieved? Tell us about your vision. We are here to serve you and we want you to have a fantastic experience before, after and during the elopement, so if there’s anything you need from us there is NEVER any shame in asking.

BONUS TIP: Embrace the weather

If you’re planning an outdoor elopement in Scotland, I’m sure at one point or another this thought crossed your mind: What if the weather is terrible? What if it rains? And while yes, that is always a possibility in Scotland, that should not deter you from planning your elopement in this wonderfully wild country of ours. Some of the most breathtaking images I had the honour to capture as a Scotland elopement photographer have been taken in the wildest, craziest weather. Scotland’s landscapes are made for DRAMA and the shifting clouds and raging winds more often than not help to take your elopement photos from beautiful to PURE CINEMATIC MAGIC. I would always recommend having some waterproofs with you and some warm dry clothes in the car you can change into as soon as you’re done with the photos or when you need to take a break, but trust me: having an elopement in some wild weather can seriously become a beautifully unforgettable experience!

Are you looking to elope in Scotland and not sure where to start? Here’s my straight-to-the-point guide to eloping in Scotland.

Would you like to check if I’m available to photograph your elopement? Get in touch here!