Arizona Elopement Photographer
FOR THE COUPLES WHO DON’T WANT TO SPEND THEIR WHOLE ELOPEMENT DAY POSING FOR PHOTOS—
You’re getting married, not putting on a show. If we’ve learned anything from the hundreds of weddings we’ve photographed, it’s that every couple embodies intricately unique interests, desires, and most importantly, a beautiful love story. Getting married is a significant step in your journey together, and you deserve to have the best possible day celebrating it.
We find ourselves in such a unique moment in time, where all that is less “traditional” is finding its way to the forefront of the wedding industry. With that comes the notion of an elopement becoming more mainstream. Whether it’s at the local courthouse or in the middle of a national park, eloping is less taboo than it was in our parents’ era, and something Joseph and I highly encourage every single one of our couples, traditional wedding or not, to consider.
Why? It begins with our wedding experience. By the grace of God, we felt compelled to elope with just ourselves, an officiant, and a witness with an iPhone in the middle of a massive, beautiful sand dune landscape before our traditional wedding. It was simple, stress-free, and the best decision we made when getting married. We valued celebrating the momentous occasion of getting married with all our friends and family, but more than that, we deeply valued getting married. When it came to our wedding day, we felt wildly stressed, feeling like we were putting on a big, expensive production for everyone we invited, and came away realizing we didn’t enjoy the fastest day of our lives really at all. We were so grateful we decided to elope beforehand.
And here I am now, after photographing hundreds of weddings, and spending countless hours with couples, feeling compelled to take a step back from the traditional day and into elopements. It is one of my greatest desires to help couples craft an elopement day that encompasses everything they envision it being— an all day adventure or a simple dinner or surrounded by 40 guests or none at all— while being captured in a documentary style. Posed photographs and fake laughter are very much still something that makes me cringe, and these elopement days will stay very real and unscripted.
Keep reading to learn more about the Poppy and Vine experience!
How I Accomplish This—
Before Your Elopement
You’ve chosen a more personalized wedding day experience, and ensuring it flows flawlessly day of requires a bit more intentionality beforehand. Together we’ll develop the best timeline for your day, one that doesn’t feel rushed or forced. We’ll scout places you’re dying to see, and activities to make your day complete. I’ll help you get the permits you need and any other vendors you’ll need to serve you on your day.
At Your Elopement
I’m very honored to often be described as the chillest photographer ever by many of my past couples. I really like to go with the flow. You can rest assured you won’t be forced to do anything or pose any type of way just to get the shot either—
I’ll make sure you get all the dream photos you’re looking for, while also making sure you’re able to *actually* enjoy your elopement day. I’ll be there to capture all that is important: all the candid, in between moments, as well as those important photos that require a little more direction! Ultimately, I want you both to feel comfortable, and free to make the most of your day and the landscape you’re surrounded by, while ending up with a gallery full of beautiful, raw moments!
After Your Elopement
The second I get home, your photos are safely & securely stored. I spend hours of focused time making sure you have a gallery which tells the story of your day, with every detail, emotion, & moment included. Your photos are edited by me, as I believe this step in the process is vital to conveying the beautiful story that unfolded before my very eyes!
Your Resident Arizona Elopement Photography Expert—
Hi! My name is Katie :)
I’m an Arizona-based elopement photographer who has fallen head over heels in love with the many gorgeous desert landscapes in my home state, and, of course photographing wildly in love couples amongst it! The first place that quite literally ~ took my breath away ~ was the Grand Canyon, and that day I knew I had to someday live near it, and only dreamed of somehow making a career that involved it.
A few years later, I am thrilled to call Arizona my home and to be making a living capturing elopement and wedding days here in a raw and honest way!
My goal is to spend as much time outside exploring new places as I possibly can, so this lovely alternative to a standard desk job is truly my dream. Some of my fondest memories include road trips across the southwest with my friends and husband, hiking miles through hoodoos and slot canyons and all the red rocks, and laughing all the way. After photographing hundreds of traditional weddings, I am so grateful I’ve been able to make the move toward more outdoors-focused adventure elopement days!
When I am not working, I love nothing more than building community. My husband, Joseph, and our friends have become people who truly are my chosen family, and spending as much quality time with them as possible is at the top of my list of priorities. I also am one of those nerds who loves working out (I teach spin classes for fun!), learning all kinds of science (wine and viticulture is my current subject of deep fascination), and whose favorite season is football season (I always cry when the Lions lose).
I am so excited to help you craft the best day of your life, one that fits your unique loves and interests, and that leaves you with memories that will last the rest of your story together. It’s an honor to be considered to come along this journey with you, let’s get this party started!
A Few of My Favorite Elopements—
The Best Arizona Elopement Locations
The Superstition Mountains— Towering desert cliffs at the east end of the greater Phoenix area full of hiking trails, cacti, and that iconic desert landscape
Sedona— Giant red rocks meet the more lush landscape of Northern Arizona, with all kinds of scenic spots to exchange vows and opportunities for all-day adventures too!
Saguaro National Park— Named for its iconic native cactus, this park is teeming with them! Located just outside Tucson for easy access, too!
Grand Canyon National Park— A global icon. Name a more breathtaking place to get married! It also boasts dense forest if this is the kind of vibe you’re interested in!
Horseshoe Bend & Lake Powell— All in the same area, featuring towering cliffs over the Colorado River. This also gives us a great opportunity to visit neighboring Southern Utah for more red rocks!
Flagstaff— Arizona’s very own forested mountain wonderland! That’s right, you don’t need to leave the state to be able to capture this landscape!
“So So So Wonderful.
Katie and Joseph are absolutely BEYOND incredible in every way!
The amount of compliments we got on our engagement photos was overwhelming and then of course when we got our wedding photos we were floored! My husband hates having his photo taken and they made him feel so comfortable. They are incredibly talented, beyond kind, and so fun to work with. We had the best time having dance parties behind the scenes with them. Cannot recommend them enough!!!”
Getting Married in Arizona!
As with all weddings, there are some legal ramifications involved. Throughout the process of working together, I will provide you with the guidance you need to ensure your marriage is completed legally. Some of these details include:
Your Marriage License— You’ll need to acquire one of these from one of Arizona’s Superior Court Clerk offices up to twelve months before you are married, regardless if you live in state or elsewhere. To be legally married, you’ll need an officiant’s signature, as well as that of two witnesses (I would be ecstatic to be one!!). You’ll mail the license back to the clerk’s office for processing, and then you’ll be legally wed!
Permits— * Some * areas of the state, like the national and state parks, may require recreational or special use permits to be married there. It will be your responsibility to apply for these, however, I will point you in the direction you need to acquire the correct permits for your wedding! I will send you this information with your inquiry so you can prepare this very important checklist item as soon as possible!
Customized Elopement Planning
Time of Year— I think by now we all know Arizona is mostly desert, and has quite temperamental weather to match. Summer means extreme heat and haboobs for most of the state, while winter means dry cold and even snow in other areas. Fall and spring tend to be our best, most mild seasons, though some locations simply look and feel better during unique times of the year. There’s nothing like the East Valley full of wildflowers in the spring, or Saguaro after the summer rains. I’m here to point you in the best direction for your vision!
Vendors— It’s highly likely I won’t be the only vendor involved in your wedding day! When I say the local Arizona wedding industry is, by far, the best I’ve been part of, I truly mean it. I’m not only here to capture your day in it’s entirety, but I am also here to help you have the best experience possible. This includes helping you find the best people to add their artistic touch to your day.
Experiences— Maybe your dream elopement day includes a hot air balloon ride over the Valley, a Jeep tour in Sedona, or a sunrise hike in the Grand Canyon. You are eloping, you don’t just have to have a ceremony after all! Allow me to get you connected with third parties to add a memorable experience to your wedding day!
A Friend— We’ll be spending a ton of time together on your elopement day, and I vow to be there, above all, to support you as you enjoy this day in its entirety. In as unobtrusive a way as possible, I am here to help you decide which earrings to wear, hold your hand as we hurdle boulders, and laugh with as you experience this day together.
Elopement Pricing
All of my elopement and intimate wedding packages involve a custom quote unique to your vision for your day! I will provide you with a more accurate idea of what you may spend on your elopement after we initially talk about your plans. Our average couple will spend between $3500 and $7500 on elopement photography, depending on package length, location, and add-ons.
How Do We Book You For Our Elopement?
This process begins with a simple inquiry form. Fill it out so I can get to know you & start planning your dream day!
I’ll reach out with a custom quote & an invite for a FaceTime to make sure I’m the best fit for you, and to answer all your questions!