Haley and mike at their lakefront elopement on lake tahoe

Lake Tahoe elopement photographer · Truckee, California

Elopements
Small on purpose.

Based in
Truckee, CA
Shooting
Tahoe, SF, Maui
Style
Documentary
Reviews
5.0 · 60 on Google

Lake Tahoe elopement photography · Truckee, California

Less schedule. More pictures.

An elopement is a wedding with the extra stuff taken out. Sometimes it is just the two of you. Sometimes it is your kids, your parents or a few friends. Either way the day is built around you, not around a reception schedule.

I'm a documentary wedding photographer based in Truckee. I came up shooting news and landscapes, and elopements are where both of those come together. Real moments, big places and nobody performing for a crowd.

Below are real elopements I've photographed, from Lake Tahoe to San Francisco City Hall to Maui.

Where to elope · Venue guides

Pick the place. I'll find the light.

Sand Harbor

Lake Tahoe's east shore. Granite boulders and clear water. Read the honest guide before you book.

Sand Harbor guide

San Francisco City Hall

A weekday civil ceremony for six guests or fewer, then the grand staircase and the dome.

City Hall guide

Palisades Tahoe

High Camp and the mountain. Big views without a long hike.

Palisades Tahoe guide

Sierra foothills

Private land, creeks and gold country around Coloma and Placerville.

Coloma guide

Mendocino Coast

Bluffs over the Pacific and a small inn above the beach.

Elk Cove Inn guide

Maui

Consistent sun on the southwest coast and sunsets over the water.

Maui guide

How an elopement works

Four steps. That's it.

01

Check the date.

Send me your date and the place you have in mind. If I'm free, we talk it through.

02

Pick the place and the time.

We plan around the light. A ceremony time that sets up golden hour makes everything easier.

03

Handle the license.

In California you need a marriage license issued within 90 days of the ceremony and an authorized officiant.

04

Show up.

Get married, then go make pictures. No crowd to manage and no timeline to chase.

Elopement FAQ

Questions couples actually ask.

What is an elopement?

An elopement is a wedding with the extra stuff taken out. Sometimes it is just the two of you. Sometimes it is close family. The point is that the day is built around the two of you and not around a reception schedule, so there is more time for the things you actually care about.

Where do you photograph elopements?

Mostly around Lake Tahoe and Truckee, including Sand Harbor, Donner Lake and private lakefront homes. I also photograph elopements at San Francisco City Hall, in the Sierra foothills, on the Mendocino Coast and on Maui.

Do you photograph San Francisco City Hall elopements?

Yes. Daniel and Nicole eloped at San Francisco City Hall with just the two of them. Civil ceremonies there are by appointment on weekdays for six guests or fewer. The City Hall venue guide has the details.

Can our family come to an elopement?

Yes. Haley and Mike had close family and friends at a lakefront home on Lake Tahoe, and Teagan and Mike had close family on Maui. Cidney and Zach had only their kids at the ceremony and then threw a party for more than 100 people.

Do we need a marriage license to elope in California?

Yes. You need a California marriage license issued within 90 days of your ceremony, and the ceremony has to be performed by an authorized person. A license issued in California is good in any California county.

Do you travel for elopements?

Yes. I am based in Truckee and I travel to the Bay Area, Napa, Santa Cruz, the Mendocino Coast, Maui and anywhere worth the flight.

How do we check if you are available?

Send your date and where you are thinking of getting married through the contact page. I will tell you if I am free and how I would plan the day around the light.

Planning an elopement?

Tell me where. Tell me when.

Send your date and the place you're thinking about. I'll tell you if I'm free and how I'd plan the day around the light.

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