The Process- How to Hire Me and How the Process Works | Adventure Elopement Photographer & Planner

This past week I was on a call with someone and we were talking about what all this company does and what all I do for my couples. We ended up speaking for six hours, yes, SIX HOURS on how everything works with working with me. We spoke on:

• The process my couples go through before finding me when deciding to elope.

• When they find me.

• How they hire me.

• That my entire company is built around my couples experience.

• And then the most important part- how I help them have the wedding of their dreams.
  About the tons of tiny details I help my couples work through to make the day 100% theirs.
  

  I’m so much more than just your elopement photographer, which is sometimes hard to explain all the things in one spot.

It made me realize I could write a resource to help couples see the difference of what a Zakas Photography elopement is like versus just having an elopement photographer tagging along their adventure. I know I have literally an entire website, which you’re on now, that gives you an idea of what this service is. BUT, I know that sometimes people need something that lays things out, from A to Z, in a concise way to fully find clarity. Plus, my website is only a part of the process and is so hard to lay out everything without overwhelming you. So I am SO stoked to write this and share with you exactly what it looks like and how I’m more than just your photographer.
Here’s a little secret:

all elopements are flexible

and there are no rules on how to create yours- which is where I come in.

Below is what to expect when having me as your elopement photographer & planner and

how I help you through your entire elopement planning journey.

How I help you as your elopement photographer & planner
Step 1: Before You Reach Out To Me

This isn’t my first rodeo and I know that couples are researching many vendors, many places, and a lot of things before they reach out to me. I know that deciding to elope is emotionally charged, with positives and possible negatives dealing with family drama, so because of that one of my main priorities is to support you before we even meet.

• You will find an entire Elopement Planning Guide page dedicated to this time in your journey.

• You can search my social media which has tips to planning your elopement posted just about every day.

• Checking out my Instagram stories also has some clutch help in ways of me posting all of the dreamy locations we can go to.

• When you’re still in the conceptualizing phase of your elopement planning journey, you can also check out my Pinterest boards that are set up with one single purpose: to help you plan and get that inspo boards going!

Steph helped us through the whole planning process and really used her insider knowledge of Iceland to help us plan the perfect day. We gave her an idea of the types of places we would like photos taken and she took off and ran with it in the best way!
- Kassie & Joe

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How I help you as your elopement photographer & planner
Step 2: What To Expect & How To Book Me

After you have searched some blogs and some helpful resources, you might feel a bit confident that I might be the one for you to making your day as awesome as you’re imagining it. Maybe you even are excited at the fact that I can help you think of some awesome details you hadn’t even thought of yet! But, the most important thing to note is that you feel excited to reach out because it seems like I totally understand what yore going through right at this very moment. You know that I understand the bravery it takes to elope, that you might have some emotional hurdles to get over, that you want someone just as excited as you for your elopement, and you are loving the photos you’re seeing.
And, if all goes well, you might even lock me in as your Elopement Magical Unicorn for the day, so here’s how it works:

1. Reach out to schedule your free consultation aka discovery call with me to chat about your elopement ideas.
   This really is a discovery call where we will meet, see each other’s vibes, you can ask all the questions, and I can start to get an idea of what your dream day will take to make it happen in real life in Iceland, Scotland, or anywhere in the world.

2. After the call, I will make you a completely custom proposal with three custom elopement packages to choose from. You won’t be picking from pre-made packages.
   What? Yes. Custom packages. I’m not kidding when I say elopements are whatever the heck you want them to be which is why one of my promises to you is never to fit your elopement dreams into any lame AF box. Your day will be how you want it.

3. Pick the package that lights your fire that you want to book.
   These are custom fit to you, so if you want to add anything to the package before booking-
   you can!

4. To officially lock us in together, a 50% retainer payment is made and agreement is signed.
   The retainer goes towards holding your date and to start getting my help immediately after booking. The agreement will be for both of us- I don’t mess around when it comes to business and anyone you’re speaking to that doesn’t require an agreement is not protecting you.
   I also offer payment plans to offer if that helps you out!

5. Help is on the way seconds after booking!
   You will receive your couple’s portal with me, my exclusive vendor guide, and some more helpful resources to kick your planning into high gear. Plus, you will have me for forever to be your personal Icelandic Elf helping you with every step.

She also takes all the stress out of planning. I literally told her to plan the day however she liked and that was by far the best decision I made (besides the part where I actually married the love of my life hah). Steph is an expert at love, at weddings of all kinds, and travel! I couldn’t have planned a better day - she took us to places we would have never found and made us feel like we didn’t have to think about anything at all. We could instead just enjoy every moment of the day.
- Alexandria & Luke

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How I help you as your elopement photographer & planner
Step 3: What We Do Together Before Your Elopement

I’m going to start this section by saying, they don’t call me their Elopement Yoda for nothing. How I like to easily describe the help you will get from me is like when Luke meets Yoda for the first time in Dagobah. The whole time Luke HAS the Force in him, he recognizes it, he just doesn’t know how to access it, harness it, and use it for good.
I’m kinda like that, but, for your elopement. You know you want to elope, you know it will be special, but you just don’t know how to harness that dream and make it happen. And my loves, that’s where I step in to help you:

• After booking me you will immediately get some planning help in the form of some guides to get you started.

• Because I know that planning an elopement can’t happen overnight, I will be giving you more guides,
  help, and resources as we are on the journey together instead of all at once. I never want to overwhelm you.
  Yes, planning an elopement is MUCH less planning than a traditional wedding but they still take some planning.

• I’ll help you find your other vendors and all other parts of the day that you will need.
  All you need to do is book your own plane tickets & accommodations.

• You will go through my exclusive, personal, Building Your Elopement experience.
  This is a perfect mesh of being a one-on-one personal experience AND being a simple process
  that doesn’t feel like you are being put through an elopement McDonalds drive-through.
  And, I will never charge you for more than your package pricing after booking, especially for permits that may or may not exist.

• We will stay in communications as you start pulling pieces together.
  I will be reaching out, reaching out with more help, and sending you simple questionnaires.
  This is where you can use me for advice on places to stay during your trip, breweries to visit, and excursions to go on.

• Your logistics will be handled for every part of the day and any help for your trip that you need.
  Do other photographers you’re talking to do this? I don’t know what other people do but I can guarantee you the amount of love, effort, and thoughtfulness I put into your day is par to none.

• Your timeline will be built to feel seamless throughout the day.
  I take into account the sunlight patterns for the day / time of year, the weather patterns, the locations we are going to and the amount of people in them, and how to maximize all of the locations in the amount of time booked with me.

• A Plan B (and C) for any weather we might encounter.

• Your location itinerary will flow, bringing you to so many epic areas, into the off-the-beaten-path areas, and it will feel like an adventure the entire day. I’m the Queen of maximizing our time to maximize our adventure without making you feel rushed.

Your logistics are my jam and I’m OBSESSED with locations.
I will be planning out your entire day’s timeline, help coordinate the other vendors, and will map out a completely custom location itinerary from my exclusive locations I’ve scouted for you.

This is why they call me your Elopement Yoda, I pull the pieces together that you had in your heads and make it happen as I guide you all along the way.

Bonus:
I’m always coming up with something new for you so no matter what I have now,
you can expect to get more help along the way.

We had an incredible experience with Steph as our Iceland elopement photographer!Ultimately we decided to go with Steph over another photographer because 1) she is obviously insanely talented. Anyone who looks at her portfolio can see that. And 2) she knows soooo much about Iceland. I cannot overstate how awesome it was to have a photographer who knows the country so well. It took a ton of stress off of me to have her able to pick out locations and plan our elopement day. She really did the work of both a photographer and planner. 
- Danielle & Cynthia

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How I help you as your elopement photographer & planner
Step 4: Your Experience During Your Epic Elopement Day

OH man, this is the best part of my job. This is the part that all of the work we have done together for the past few months gets to happen. Being able to see your faces practically melt off as you see the location you’re going to say your mushy, private vows to each other at for the first time seriously lights my soul on fire. I love all other aspects of the job, but this… THIS IS THE PART I LIVE FOR.

Actual reaction of Alexandria & Luke seeing the location they will say their vows during their elopement for the first time.

It is IMPERATIVE to me that your experience throughout the entire journey, form consult to elopement day, is easy and smooth so when you get to your elopement day you can take in a deep breath and feel amazing. How the rundown of your day will go:

• I will show up to where you’re getting ready and the day will start!

• It will feel a lot like your friend from Iceland is there to hangout.
  Who, happens to also have a camera.

• I’ll help orchestrate the entire day for you so you never have to think ‘what should we be doing?’
  I promise to never be intrusive and gently guide you throughout the day.

• After you’re done getting ready, all details shots are taken, you’re done with your cute pancake breakfast, we will take off.

• Your day will come together and happen just as you had hoped, whether that’s with an Officiant or without.

• All day you can sit back, let me take you from location to location, with my magic basket of snacks in the back.
  You two can just be in your little love bubble, letting the day happen WITH you, and enjoying every single moment.

• I will capture all of those moments, from candid, to the epic landscape shots.
  All of the emotions, the laughs, and the butt grabs will be documented.

• I guide you into position all day long and never make you feel like you’re in a photoshoot.
  You can have fun, not stress, and know you are getting one of a kind artwork made of your day.

She is present but never crowding, participating but never interjecting. There was nothing forced, she instead beautifully captured the exciting impulsivity of the day! If you want a documentarian point of view of your special day that perfectly captures the raw chemistry and excitement you share as partners, then I doubt you can find anyone better than Steph.
- Alexandria & Luke

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How I help you as your elopement photographer & planner
Step 5: After Your Elopement.
Warning: It can be life changing.

The fun doesn’t stop when the day of your elopement ends. This is the time that you get to spend a vacation with your new spouse. You can call each other those cute marriage names. You can soak it up and tell everyone ‘I just got married at that waterfall back there’. This time is so special and I want you to keep having those elopement goosebumps for months and months and months.
After your elopement, this is what you can expect:

• You will get recommendations and some exclusive goodies to help you AFTER the elopement is over to maximize the adventure on your trip.

• You will get some sneaky sneak peeks of your day before you leave to go back home so you can post and brag to everyone.
  If you got married in the most badass landscapes, I know how much you might want to make the people back home jealous.

• Your final gallery will be delivered on an online gallery to download all of the images.
  Your gallery will be delivered in a 6-8 week time frame wth both high-res and websize.
  You can share this link with anyone you want so they can download whatever images they want leaving you out of being the dropbox middle(wo)man.

• Your final gallery will be your entire story with a print store already attached to it.
  Unlike some others, I don’t cap image delivery, I don’t cap the amount of images you get per package, and I don’t ask you to buy more after the fact. You will get your story curated, processed, and delivered to you without missing any of the important bits.

• You will also get an album design of your wedding to make the album design process so much easier.

• We will stay connected so feel free to reach out and say hi whenever you want.
  So when you are back in Iceland for your 1 year anniversary, or in Scotland, or wherever it was- I can meet you for some drinks.

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Some extra love notes about
the elopement experience.

It IS expensive, but if that means a lot to you, then don't complain about the price. Set it in your head as an expense and then forget it. You don't bargain with an airline over their ticket prices. Don't try to lowball your photographer. Make sure the photographer matches your personality. I have met MANY a photographer who can capture a beautiful image. But having a conversation is as fun as nails on a chalkboard! Who cares how technical they are or why they chose a particular f-stop if the bride looks like a wooden doll!?…You want someone you can have a conversation with and who can make you BOTH feel comfortable. Shane is an introvert, but throughout the whole process, we got to know Steph so well that it felt like we were friends who have known each other for years!  - Steph & Shane

For us, this experience was less about having a wedding and more about going on an adventure together and getting badass pictures while doing it. We chose the right person to take us on that journey. We are so happy that we chose Iceland, and even though I was a little worried about choosing to go during winter and freezing to death while taking pictures, I am so happy we did. The snow-covered landscape was magical, auspicious, and unforgettable. Steph was truly our elopement Yoda but she is also the Indiana Jones of discovering fantastic Iceland locations. Thank you, Steph for taking us on our best journey yet! - Kassie & Joe

Do what feels right for you. Your wedding should be about your commitment to one another, and while it's true that weddings aren't just about the two people involved, it's also about joining two families. Ultimately it is up to you to decide how and when you want to do that. Inevitably, whatever you chose, someone may get their feelings hurt, albeit temporarily. Often, when you sit them down and explain things to them, if they love you, all they will want to do is support you and be happy for you.- Ashley & Hannes

I hope that helps you understand what all is involved and why this experience is so much more than just hiring a photographer.

I can’t wait to help you plan your day and make it as special as you know it can be.