Elopement Photographer Gift Guide
Whether you are looking for the perfect gift for the elopement photographer you know or you’re looking to treat yo’ self as an elopement photographer, this photographer gift guide is perfect for you! I’ve compiled a gift guide of items that I can’t live without as an adventure elopement photographer. These are the items you may not think are important, but they have proven to be a game changer for me and my photography business. I truly never go on an Adventure Session or capture an elopement without having these things with me.
When I first started taking photos, I would stand on top of a kitchen chair over a marble cutting board that was on the floor next to my living room window (you’ve gotta have that natural light, right?), and would capture images of the food I made. Little did I know when I started a food blog called Between the Pine that it would evolve to climbing mountains with the raddest couples to capture photos of their love story.
But, here we are!
So, you can accurately assume that I have learned a lot over the past years of cultivating Between the Pine to be the elopement photography company it is today. One of the biggest lessons I had to learn early on when I began photographing couples is that gear is important. You will truly set yourself up for success by investing in equipping yourself for any and all scenarios. So, enjoy pursuing through this elopement photographer gift guide, and happy gift giving!
Please note: none of the items or products on this elopement photographer gift guide are sponsored or paid promotions. These products are tried and true by me, and I really believe they’re amazing. You’re reading my honest, free opinion!
Elopement gifts from Shop Between the Pine
This week only, head over to Shop Between the Pine for adventure goods perfect for any elopement photographer! The shop is stocked full of goods that will bring a little more adventure into your life or a friends life. Each product has been intentionally chosen, sourced, and designed with you in mind.
Gear for Every Elopement Photographer
Water Resistant Backpack
As a Washington elopement photographer, having gear that isn’t water resistant just isn’t worth it. But, what is totally worth it is having a backpack that you know is keeping your photography gear protected and organized. The last thing you need to be doing in the middle of a session is digging around a huge backpack looking for a new memory card. I currently use the Everyday Backpack by Peak Design. One of the things I love about this bag is how easy it is to customize the inside and outside, so I can utilize the bag’s features no matter what photography gear I’m using. It’s super versatile and nothing ever gets buried in my bag. Wondrd is another great brand for backpacks for adventure elopement photographers.
Waterproof Speaker
I work really hard to make sure my couples feel relaxed and comfortable during their photo session with me. One of my favorite ways to do this is to build a playlist specific to each couple. I use this waterproof speaker to play their favorite songs throughout our session. I love this speaker because it can easily clip to my camera harness (which I’ll talk about in a little bit) and is waterproof for all of those rainy PNW days.
Universal Lens Cap
I love using this universal lens cap for my cameras. This drastically reduces the amount of lens caps you have to keep up with, and it makes for easy transitions between lenses throughout a session. I’ve found that this universal lens cap tends to offer more protection for my lenses because it is shock absorbent.
Waterproof Memory Card Holder
Again with the “waterproof,” I know! But, truly, if you are photographing outside, everything needs to be waterproof. I love this waterproof memory card holder by Pelican. It’s slim and is easy to access for quickly switching memory cards. I also love that it is shock resistant for added protection.
Camera Harness
A camera harness is truly such a game changer! A camera harness is so helpful when you’re wanting to quickly get the same pose or angle with different camera lenses. I recommend this camera harness, created by photographer India Earl. This camera harness is made to reduce pressure that can be caused by the weight of your cameras on your body, reduces the amount of movement your cameras experience on the harness, and is made in an environmentally conscious way. Another camera harness I recommend is the Money Maker by Hold Fast.
Camera Strap
If you’re not quite ready or are not interested in the camera harness route, then I highly recommend this award-winning camera strap by Peak Design! It can be adjusted to be a sling, neck or shoulder camera strap. It is very slim, not bulking up what you’re carrying up the mountain, but is simultaneously very strong and can support up to 200 pounds.
Pelican Protector Studio Case
This hard case by Pelican is unbreakable, watertight, airtight, dustproof, chemical resistant and corrosion proof. All my fellow elopement photographers said, “Amen!” This is the dream case to store all of your photography gear when you’re traveling from elopement to elopement. Photography equipment is a major investment, so protecting your gear the best ways you can is so necessary.
Elopement Photographer Gifts that Leave No Trace
It’s important that we (adventure and elopement photographers) do our part to reduce waste while photographing in nature. Leave No Trace is an incredibly important set of principles to live out as we lead couples through the forests. By choosing reusable products, you’re minimizing your waste and not leaving anything behind.
Reusable Water Bottle
It is so important to stay hydrated, especially while hiking and taking photos in the mountains! I love the reusable water bottles from Miir, which is why I trusted them to create Between the Pine reusable water bottles! Also, it’s important to bring water for your clients, too! Some couples may not think to pack water for the hike, so it’s always a great idea to have extra water for them, too.
Reusable Coffee Mug
Continuing on the Leave No Trace theme, this Between the Pine reusable coffee mug by Miir is approved for all fireside coffee refills and red wine nightcaps. When your adventure photography sessions call for an early wake up call for sunrise, a well-insulated coffee cup is a must-have.
Reusable Utensils
Another reusable product I throw in my bag is this reusable utensil pack! Whether I’m camping the night before a sunrise elopement or I’m on-the-go and eating dinner on the way to a sunset session, I love utilizing these reusable utensils to reduce my waste.
Reusable Baggies
I love using reusable baggies! My favorite reusable baggies are from Stasher Bag; they are plastic-free and dishwasher safe. Snacks are always a necessity for photo shoots, so I always have snacks on hand for myself and my clients. Curious what foods are great for photographers who are on-the-go? Check out my favorite photographer-fueling snacks by clicking here.
Food Canister
And, one final plug for the Leave No Trace practices: I love taking meals in this food canister by Miir! It’s insulated design makes it perfect for taking hot meals to-go as an elopement photographer. I packed one of my fall favorites, pumpkin turkey chili, on a hike with these food canisters and the chili was still hot when we reached our lookout. Click here for the recipe!
Essential Outdoor Gifts for an Elopement Photographer
Puffy Coat
This is a great puffy coat for elopement photographers! It’s lightweight, great to layer, and easy to stuff in a backpack. This puffy coat is windproof, water-resistant and insulated to keep you warm. And I just love Patagonia’s corporate dedication to be environmentally and socially responsible, so anything from their company is a win!
Leggings
These are my absolute favorite leggings I’ve ever owned. They have an amazing waist band, so they never fall down. Patagonia makes them from a quick-drying material, so those misty PNW days don’t bother me!
Rain Jacket
Okay. Please hear me out before you freak out at the price tag on this one! I know this is a really expensive rain jacket, but I promise you: this is the absolute best rain jacket out there! This three-layered coat from Patagonia will have you prepared for wind, rain and snow! A durable and reliable rain jacket is a PNW elopement photographer must-have.
Beanie
This Carhartt beanie is my go-to staple for my “work uniform” as an adventure elopement photographer.
Wool Socks
REI carries my favorite wool socks. They are lightweight yet keep my toes so warm! I love these wool socks so much that I bought more as I was creating this blog post because REI was having a sale (lol).
Hiking Boots
Danner Boots are made in Portland, Oregon, and I am such fans of what they do! On their website, they say, “You don’t put on a pair of Danner Boots to sit around the house. They’re made for adventure, exploration, and the hard work the men and women who wear them perform day in and day out.” So good, right? I really love this pair of brown leather hiking boots by Danner. They’re a little less practical due to their weight, but they are really cute! This pair of hiking boots by Danner and this pair of hiking boots by Ahnu are more practical and great options, too.
Headlamp
A good headlamp is super important for an elopement photographer, especially for sunrise and sunset sessions because most of your hike to the mountain view or back to the car will be in the dark. I use this Black Diamond headlamp, and it’s great!
Perfect Resource Gifts for Elopement Photographers
Hiking and Trail Books
Call me a nerd, but some of the best trail resources come from hiking books! I’ve found some epic spots to take my elopement couples through hiking books! Here are some of my favorites:
Portable Battery Charger
If you know me, it’s not uncommon for me to go through most of my day with my phone nearly (or completely) dead. That’s why this portable battery charger comes in clutch when I’m in the mountains and need to be able to use my phone. This is also a great way to serve my clients if they’re in need of some extra phone battery, too!
Sun Seeker App
Speaking of using your phone in the mountains, the Sun Seeker app helps adventure elopement photographers plan photography sessions according to golden hour or to blue hour. You’ll be able to track optimal sun conditions, sunrise and sunset times and directions. It’s a ten-dollar investment that will be a total game changer, trust me! For most of the year in the Pacific Northwest, photographing in sunlight isn’t really an option. So, for those sunny spring and summer months, the Sun Seeker app comes in clutch every time to be able to get the perfect lighting for my couples. It’s so important to know how to capture those golden sun rays before the sun dips behind the mountains.
PeakFinder App
This little app is the best adventure buddy to have in your pocket. PeakFinder knows more than 650,000 peaks, so the adventure possibilities are amazing! The app uses your cell phone camera to identify mountain peaks in a 360-degree panoramic view. One of my favorite things about this app is that is able to work completely offline from anywhere in the world. Each mountain peak is packed with information about the unique mountain. I love using this app to help educate my clients as we hike throughout our session. I’m starting to geek out; just know that this is an incredible app quite literally have in your back pocket.
The Ultimate Adventure Elopement Photographer Gift
Between the Pine Mentor Session
Yes, this is absolutely a shameless plug for my Mentor Sessions! From the time I photographed my first wedding in Fall 2018, I have tripled my revenue and transitioned to be a full-time photographer. Between the Pine has also been able to create jobs for my assistant, graphic designer and social media manager. I share all of this to be able to say that there is truly so much I have learned about photography, marketing, taxes, business development and the list could go on. This is where Mentor Sessions come in, because I want to share all that I have learned with other elopement photographers! I offer two types of Mentor Sessions: in-person and Skype. If you or someone you know would be interested in booking a Mentor Session with me, contact me by clicking here.
There you have it! My full gift guide of everything I recommend to be prepared for an adventure elopement photography session. Want to learn more tips and tricks? Check out my other resources for photographers by clicking here! Am I missing one of your favorite piece of photography gear on this list? Let me know what I need to add to this list!
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