Do we need a different photographer for an Elopement vs a Wedding?

The quick short answer to this question is: No, but experience matters more than the label!

Elopements and more traditional weddings ask for different skills. Elopement often moves at a different pace, and you are able to decide what to spend the most time on. They require a photographer who's comfortable adapting on the fly, guiding you while also letting quiet moments unfold naturally during the elopement.

More traditional wedding days are more structured, with more concrete timelines, clearer family dynamics, and many more moving parts. Since multiple vendors play a role in your day, you have to be more mindful of how your time could affect them, so there's less room for spontaneity, but more skills in being okay with adjusting to the timeline.

So there are two options for choosing the best photographer for you. Either decide on whether you want to elope or have a traditional wedding day and find a photographer that fits one or the other. OR find a photographer who understands both and knows how to shift between them.

Because I've photographed everything from a courthouse wedding with just two people to a full wedding day with guests and timelines, I'm able to bring the best to both worlds.

• The calm, grounded presence and storytelling approach of an elopement photographer

• Plus, the experience and awareness needed to navigate a traditional wedding day when required.

Some photographers specialize heavily in one or the other, which can make it harder to adapt when your day doesn't fit neatly into a box (and most days don't).

Whether you're exchanging vows alone or celebrating with a room full of people, what matters most to me is that you feel seen, supported, and free to be yourselves and that your photos reflect how the day actually felt, not just how it looked.

How to choose the right photographer for your day?

Instead of asking whether you need an elopement photographer ot a wedding photographer, ask:

• Have you photographed both?

• Do their galleries show a range of intimate and larger celebrations?

• Do they talk about experience, presence, and storytelling - not just logistics?

The right photographer will meet you where you are and adapt to the day you're intentionally creating.

All in all, you don't necessarily need a different photographer just because your day looks different. But you do need someone who understands people, emotion, and flow - and who can adjust as your day unfolds.

If you're planning an elopement or wedding and want a photographer who's experanced in both, I'd love to hear what you're envistion.

Reach out here to start planning a day that feels like you - not a template.

Margarita Photography - East coast wedding and elopement photographer - Baltimore-based.