From Capturing Moments to Creating Them: The Journey of an Elopement Photographer Turned Officiant

As an elopement photographer, I have always been drawn to capturing intimate and meaningful moments between couples. This passion for witnessing and documenting love also led me to become an officiant.

 What started as a natural progression in my photography career has become a deeply fulfilling journey of creating unforgettable moments for couples. I never expected that my love for capturing moments would lead me also to be a part of making them. Growing up, I always had a camera in my hand. I loved capturing candid moments and the raw emotions that came with them. When I started my photography business, I focused on families and elopements because I was drawn to the intimacy and authenticity of these types of sessions.

 

As I worked with more elopement couples, I realized the importance of having someone who truly understood their love story officiate their ceremony. Many couples choose to elope because they want a more personal and intimate experience, and I wanted to be able to offer them that opportunity. I saw this as a natural extension of my photography services—not just capturing the moments but also being a part of creating them. I decided to become ordained as an officiant and offer my services to my elopement clients.

This was a new and exciting challenge, as I had never performed a wedding ceremony before. I spent countless hours studying and learning about different ceremony styles, rituals, and traditions to create a unique and personalized experience for each couple. As an elopement photographer, I am already intimately involved in planning and getting to know my couples. This carries over into my role as an officiant, where I get to know their love story on a deeper level and incorporate it into their ceremony. Being both a photographer and an officiant gives me a more holistic approach to capturing a couple’s special day. I can capture not only the visual moments but also the emotional ones. As an officiant, I have the privilege of witnessing the exchange of vows and the start of a new chapter in a couple’s life. It is an honor to play a role in such a significant moment. 

If you’d like to book a session with Peaks+Waves Portraits, click HERE! I specialize in capturing heartfelt moments in an easygoing atmosphere. I offer services such as family portraits, motherhood portraits, maternity portraits, Fresh 48 sessions, senior photos, couple shoots, and elopements – throughout Shenandoah Valley!
I proudly serve clients in Luray, Virginia; Harrisonburg, Virginia; Culpeper, Virginia; Winchester, Virginia; Front Royal, Virginia; Charlottesville, Virginia; and beyond.
Adventure Officiaciant.
I’m looking forward to hearing from you soon!