While both are centered around the two of you, the experience — and the way I photograph it — is completely different.

An engagement session is slow, relaxed, and intentional.

We have time to wander, talk, try different prompts, change things up, and let moments happen naturally. We're creating portraits together rather than documenting an event as it unfolds. There may be little pauses while we move to another spot, adjust something, change outfits, or simply take our time.

It's meant to feel like a really good date that I happen to be tagging along for.

An elopement is your wedding story happening in real time.

From the moment coverage begins, I'm documenting the experience as it unfolds — the details, getting ready, anticipation, first look, vows, ceremony, reactions, hugs, champagne, family, portraits, and all the tiny in-between moments you don't even realize are happening.

There's very little "downtime" from a photography perspective because your story is constantly moving.

That's also why two hours of elopement coverage will typically result in a much larger gallery than two hours of portrait-session coverage. During an engagement session, we're intentionally slowing things down to create beautiful images together. During an elopement, I'm both creating portraits and continuously documenting everything happening around you.

Engagement sessions give us room to create.

Elopements give me a whole story to tell.

Both are about your relationship — they're just photographed in two very different ways.