Photographing Scottish Elopements
There are so many reasons people come here to Scotland, from exploring the rugged wilderness and deserted coastlines to learning about the rich history and, of course, relaxing in this quiet and peaceful part of the UK. When it comes to wedding destinations, Scottish elopements are a huge draw for couples from all over the world.
For many years now I have been photographing Scottish elopements for couples from America, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Austria, France and, a little nearer to home, our neighbours in England. There have even been a few Scottish couples too 🙂
So what exactly is a Scottish elopement?
The idea of an elopement used to be that young couples would run away together to be married without approval from their families. These days the elopements I photograph involve people from a huge range of ages and backgrounds and they all have their own stories and reasons for wanting a small wedding rather than a bigger one.
Typically an elopement will involve just two people who didn’t want all the fuss and family politics, or even the huge cost, of having a large 70 or 100+ person wedding. Rather than facing the stress of making table plans and spending £100s on shoes for bridesmaids they simply want to focus on being in an amazing location with the one person they love so that they can have the wedding ceremony they actually want.
These days the term ‘elopement’ has expanded a little to include very small weddings and, in fact, around half of the Scottish elopements I photograph have about 6 to 10 people in attendance. You can still invite your parents if you want to, and you can bring along a couple of your best friends too. As a photographer the biggest difference between photographing an elopement and photographing a full-size wedding is the amount of time I would spend with you on the day. Remember that you will also need two witnesses for your elopement here in Scotland. As your photographer I can be one of them and it’s usually no bother at all to find the second.
How do you work with us on the day of the elopement?
At a full-size wedding I can be at the venue photographing for 10-12 hours simply because there is a lot going on. There are perhaps 100 guests to photograph, all the tables and decorations to record, a 2 hour dinner and speeches and then the dancing in the evening. Phew – that’s a lot of photographs (and a lot of editing afterwards too).
Elopements and tiny weddings are much shorter and I usually work with you for about 4 to 5 hours or so. At an elopement I typically begin my day by covering a little of the pre-ceremony preparations at your hotel or cottage. Just like during the rest of the day, I prefer to work in a very low-key documentary style, almost never interfering. As well as recording some really nice moments it is also great to be able to spend a little time with you to break the ice and get to know one another before the ceremony starts.
I then move to the ceremony location with the couple, quickly liaising with your celebrant to pick the best location and orientation (you want the best background for your photographs, but you also probably don’t want your hair blowing into your face for the next 30 minutes). After the ceremony it’s nice to have a little break, perhaps with a flask of tea and slice of cake, before spending a little time with me making some beautiful portraits in the area that capture not only you both, but the wonderful scenery that drew you to Scotland in the first place. You can read about what my elopement photography package includes here.
Why is a documentary style great for your Scottish elopement?
A quick search on Google will give you pages and pages of results for elopement photographers in Scotland. I am the first to admit that it isn’t very helpful and makes picking someone to photograph your elopement quite tricky. However, one great place to start is by thinking about the style of photography you’d like for your day and then narrowing down your search.
I have always worked in a documentary style. Basically, I can create the images you would like, but you don’t have to stand around posing for hours and hours to get those photographs. It’s a lot more natural because I’m certainly not setting up all the shots, and the result is the truest reflection of your wedding day. Because I’m not directing you any more than absolutely necessary you will find that your day is much more relaxed, peaceful and enjoyable and you can simply enjoy being together and getting married.
Think of it simply as a really, really nice day out, but with a photographer tagging along making photographs and helping you find some nice viewpoints, all whilst keeping an eye on the timings so you don’t have to worry about anything at all.
My natural and authentic elopement photograph editing style
My editing style is also very natural. Every one of your photographs will have been fully edited – a process that takes many hours of work after the wedding. When it comes to the style of editing I keep things very simple and prefer not to use any dramatic effects. I love a bit of black and white and like to include around 25% monochrome images (but I can also edit more or fewer depending upon your personal preference).
In an age where photographic trends often lean toward the very dark and moody (there seems to even be a ‘Glencoe Style’ that is heavily pushed on Instagram), my approach stands apart. I have always embraced a natural editing style that highlights the romance and joy of your wedding day without overshadowing the breathtaking scenery Scotland has to offer. My goal is to preserve the authentic beauty of the moment, showcasing the vibrant colours, dramatic landscapes, and the genuine emotions shared between you both.
My natural editing approach complements my documentary style of photography. By staying true to the essence of the day, I ensure that your images feel timeless and real. Scotland’s unique landscapes—from rugged coastlines to serene lochs—deserve to be celebrated in their full splendour, and your love story deserves to be told with the same authenticity. My editing philosophy is about enhancing, not altering, so that when you look back on your photographs, you see the day as it truly was: full of life, love, and stunning natural beauty.
Have a look at the weddings on my blog and you will see what I mean. Incidentally, every single one of the weddings on my site was an actual real-life wedding and not a photoshoot.
Planning your Scottish Elopement
I know that planning an elopement or small wedding can be tricky, especially if you don’t live in Scotland, but don’t worry, I am here to help and am always very happy to answer your questions both before and after booking. Many of the things you might be trying to figure out will actually benefit your photographs if you get it right – the timing of the ceremony for example – so please do ask.
A few years ago I teamed up with a humanist celebrant in Arisaig called Paula and we work together sometimes under the Bog Cotton Scottish Elopements umbrella, mostly in the Arisaig area. When you combine my experience photographing in the numerous locations there and Paula’s local knowledge we are able to help lots of our clients have the day they would hope for.
Another wedding planner I work closely with frequently is Gabrielle from French Wedding in Scotland. Together we worked at this beautiful spring wedding in the Trossachs along with many others. If you happen to be trying to plan your Scottish elopement from France I would highly recommend Gabrielle.
Incidentally, all of these photographs were made at Brittany and Tyler’s wonderful Loch Coruisk Elopement on the Isle of Skye. Take a look at their blog post to read all about their day.
