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Vail Wedding Photographers

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Vail Wedding Photographers

Our Vail photographers also provide documentary-style coverage in: Beaver Creek

Vail Wedding Photography, Engagement Photo Sessions + Elopements

Intimate Wedding Photography in Vail - Capturing the Joy of Small Celebrations - Discover the best Vail photographers specializing in intimate marriages. Couples are embracing the trend of smaller, more meaningful celebrations. Let our talented photographers capture the joy and intimacy of your wedding day.

By planning a simple Vail elopement, couples are able to stay present in the moment and fully absorb the impact of their wedding day. Given the fact that many couples feel more natural and at ease in intimate settings, it's no surprise that some of the most breathtaking wedding images come from elopements.

The WPJA has an abundance of top-ranked, Vail documentary wedding photographers available right now who understand that some weddings and elopements can’t wait. Find yours today!
Recent WPJA WedElope Story Awards
The couple shares a sweet moment, just after exchanging rings, as the officiant steps back. The groom kisses the bride's hand affectionately at the altar.
Alessia Bruchi
A wedding service for the entire family
Carlo Bettuolo
After a romantic outdoor ceremony in a park by the river, the bride and groom sealed their union with a sweet embrace and kiss
Danielle Gardner

Vail Photographers for Large or Small Weddings

Shooting an elopement or small Vail wedding event is a wedding photojournalist’s dream: a fairly open schedule with lots of breathing space for creativity – it’s just the photographer, the couple, the officiant, and perhaps a few select companions.

Colorado WPJA members are ready to document any secret, small, courthouse, or elopement wedding, even if it is a Monday-Thursday ceremony. Search for the “Can Shoot Weddings on Short Notice!” message on the listings below.

View Award-Winning Pictures from Vail Wedding Venues

WPJA Venue Images
WPJA Venue Images
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WPJA Venue Images

5 Vail Wedding Photographers...

Wedding, engagement and elopement images by Mark Creery of Colorado

Rocky Mountain-based wedding photojournalist Mark Creery has 20 years of experience. He tells his clients' wedding day story with style, capturing candid moments while connecting with people through his easy-going personality.

Mark Creery

Fort Collins in Colorado, US *Now booking Vail weddings.
65
1
154
3500 (USD)
Colorado wedding photography and intimate elopements by Stacy Gillespie

CO adventure wedding photojournalist Stacy Gillespie is known for her unique style, capturing the beauty and personality of her subjects. With a background in marketing and a love for creativity, she brings a competitive spirit to her work.

Stacy Gillespie

Silverthorne in Colorado, US *Now booking Vail weddings.
84
1
93
6200 (USD)
Colorado Elopement and Wedding Photography by Trent Gillespie

Trent Gillespie, a Colorado wedding photojournalist with a journalism degree from the University of Northern Colorado, utilizes his photojournalism background to capture memorable moments on a couple's special day.

Trent Gillespie

Silverthorne in Colorado, US *Now booking Vail weddings.
84
5
71
6200 (USD)
Wedding and elopement Photographer Carl Bower

Carl Bower, photojournalist and Pulitzer finalist, specializes in US destination weddings. He approaches them with a quiet presence to capture authentic moments. Carl looks to document natural interactions without direction, aiming to achieve personal and meaningful results...

Carl Bower

Denver in Colorado, US *Now booking Vail weddings.
41
2
21
3500 (USD)
Lifestyle portrait of Colorado wedding and elopement photographer Nina Larsen Reed

Nina Larsen Reed is a documentary wedding photographer based in Colorado. She has a special affinity for the stunning Rocky Mountains and has photographed over 150 couples planning dream elopements and weddings.

Nina Larsen Reed

Boulder in Colorado, US *Now booking Vail weddings.
6
2
13
5500 (USD)

Map of Wedding Photojournalists Serving Vail Couples

Vail Wedding, Elopement and Engagement Images by WPJA Photographers

Below are some Vail wedding photography samples from the world’s best wedding photographers of the WPJA. Some of these Vail marriage pictures might be artistic portraits, details, or documentary-style images that have come from getting ready sessions, wedding ceremonies, reception venues, or Vail engagement portrait sessions with couples.

In this wedding photo taken at Piney River Ranch near Vail, CO, the groom tenderly kisses the bride amidst the serene beauty of the mountains and mesmerizing reflections in the river.
A couple in Colorado's Vail Mountain area had a picturesque engagement photoshoot, featuring a man carrying a woman through a field of flowers, reminiscent of the famous Sound of Music
An engaged couple skis down the road at Vail Pass, CO, as their transportation follows behind at dusk with lights on
In a snowy landscape at Vail Pass, CO, an engaged couple poses for portraits, sharing a sweet kiss beside their snow track transportation
A stunning wedding photograph taken at Camp Hale in Vail. The image showcases the couple in a field of vibrant yellow wildflowers, captured from a low camera angle.
The bride and groom embraced at the snowy Donovan Pavilion in Vail, CO, lit by the photographer and symmetrically framed
The snowy Donovan Pavilion in Vail, CO, set the perfect winter backdrop for the bride and groom, with warm bokeh lights softly glowing in the foreground and background
A Vail wedding photographer captured the joyous moment of newlyweds popping champagne at the garden alter of a Community House private ceremony
In Vail, Colorado, the bride hugs her mom in the cabin where she is about to marry
A forest portrait of the couple and the trees in Vail, Colorado
Vail creative documentary wedding photography at the Vail Golf Course Reception venue showing The Catch of the bridal bouquet
A Vail, Colorado, on location couple lifestyle portrait with some rimlight above the Mountains

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How can couples find Vail photographers for pre-wedding engagement portraits?
A: The WPJA issues Diamond Awards for Vail wedding photographers to showcase their best engagement photography work. These awards are given to photographers who prove that they have an ability to be creative, artistic, and intuitive while working on-location with couples who are newly engaged.
Q: Who are the best Vail wedding photographers for small elopements?
A: The WPJA is proud to have some of the top Vail documentary wedding photographers for elopements. Our members are able to submit WedElope Stories that take you step-by-step, via a 9 image picture story, through the unique and moving elopements that take place around the world.
Q: Can a wedding photojournalist create artistic portraits on my Vail wedding day?
A: While wedding photojournalists strive to capture candid moments on the wedding day, our photographers also are skilled artists who can compose powerful portraits. If you have a specific vision of what types of images you want from your wedding day, look at the top-ranked Vail wedding photographers who have earned Artistic Guild awards for portrait and detail images.
WPJA Communiqué: Featured Wedding Photography Articles
Essential Elopement Vendor - The Photographer
So your wedding is just around the corner and you’ve decided to elope , either because you want to do this on a budget , avoid a large wedding party, or simply to enjoy the day together with minimal distractions and as little stress as possible . They say 'all you need is...Read more
Wedding Economy: The Ups and Downs
We all know that the economy can go through some hard times, and be somewhat reminiscent of past recessions. However, as people cut back on non-essential little luxuries here and there, one constant remains: weddings. People don’t tend to just stop getting married due to a...Read more
A Sunshine Solemnization - Outdoor Weddings in Nature
Not everyone has a lagoon or glacier next door, but there's no rule saying you can't have a small wedding in the great outdoors. Take advantage of natural sunshine and that open, airy feeling and give your guests some room to breathe! LESS IS MORE Instead of hemming your...Read more

WPJA Communiqué: Viewpoints
Elopements: Traditional and Modern
The oldsters among the WPJA ranks no doubt remember when 'to elope' meant, in Merriam-Webster’s definition, “to run away secretly with the intention of getting married, usually without parental consent.” Many wedding photographers have gone on the lam with couples who did just that. However, even Merriam-Webster now acknowledges that “elope appears to have become shorthand for ‘ small destination weddings ,’ a ‘ wedding that is not financially insane ,’ or a ‘ wedding that allows us to not invite all the people we would rather not invite .’” Smaller Weddings are... Read more
What is Reportage?
On Instagram and elsewhere, one can see images labeled as #photojournalism or #reportage when they are, in fact, merely photos. I say "merely," even though photography has been my career's great passion. But it's because of that passion and my respect for the work of actual photojournalists that I am particularly bothered to see wedding photographers call their work "reportage." That word properly used actually means something important beyond just a stylistic conceit. By contrast, however, I'm the lead cheerleader for those practitioners of #weddingphotojournalism ... Read more

RAVES, REVIEWS, AND Vail WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER RECOMMENDATIONS

Couple kissing while leaving ceremony at Villa Parker wedding by Denver wedding photojournalist.

Julia and David

Photo by Carl Bower

Thank you so much for being as fantastic on the wedding day as you have been leading up to the day…In all seriousness you just gave me all the feels. Thanks for the laughs.

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Chesney & Greg

Photo by Carl Bower

Every shot you took was a cut above.  Not only are you a master technically, you're an artist.  You understand how objects and shapes come together to create a powerful image and tell a story.  You've also obviously carefully studied how people interact.  The photos are so well-timed... it's almost as if you knew what I was going to do before I did it.  That takes quite a trigger finger. You not only took photos of everyone who's important to me... you captured who those people are.  My panic.  Greg's graciousness.  My mother's goofiness. My wedding is the first time I've ever seen my father cry… I know it was just another Saturday at work for you, but that album is the best wedding present I received.  I'm so grateful I found you. On top of the compliments regarding your work, I just wanted to say that both Greg and I really enjoyed your company.  You have a good spirit about you.

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The bride and groom alone together following their temple wedding and music hall reception party

Yasaswi and Dima

Photo by Carl Bower

We are so tremendously grateful for your coming all the way out to Pittsburgh and lending your artistic vision to the day. The pictures are stunning. You caught incredible moments. Thank you for capturing it so beautifully. We shared the photos this weekend and have heard incredibly positive feedback on the moments you captured. Thank you so much for being there to celebrate with us.

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WPJA contest judges have been recognized by their industry peers, winning top awards as staff picture editors, staff photojournalists, and newsroom mentors while working for these and other leading publications and journalism organizations.