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 love', but where exactly can you afford to trim the fat, so to speak? You want simplicity, but you also want to be properly married and, surely, to remember this occasion. Who, then, could be more important than...Read more
Are you planning a short-notice, small wedding or elopement?
WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIOS ARE OPEN - Many couples don’t want to wait. They are planning to get married in the very near future, eloping, or rushing a small ceremony with their photographer, some close friends, and family but dispensing with or postponing the reception party.
View WPJA photo stories from smaller weddings - WedElope | Choose love, not fear!
Montana Wedding Photographers
Wedding Photographers of Montana, United States
Billings, Missoula, Great Falls, Bozeman, Livingston
Montana Elopement Photographers
YOU CAN'T STOP LOVE - In recent days, some of our North America photographer vendors have expressed their desire to accommodate couples who don’t want to wait to be married and are rushing the ceremony.
Many brides and grooms around the globe are planning to elope and deciding to reschedule their original ideas for a big event because of current wedding size restrictions, social distancing, and mask requirements. They are getting wed on a whim, but dispensing with or postponing all else.
The WPJA has an abundance of top-ranked, documentary-style elopement photographers who are available right now who understand that some weddings can’t wait. Find yours today!
Most Recent WPJA WedElope Story Awards
Elopement Photographers for Small United States Weddings
Shooting an elopement or small Montana 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.
Members are ready to document any themed, secret, fast, 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.
We are anxious to create a picture story chronicling your casual, symbolic, intimate, small wedding from beginning to end. In this sense, it is no different from any other event that we have covered. The emphasis is on documenting key moments, capturing spontaneous displays of emotion, telling your real love story, as well as creating artistic portraits and details.
Map of Wedding Photojournalists Serving Montana Couples
6 Documentary Wedding Photographers...
After working as a staff photographer for news papers such as The Denver Post for more than 20-years, I started my own wedding photography business in 1997, specializing in wedding photojournalism. Having a BA in journalism and two feature Pulitzer entries to my credits prepared me for my career of documenting weddings. My first taste of wedding photojournalism came to me while I was traveling in Japan where I was allowed to photograph parts of a traditional wedding. At the time I was working for the Denver Post. Within a year I left the paper to start my own wedding photography business. Since then I've managed to photograph completely traditional weddings in both Italy and China. Someday I hope to publish a book on wedding cultures of the world. These experiences have helped me grow as a photojournalist so that I don't depend on spoken language as much as body language and respect while I am working. Even here in Denver I get many different types of wedding cultures and traditions such as Buddhist ceremonies. Last year I was hired to photograph one couples western wedding here in Denver and a Vietnamese Buddhist wedding in New Orleans the following week. I've always loved telling stories with my pictures. Now I get to cover about 20 weddings a year and tell the stories in web based slideshows and in custom made books. [Montana Wedding Photographer]
Starting Price:
2000 (USD)
Hi, I'm David! I'm a documentary wedding photographer who believes in real, raw, emotional photography. I have traveled and lived in many countries and states, always pursuing adventure and good stories. This is how I came to be a photographer: every family's story is unique and I love making it visual. There is always emotion - sometimes a subtle hand brush, other times hugs or tears. Finding those moments and saving them for you is what I do. [Missoula Wedding Photographer]
Starting Price:
4750 (USD)
I think that the bio of a photographer can be read in his images. His history, education, life experiences and passions are all evident within the images he creates. So my words here, although brief, will tell you something about who I am and what has formulated my approach to life and photography. On the other hand, my images may speak to you in different, more meaningful, unspoken words. I picked up my first camera at the age of 5. My father gave me the gift of a German 120mm roll film camera and a small black and white enlarger. With his tutoring, direction and assistance, within a year I was beginning to shoot and print simple photos of my surroundings, friends and family. Interest continued to emerge in photography and art throughout my youth. Through a circuitous route of living, studies and travel in Missouri, Colorado, California, Hawaii, Australia, the Philippines, China and Tibet, I have made my home in Livingston, Montana; still constantly in search of "beauty... as it occurs naturally". Photography studies: Art Center School of Design, Pasadena, CA. Engineering studies: University of Missouri I am honored to be a national award winning member of the prestigious WPJA, and recently recognized as a Featured Vendor 'Best of the West 2017' by Montana Bride magazine. [Livingston Wedding Photographer]
Starting Price:
3600 (USD)
I’ve worked as a professional photographer for 15 years. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in photojournalism and started out in the newspaper industry. During that time, I shot everything from criminal court trials to Detroit Pistons games (I’m originally from Michigan); structure fires to beauty pageants; congressional debates to high school football games on Friday nights. Every day was a new challenge; every assignment a new learning opportunity. My time as a photojournalist taught me to be resourceful and to think on my feet, which has proven invaluable for wedding photography. In the summer of 2008, I started shooting weddings on the side and absolutely loved it. I was able to visit new places, meet new people, and was granted a very important and personal role in what was arguably the most joyful day of their lives. Plus, I started getting a ton of compliments on my work and how it was different from typical wedding photography. People would tell me that they could spot one of my photos from a mile away without having to be told who the photographer was – that I was beginning to cultivate a very specific style. So when my wife, Moira, and I moved to Colorado that fall, I decided to make wedding photography my full-time career; we started J. La Plante Photo and never looked back. When I’m not behind the lens, you can probably find me on the slopes. Skiing is one of the main reasons I moved west. I’m also obsessed with the music scene out here. Red Rocks is by far the coolest venue I’ve ever been to. I’m a craft beer nerd, a movie buff, an amateur screenwriter and an avid reader of both fiction and non-fiction alike. And I love to travel. I’ve been to 18 foreign countries and all 50 United States. I drove all over the American West before deciding to settle in Colorado, where I immediately fell in love with the state’s blend of urban and outdoor lifestyles. The proximity of Denver to the mountains felt too good to be true and now, eight years later, it still feels that way. I can’t imagine a more perfect setting for a wedding photographer. [Boulder Wedding Photographer]
Starting Price:
5500 (USD)
Ron Storer is an Award Winning Photojournalist with the WPJA and the AG|WPJA. Ron is based out of the Northwest area and is available for local as well as destination weddings. Ron Storer has been married to his wonderful friend, Neesie, for nearly the past 29 years and they have two amazing boys; Grant and Torey. 15 years ago, Ron Storer worked on a freelance basis with non-profit Organizations doing relief work around the globe. Now on occasion Ron still assists NPO's when possible and as his schedule allows. What motivates Ron is the passion of the moment. Ron believes that every wedding has incredible priceless moments and he works hard to capture and preserve them for each couple. His typical clientele is someone who wants their wedding memories captured in a unique and special way. His clientele also tend to be artistic and relational as many of his clients have become dear friends. Besides receiving awards here at the WPJA, Ron Storer has also received numerous awards at the AG|WPJA and was listed in 2016 as the Top American in the AG|WPJA. Prior to his photography career, Ron Storer raced on the US Cycling Team earning a Gold Medal in the Pan-Am Games and a Silver Medal in the Olympic Trials. [Seattle Wedding Photographer]
Starting Price:
2400 (USD)
After growing up in coastal New Hampshire, I moved into the bed of a Toyota Tacoma and headed west. I called Bend, OR home for a while, enjoying everything the high desert has to offer. After that, I chased snow around Lake Tahoe and Montana for more than a couple of years. I have a healthy addiction to deep snow and frozen nose hairs. Most think I'm crazy, but on those truly frosty mornings, the mountains are a magical place to be. During the warmer months, when I'm not behind the lens, you can usually find me hiking in the mountains or fishing in the salty waters of Maine and New Hampshire. These days I call the Mad River Valley of Vermont home. My wife and I, along with our furball pup have a little cliffside home overlooking a waterfall (dubbed 'The Waterfall House'). [Vermont Wedding Photographer]
Starting Price:
4800 (USD)
Wedding Venues from Montana
Please select a venue below to view all associated winning photos.
Wedding Engagement Diamond Awards - Montana
Are you ready to find your Montana engagement / pre-wedding photographer for a portrait session to complement your story of love? Searching for some ideas and creative inspiration for your own pre-wed shoot? Pro members from the Montana Wedding Photojournalist Association would like to help you add some unique and artistic pictures to your engagement photo gallery!
Searches Related to Montana Wedding Photography Vendors
WPJA Communiqué: Features
Traditionally speaking, often times it is the couple’s families who help pay for their wedding. However, unfortunately that’s just not possible for everyone, especially these days when the cost of weddings can quickly and easily get out of control. Some couples find themselves in the position of paying for all of their own wedding expenses, which can be quite the financial burden to take on, and about 40% of Millennials end up in this boat. So, how can you stick to your allotted...Read more
While some of us were fortunate enough to be born as extroverts, not everyone feels the same way. For a good chunk of the population, any number of the typical wedding day traditions can inspire anxiety and existential dread. This day is all about you, yes, but does that mean all the attention has to be on you as well? FROM VOWS TO CHITCHAT, WHICH REMAINS SACRED? Traditional weddings often require some degree of performance on the part of the couple, whether that is in the form of reciting...Read more
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 guests in on all sides, give them some elbow room, and legroom, too. There's no need to induce claustrophobia when you've got a wide, open space. Let your guests take in the view, especially if you've got a spectacular one. You...Read more
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 poor economy, nor should they! So, in an industry that keeps on going through thick and thin, what are some things to expect for the future, and what is really necessary to still make that wedding day memorable and...Read more
WHAT EXACTLY DOES IT MEAN TO ELOPE? If you look up the definition of “elope” in the Merriam-Webster dictionary , you’ll find a plethora of meanings making it quite clear how polarizing the word has become, and how it has transformed and evolved with the passage of time and even personal preference.Read more
RAVES, REVIEWS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Cat & Bryant
Photo by Jesse La Plante
Bryant and I are so beyond amazed with the photos we received from not only our wedding day but from our engagement shoot! The two of you were so fun to work with and made both of us feel so relaxed that we could just be ourselves. We both look at our photos and ask “How did they get that? We didn’t even see them next to us.” Your work is truly amazing and we couldn’t be happier. Thank you again and please let us know the next time you are in Summit.
Ashleigh & Tony
Photo by Jesse La Plante
Thank you so much for all the amazing photos. While our wedding turned out to be unconventional, our photos turned out exactly the way we wanted them to and that is 100% due to your excellent talent.
Kari and Glen
Photo by Ron Storer
Omigoodness!! Can I just say wow? You are such an amazing photographer! Glen and I have shared these photos with some of our family and friends, and all of them have been like, "I love these pictures! You rock!
Courtney & Derek
Photo by Jesse La Plante
We don’t think we could ever say thank you enough! Every photo you took from our engagement session and our wedding amazes us. As you can tell it is hard to pick our favorite! We had so much fun going on adventures with you to take photos, especially hiking up a mountain in our wedding attire. Thank you for all your hard work on the photos and going above and beyond with your creativity. We will always remember trying to have a romantic moment and Moira always popping in. It gave us many funny memories. We can’t wait to go on our next adventurous photo shoot with you guys and drink some whiskey. If you need a reference feel free to reach out to us!
Aekta & John
Photo by Jesse La Plante
We can’t thank you enough for everything. Y’all were/are the BEST! From keeping me company while gettind ressed to the amazing photographs at the wedding, you truly gave us some amazing photographs that really capture our style. Apologies for basically running down the aisle! We’ll never forget the water balloons either! So excited to get the chance to work with you again, and it doesn’t hurt that you’re pretty awesome people. See you in January!
Jamie & Eric
Photo by Jesse La Plante
You two are just so incredibly talented! Thank you so so much for all of the hard work you put in to capture these amazing photos. We don’t think we have seen wedding photos better than these! Also thank you for coming all the way to Durango and celebrating with us! It was great to get to know you two a little better throughout the wedding process. We hope we get to hang with you two again sometime and hope you enjoyed your time in Durango as well. You guys rock!
Frances & Bryce
Photo by Jesse La Plante
Thank you both so very much from the bottom of our hearts for being so wonderful to work with and for your talent and artistry in capturing our wedding day in a way no one else possibly could have. We are both so grateful and so appreciative of you and all your hard work and dedication. We love everything you have done and everything we have seen so far and are excited for more to come and more time with you both. We are so happy we have connected and we thank you for your friendship also. We just love you guys!! Thank you again for EVERYTHING!! Your talent is off the charts.
Kristin & Greg
Photo by Jesse La Plante
We can’t thank you enough for our amazing photos! There are so many perfect shots that I’m afraid our house will end up looking like a shrine of our wedding! You guys were easily the best decision for our wedding. Thank you so much for all of your help, advice, suggestions and recommendations. We love that we have ended up with new friends through this experience! Please keep in touch!
Teresa and Kenny
Photo by Ron Storer
Thank you so much for all of your hard work on our beautiful wedding photos. There are no words to express our gratitude for capturing some of the most important moments of our lives. Our wedding & engagement photos are an absolute treasure that we will savor and cherish forever. When we share our album with friends, they rave about how unique it is and that they’ve never seen anything like it. I have to agree it is amazing and a delight to flip through - it just seems to bring us right back to June 7, 2008 - a day that we hold very close to our hearts.
Nerisse & Rob
Photo by Jesse La Plante
Thank you so much for contributing to our wedding day. Our phone calls and emails gave us confidence that you will capture moments with our family and friends that we will cherish forever. Your website and unique portfolio are what drew us to you – it sets you apart from others so we are really excited to see our day through your lens/eye. Thank you for capturing our day for us to remember.
Patricia & Kevin
Photo by Jesse La Plante
We were so honored to have you share in our special day. The pics are absolutely amazing! We can’t thank you enough. Please accept this small token of our appreciation of your hard work and beautiful photos. We are so happy with the final product! You rock! Thank you again.
Jen & Robert
Photo by Jesse La Plante
We just got back from our honeymoon (talk about perfect timing ! We missed the polar vortex ! ) and we both just wanted to say thank you so much for everything ! We had such a great time and experience with you both. I remember talking with Robert and all I wanted was 5 non awkward photos through the wedding ( you should see our travel photos ... we are pretty non photogenic ...) and seeing your blog post ... oh my god ... those pictures ... were AMAZING ! Not to mention what you wrote... *sigh* ..also, amazing .... you guys just made the day ten times more memorable and I can’t thank you enough ! I can’t wait to see the rest of them (even the blooper reel lol ) and I just wanted to let you know I will be recommending you guys to all of United and then some. I’m so glad we found you guys and I hope to document more memories in the future with you as well :)
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.
