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
Are you planning a short-notice, small wedding or elopement?
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!
South Carolina Wedding Photographers
Wedding Photographers of South Carolina, United States
Columbia, Charleston, Mt. Pleasant, Myrtle Beach
South Carolina Elopement Photographers
In recent days, some of our North America photographers 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. 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 South Carolina 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 courthouse, justice of the peace, DIY - do it yourself, 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 boutique, symbolic, romantic, 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 South Carolina Couples
12 Documentary Wedding Photographers...
Passion is a word that is sometimes thrown around and overused. Everyone is passionate about something, the trick is finding out what. Wedding photography isn’t a path covered by high school guidance counselors so like most photographers, I had to discover my passion for the art on my own. I have always been a lifelong lover of nature and the outdoors, and I bought my first camera so I could take some snapshots to remember the hiking trips I went on. A desire to capture the beauty of our planet that I saw while hiking and traveling is what drew me to capture my first photographs, and fueled what was quickly becoming an obsession. I spent hundreds of hours learning landscape photography techniques, and experimenting with ways to capture the world around me. I would spend nights outside in the mountains, photographing the stars and sleeping on the ground in the dead of Winter. I was chasing the perfect photo, which of course doesn't exist. But I loved the challenge. This soon spilled into other types of photography like corporate events, graduations, and concert photography. They were all amazing experiences, but each specialty was missing something. Concerts were tons of fun, but impossible to make a living with. Corporate events were all business with no room for art. Nothing really fit right. Then I was asked to photograph a friend’s wedding and everything changed. Weddings were unlike anything else I’ve ever photographed before. They were incredibly challenging, and required skills from every single other photography specialty. They were as fun as concerts to me, yet had the potential to make a career out of. They could be photographed candidly like events, but allowed for me to experiment artistically. No two weddings were anything alike – I could photograph an outdoor mountain wedding on a Friday, and then photograph a dark candle lit ceremony in a 200 year old church on Saturday. Nothing had ever challenged me in so many different ways before. Ironically, the very reasons I loved photographing weddings were the same reasons why so many other photographers avoid them at all costs. Instead of finding these challenges stressful, I loved them. I actively seeked them out. I had discovered a passion I had never even thought was an option, and that’s when I knew I wanted to do this as a career. [Greenville Wedding Photographer]
Starting Price:
3000 (USD)
After studying photography at NESOP in Boston Massachusetts, Neil spent several years in the action sports industry as a photographer working with nationally recognized athletes in the snowboard, ski and motocross industries. In his personal work Neil has traveled to locations in North and South America, Eastern Europe, and North Africa, creating documentary images that tell the story of those he met along the way. Since moving to the Outer Banks of North Carolina in 2000, Neil has established himself as a nationally recognized wedding photojournalist, applying his unique experience to capture the reality, excitement, and emotion of the wedding day. [Outer Banks Wedding Photographer]
Starting Price:
500/hour (USD)
I have loved photography since I was young. I have always loved the thought of any emotion being captured naturally, in it's purest form of expression. My passion is born from being a romantic at heart and shooting a wedding like I was shooting my own, without missing a moment. I lived half of my life in Honduras and the most recent half in the USA which is where I have mostly grown as a photographer for weddings, engagements, and elopements. [Knoxville Wedding Photographer]
Starting Price:
200/hour (USD)
With over 15 years of experience as a photojournalist, I specialize in finding those special moments that make your day unique. It’s an extreme honor to be trusted with documenting once in a lifetime moments. A wedding or elopement day is full of the moments you spent the last year planning, which fly by so quickly. I get to shoot for some amazing, fun-loving couples whose joy for life shines through in the photos we make together. My life as a photojournalist has provided countless opportunities to meet new and interesting people and I truly enjoy learning everyone’s story. That’s exactly what a wedding is for me: a chance to get to know incredible people, like yourself, and tell the story of this milestone in your life. Your wedding is a celebration of life and I want you to be filled with that same sense of joy every time you pass your photos hanging on the wall, flip through your wedding album, or see the image that pops up when your spouse calls your phone. Nothing gets me more excited than seeing raw emotion pouring out of the photos I make. My mission is to tell visual stories for my clients with high caliber, documentary-style photography and to create meaningful artwork with professionalism and enthusiasm. Outside of wedding photography, I’ve twice been honored as the Photographer of the Year by The North Carolina Press Association (2010 and 2012) for my work with the Independent Tribune, a Concord, NC-based newspaper. For the past three seasons, I've had the privilege to work with the Carolina Panthers as part of their photo team. [Charlotte Wedding Photographer]
Starting Price:
2500 (USD)
Described as "a workaholic" and "passionately dedicated to photography and art," Alicia Kidd continuously challenges herself to master and hone her photography skills. She is experienced in both people photography as well as animal portraiture. Alicia currently works as a commissioned documentary photographer, creating artistic images for weddings and behind the scenes stills for documentaries and film. She recently accepted the honor of being a curator for a photographic gallery in San Juan, Puerto Rico. [Puerto Rico Wedding Photographer]
Starting Price:
2100 (USD)
Sarah Whitmeyer was raised in Raleigh, North Carolina where she graduated from Broughton High School. She went on to study photojournalism at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and received her BA in photojournalism in 2005. She has been shooting weddings in the mountains of North Carolina since 2006. [Asheville Wedding Photographer]
Starting Price:
2000 (USD)
Dan started his photography career at the age of eight, encouraged by his mother's instructions on the workings of the Kodak Brownie II camera. He spent the whole afternoon lying on the grass in the late California summer sun taking pictures of his GI Joe figurines in full battle regalia. Little did he know his love of GI Joe was to be replaced with a love of photography. His formative years are now more affectionately referred to as the Rangefinder, Polaroid and Instamatic years. He majored in journalism in college, beginning his SLR years. He has over 20 years experience in newspapers. He swore he would never shoot weddings but finally caved under the pressure of friends and has now shot more than 730 events in the past 20 years. He has won numerous local, national and international awards. While lying in the grass at a recent wedding capturing the life-changing event before his eyes, he reminisced about an earlier time when he naively discovered his own lifetime passion. [Jacksonville Wedding Photographer]
Starting Price:
300/hour (USD)
Photographer and diaper changing ninja. I once had a dream that I got rich and famous for being the guy that took all the cat photos on the internet. I am a dad, husband, and photographer in that order. Those three things make me the happiest, and my favorite new hobby is to use my photography skills to document my daughter growing up and all the fun sweet moments she has with my wife. I cherish every minute with those two and although I have huge goals for success as a photographer, every time I make my wife or baby girl laugh I feel successful enough. Sometimes I feel like becoming a successful photographer is a crazy dream, but I remember I want my daughter to chase hers someday and it makes me not want to give up. My wife and I are high school sweethearts who have been in love ever since we saw each other in the gym at Southgate Anderson High School. She followed me to Michigan State and then all the way to Georgia. No matter where I go or whatever crazy journey I’ve been on, I can always count on her being by my side. There’s nothing better than having that loyal sidekick who always believes in you and is just happy to be in your arms. We’ve been best friends since the day we met and luckily we haven't stopped being as silly as when we were kids. (We may or may not have taken our limo to burger king on our wedding day) I think a part of why I love photographing weddings so much is because I feel joy every time I see couples that just seem to love each other as we do. I grew up in Detroit but I moved to the south as soon as I could (I FREAKIN LOVE IT HERE) I have officially adopted the Falcons (I mean seriously I grew up a Lions fan, that was an easy trade) and the braves, but not sweet tea (gross) But I still love my Spartans (Izzo for President) I once thought of trying to be a stand-up comedian, but I couldn’t come up with any jokes so I got back into photography instead. I was a Science Teacher for 12 years and have been known to randomly get excited about explaining things. I may or may not have spent an entire road trip explaining to my wife about Clouds. Gotta love them beautiful Cumulus Nimbus. [Atlanta Wedding Photographer]
Starting Price:
2800 (USD)
In addition to a fine arts degree in photography, I have trained with world-renowned portrait and dance photographers from Australia to New York City. I have recently been featured in international publications such as Grace Ormonde, Bride Magazine and the Knot and have received numerous awards from The Wedding Photojournalist Association. In 2010 I wrote a book, "Diving Doggies: A Celebration of Play Underwater" and in 2014 "Shake, Rattle and Shoot: The Business of Baby Photography." In 2018 we released a book, "Pigwrecked," photographed by Brooke Mayo and Illustrated by Candace Owens. [Outer Banks Wedding Photographer]
Starting Price:
3550 (USD)
Michelle Robinson worked for a newspaper as reporter/photographer. While there she earned a North Carolina Press Association award for her photography. She has since taken her love of photojournalism and has been a full time photographer for several years. Using a journalistic approach, her photographs capture the spontaneity and romantic moments of love and marriage. She is a proud winner of two Wedding Photojournalist Associations awards. [Greensboro Wedding Photographer]
Starting Price:
3200 (USD)
I should have been practicing penmanship (it really is the worst) but I could not keep my hands off my step father's photography books. I learned what panning was, what particular filters did- I found it all fascinating. Later on, I had a few friends that dabbled in photography and showed me the darkroom- what magic! Finally, on a whim, I took Photo 101 in college. That was my first love! I've documented over 400 weddings, and am positive that the found moment is more valuable to the heart than any staged. I cannot tell you what fulfillment it brings me, personally, to offer these documents to my clients. When everything works together- the moment, the lighting, the emotion- I keep that in my pocket for a rainy day. Portraits have a lean toward that as well, with a push toward the bonds between people. By working to get clients to interact, the images made reflect the connection between individuals as well as the self. “My goal is for fun moments between the people I am photographing, with little camera awareness apparent. Posed work is great, but finding the real smiles, getting a belly laugh- I want my clients to have images that capture that!” Her background in traditional photography, studio lighting, and English literature blend well to help tell the stories between families and friends and the love of a lifetime. [Raleigh Wedding Photographer]
Starting Price:
2000 (USD)
When I was a young girl growing up in Lithuania, I fell in love with everything about weddings. I got caught up in the joy, beauty, and emotion, and the sweet connections that happened between family and friends always made me smile. I still feel that way today. Now I am living my dream as a wedding photographer in Washington D.C., and traveling for destination weddings nationally and abroad. I am known for my documentary style which keeps me focused on candid moments and true emotions. It’s those kinds of story-telling wedding photos that you will see throughout my portfolio. When you trust me to be your wedding photographer, I want my photos to speak to you about your life, (not just make you look amazing). Of course, I’ll capture gorgeous portraits, group shots, and details to fill in your collection, and I’ll do it all without controlling the flow of your celebration. When you look at your photo years from now I want you to feel the emotions you felt on your wedding day, just like it was yesterday, and remember how comfortable you felt in front of the camera. If you find yourself drawn to my work, please reach out. I would love to know what captures your heart and makes you smile, and if our calendars align I would be thrilled to be your wedding photographer. All the best, Gabriele Stonyte [Arlington Wedding Photographer]
Starting Price:
3000 (USD)
Searches Related to South Carolina Wedding Photography Vendors
WPJA Communiqué: Features
Oftentimes when people are considering a venue for their weddings, they search for a location away from home, whether that be ten minutes or ten hours, all just to find what they already have: a place that holds meaning for them, that feels comfortable, or that they find special and memorable. But what could hold more memory, meaning, and importance than your own home? For those looking for that perfect venue, it may not be any further than beyond your threshold.Read more
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
Some couples, as they begin planning for their weddings, might think that they are limited to the classic locations: churches, gardens, beaches, or even Las Vegas. But in doing so they’re missing out on a multitude of unique options that might suit their personalities much better! Why limit yourself to a quiet, quaint ceremony when your adventurous heart may be calling out for something more? An entirely different genre of wedding, so to speak, is the adventure wedding elopement. This concept...Read more
Everyone always says that your wedding day is all about you. But let’s face it; that’s not always actually the case. Many couples stress over guest lists, planning, expenses, and all the frills and traditions of your standard large wedding that they may or may not even be interested in. Fortunately, though, the concept of small weddings is becoming increasingly popular for couples who either want to be able to completely customize their day where and when they want with the option...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
RAVES, REVIEWS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Corley & Don
Photo by Neil Thurston
Hi Neil and Lisa, Don and I are beyond thrilled with our pictures! The quality, detail, and beauty of the pictures is just so obvious. Aside from all those things, we love that you captured the sequence of events in a photojournalistic fashion. I've gotten comments from many of my friends/family that these are the best pictures they have ever seen, and of course we are just so proud that they are our pictures. I also have to chuckle a little because you guys were such an organized but chill vendor and as a project manager myself, I know how much preparation you both did behind the scenes to make that work. We couldn't be any happier and if you ever need a reference - email, phone, whatever - please do not hesitate to call.
Teri and Michael
Photo by Neil Thurston
Thank you so incredibly much for everything! Everyone that sees our pictures says WOW! and that we just radiate happiness, and that is the perfect compliment because that's exactly how we felt and you captured it perfectly! We will cherish these photos forever. Hopefully our paths cross again one day, perhaps for family photos!
Heather and Andrew
Photo by Neil Thurston
Wow! I am speechless, these photos are absoloutely amazing! Thank you so much for capturing these precious moments on our wedding day!
Kaleigh & Brent
Photo by James Nix
Brent and I, as well as our entire family and friends, are absolutely in love with all of our pictures... People have told us our pictures look like they are out of a magazine. All of our pictures truly document our wedding day from start to finish even including all of the small details. We couldn't be more pleased... Thank you so much James!
Michelle and Peter
Photo by Neil Thurston
Thank you for the amazing pictures! They are absoloutely breathtaking! You both captured every single detail of the day and every picture tells a story. You both did a phenomenal job and were such a pleasure to work with. We can't thank you enough for these amazing memories!
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.
