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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 happy couple is having an elopement ceremony on the beach, with the bride's three boys playing in the sand
Simi Rabinowitz
The tender moment between mother, bride, and son, captured in time as the bride arrives at the wedding ceremony with a beaming smile, will be cherished forever
Nathan Walker
The military couple had a small wedding at a church, and made a grand exit under swords held by the honor guard
Eduardo Blanco

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 fast, courthouse, secret, 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
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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

Stacy Gillespie, an adventure wedding photographer based in Colorado, combines her background in marketing with her passion for photography. With a competitive spirit, she specializes in capturing the unique style, personality, and beauty of her subjects.

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, an esteemed documentary wedding photographer, brings his invaluable experience as a Pulitzer Prize finalist to his work. Through his unobtrusive style, he documents US destination weddings, aiming to capture authentic and meaningful moments.

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 Colorado-based wedding photographer with a deep love for the Rocky Mountains. With over 150 couples photographed, she not only captures stunning images but also assists in 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 top-ranked Vail wedding photographers?
A: The WPJA created the original wedding photographer ranking systems. Our innovative system is based on contest winning points, meaning that the Vail photographers you see at the top of your search results page have recently won the most — and the most recent — contest awards. Our contests judge photographers based on their creativity, style, composure, and ability to capture the heart of any couple's story on their wedding day.
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: Where can I find a photographer for a short-notice, small Vail wedding?
A: There are many WPJA photographers who are able to help you out at a moment's notice. We understand that sometimes love happens and there's simply no time to lose. We can ensure that you can get married as quickly as possible — and have incredible photographs to remember your Vail wedding day by.
WPJA Communiqué: Featured Wedding Photography Articles
Vows, Crowds, and Nerves: Avoid Stress with a Small Wedding
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...Read more
Jola Mulder, of Overijssel, is a wedding photographer for
Bringing it Home: The Joys of a Backyard Wedding
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...Read more
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

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

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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Kathy & John

Photo by Carl Bower

What a happy surprise!  We didn't expect to see these for several days yet.  They look awesome!  John and I will review them together and get back to you.   Thanks so much for photographing our wedding.  It was so wonderful not only have you do it from a professional standpoint but it was great to have you there.  You get us.   We'll talk to you soon and thanks for the fast turn around!

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Black and white wedding photography of couple dancing by a Loveland, Colorado wedding photojournalist

Morgan and Jordan

Photo by Carl Bower

Thank you so much! The photos are stunning - we truly couldn't be happier!

View Photographer

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.