Rex Jones

Most elopement photos look like they were ordered from the same catalog.

Same sunset, same forehead touch, same two people looking at each other like a stock photo reading a script. Scroll through a few elopement photographers' sites and you'll start recognizing the poses before you read a word.

A good elopement photograph looks like the two of you, in a place that matters, on a day nobody else got to schedule. I'm an elopement photographer because nobody has to perform for a crowd. The ceremony can be quiet, a little weird and entirely yours.

I'm a Colorado elopement photographer based in Colorado Springs. I work across the Mountain West, from mountain overlooks and red rock canyons to a quiet ridge at sunrise. If you're covering travel, I'll go anywhere in the world.

The vows are the easy part. The plan is the job.

It starts with a conversation. What do you want captured, how do you want it captured, and what are the photos for? A framed print over the bed, an album for your parents, or a handful of frames you'll send to the people who couldn't be there?

Then we plan the day together: the place, the time of day, what you'll wear and how long we need. Light does most of the work in outdoor photography, so the schedule matters more than almost anything else. A three-hour elopement and a twelve-hour one are very different days, so we build the plan around the one you want.

On the day, I stay out of the way until a frame is worth stepping into. You're not performing for anyone, so the pictures look like you.

Most of my time goes into editing, not the shoot. That's where skin, color and light get finished. It's why I deliver fewer photos than a bulk shoot would, and why each one is finished.

Pick a place that means something, then we build the day around it.

My elopement photography is shot on location: mountain overlooks, red rock canyons, quiet trails and open desert. I'm based in Colorado Springs and I work across the Mountain West, and if you're covering travel, I'll go anywhere. The right spot for an adventure elopement depends on the season, how far you want to walk and what the two of you love. We settle that before anyone books a flight.

Questions

Fair questions, short answers.

What do elopement packages cost?

Elopement coverage is priced by the hour, and the full list is on the pricing page. With a model release it's $3,300 for 2 to 3 hours, $4,500 for 4 hours, $8,400 for 8 hours and $12,500 for 12 hours. Each is $250 more without one.

Where do you photograph elopements?

Anywhere that suits the two of you: mountain overlooks, red rock canyons, quiet trails and open desert. I'm based in Colorado Springs and I travel anywhere, as long as travel is covered.

How long should we book?

It depends on what you want from the day. Two to three hours covers a ceremony and a short portrait session. Longer coverage makes room for a hike, more locations and better light.

How many photos do we get, and how soon?

We'll agree on delivery when we plan the day, because it depends on how long you book. Every photo you receive is edited and finished.

What can we use the photos for?

Personal use, social media and prints. Commercial use isn't included.

Who it's for

Couples who would rather skip the ballroom.

Small ceremonies

A ceremony somewhere that means something to the two of you, covered for the length of day you choose.

Adventure elopements

Mountain overlooks, red rock canyons and a hike worth the view, planned around the best light.

Destination elopements

If you're covering travel, I'll go anywhere. We plan the details together before anyone books a flight.