BROOKE’S WEDDING + ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE

HAPPY WEDDING DAY!

One of the best days of your life is here! YOUR wedding day!
I can’t wait to celebrate with you.
This guide is to help you with your wedding planning.

First things first:

How do I know if my photographer or vendor is truly LGBTQIA+/Queer friendly?

website:
- Are LGBTQIA+ couples featured on their website?
- Do they use LGBTQIA+ keywords? (lgbtqia+ friendly, safe place, partners, spouses, etc.)
- Do they use heavily gendered words? (Hey brides!” his & her’s, only his name - her name on forms)
- Do they have reviews from LGBTQIA+ couples?

business social media:
- Do they post LGBTQIA+ couples frequently?
- Do they talk about LGBTQIA+ couples outside of Pride Month?
- Do they share the same values as you?
- Do they share posts standing up for LGBTQIA+ folks?
- Are they using inclusive language in their captions?

questions to ask vendors:
- “Are you an ally or part of the LGBTQIA+ community?”
- “Have you worked with LGBTQIA+ couples before?”
- “Are you comfortable with LGBTQIA+ couples physically touching each other?”

check their personal social media accounts: this one is SO important. Vendor’s personal social media accounts will always show their true colors.

Green flags

- Pronouns on social media & website
- “All are safe here!”
- Posting LGBTQIA+ couples frequently
- Attending protests. donating to LGBTQIA+ charities, sharing equal rights posts

Red flags

- No pronouns
- Only showcase heterosexual couples
- Only heteronormative language

Being LGBTQIA+ friendly is not just, “love is love” -
It’s fighting for what is right.
It’s being queer and trans competent.
It’s being inclusive to all.

Two men are standing close together with foreheads touching, holding hands, in a lush indoor garden.
Two women on a sandy beach, one lying on top of the other, smiling and laughing during sunset.
Two women with curly hair holding hands and smiling at each other in a park with green grass and trees.
Two women walking hand in hand outdoors during autumn, surrounded by trees with fall foliage, with sunlight filtering through the trees.
A couple is kissing outdoors in a field, with a blue sky and some clouds above.
Two young women smiling and hugging in a grassy outdoor area with trees in the background
Two people sharing a kiss during an engagement photography session celebration, with a cake, a lit candle, and a lit candle on the table in front of them.
Close-up of two people holding hands, one person with long nails, wearing rings, and tattoos, wearing a floral dress. The other person has a beaded bracelet and a plain shirt.
Two women hugging and smiling in a grassy outdoor area with trees in the background.

JUMP TO:

engagement sessions
ELOPEMENTS
TIMELINE
FAMILY PHOTOS
FLAT LAYS
first look
PRICING

Are engagement sessions
worth it?

People take engagement photos for many reasons!
- to get to know their wedding photographer
- to use photos for wedding invitations and wedding website
- is to use the photos at their wedding showers or parties!

When should I book my engagement photos?

That depends on when your wedding is! Do you have a Spring wedding but want Fall photos? Book them in the fall! I suggest taking them a year or so before your wedding, but even 6 months before is ok if it gets you the season you want.

Fall engagement sessions are my most booked sessions.

Two people sharing a joyful moment sitting on a window seat in front of a large window, one person leaning over and whispering to the other while both smile. The scene is bright with natural light coming through the windows.
Two people exchanging rings during a wedding ceremony, with a Boston city emblem backdrop.
A bride hugging her father while holding a bouquet at an outdoor wedding ceremony, with bridesmaids and groomsmen standing nearby.
A wedding scene outdoors with a bride and groom walking on grass, holding an umbrella, with the bride holding a bouquet of flowers. The groom is dressed in a suit, and the bride in a white dress and heels. A woman in casual attire following behind, a
A couple in wedding attire sharing a kiss in an outdoor field with trees and hills in the background, illuminated by sunlight.
A decorated cake with gnome figures on top, placed on a tree stump, at an outdoor event, likely a wedding or celebration.
Two hands, each with a wedding ring, touching with a blurred historic building and lights in the background.

ELOPEMENTS

Why do some couples elope?

Couples elope for many reasons.

Just to feel intimate and close to each other.
Don’t want the possible drama that comes with weddings.
Budget.

I think couples should do what makes them happy, not what will make others happy.

Many couples have an elopement and then a reception months later!

Can I have people at my elopement?

Of course! Your elopement is personal to you & your partner. This could just be parents, a close friend, or just us (& officiant)

Are you ordained?

I am not. But in some states (Colorado, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and more) you can get married without an officiant. Typically at elopements I photograph (in Massachusetts and Rhode Island), there’s always an officiant.

Decorative table setting with candles, a pink rose, decorative fans, and seashells on a white surface.
A bride and groom share a kiss outside a vintage green building, with the bride holding a bouquet of white flowers.
A white wedding cake with a gold topper that says 'Mr. & Mrs.' is placed on a glass cake stand on a table. The table is decorated with a gold cake knife and server, next to a gold lantern and a small flower arrangement in a glass jar. The background
A bride and groom cutting a wedding cake together during their wedding reception.
Two brides sharing a dance at a wedding reception in a rustic venue with exposed wooden beams and string lights.
White wedding cake with a 'Mrs & Mrs' topper, decorated with white flowers and intricate icing patterns, on a gold stand.
A black and white photo of a wedding couple near a river, with the groom and bride leaning in towards each other, smiling, surrounded by natural scenery and trees.
A wedding table decoration featuring a bottle of champagne with a gold foil top, decorated with a purple ribbon, surrounded by pink and white flowers in a white vase, and two pink candle holders with lit candles.

THE GUIDE TO FAMILY PHOTOS

Shot lists helps family photos run smoothly. It doesn’t matter if you have 10 or 50 - we are always looking for someone. I usually have someone in the wedding party who knows the family, to be in charge of the list. Help locating everyone, keeping everyone in place, and not wander off.

Family wedding photos have been cherished throughout generations.

Flipping through an old album and getting to see your family from many years ago, celebrating a beautiful day, brings so much joy.

Family photos are typically the only time where everyone is truly all together.

Family photos are so much fun & I love getting to know your family & friends.

Sample list:

Sky, Grass
Sky, Grass, Sky parent (#1), Sky parent (#2)
Sky, Sky parents
Sky, Sky parent (#1)
Sky, Sky parent (#2)
Sky, Grass, Sky parents, Sky grandparents,
Sky, Sky parents, Sky grandparents
Sky, Sky grandparents
and so on.

TIMELINE

How do I create a timeline of my day?!

I got you! I am not a wedding planner, but I’ve been to many weddings to understand the flow.

First things first - what time is the ceremony?

EXAMPLE:

4PM ceremony outside in Spring.
Golden hour is around 6:30PM.

Timeline:
2:30PM - getting ready photos
3PM - first look & photos (optional)
4PM - ceremony
4:30 - 5:30PM - cocktail hours
4:45PM - family & couple photos (not for couples who did a first look)
6:00PM - sunset photos
6:30PM- dinner, speeches, cake, dances etc.
10:00PM - end of reception (depends on venue)

EXAMPLE:

4PM ceremony inside in Winter.
Golden hour is around 3:30PM.

Timeline:
2:30PM - getting ready photos
3PM - first look & photos
strongly recommend first look photos & family photos before the ceremony
4PM - ceremony
4:30 - 5:30PM - cocktail hours
4:45PM - family & couple photos (not for couples who did a first look)
6:00PM - dinner, speeches, cake, dances etc.
10:00PM - end of reception (depends on venue)

How many hours should I book?

I believe 8 hours is the perfect amount of time. Couples typically book 8 hours. This covers the end of getting ready, first look (if doing), ceremony, portraits, cocktail hour, and most of reception.

I typically end my service about an hour before the wedding is over unless the couple wants “send off” photos.

  • A bride and groom standing on a sandy beach by a lake during a wedding ceremony. The groom is wearing a light beige suit with a bow tie, and the bride is in a white wedding dress with a veil holding a bouquet of flowers. They are under a wooden arch, surrounded by green trees and water.
  • A bride in a wedding dress holding hands with another woman in a white suit, standing on opposite sides of a doorway, smiling.
  • Bride in a white wedding dress holding a bouquet of flowers, facing groom in a black suit, outside a building with open doors, stairs, and green railings, during wedding ceremony.
  • A black-and-white photo of a wedding ceremony where a bride and groom are holding hands. The bride is smiling and wearing a long-sleeved lace wedding dress with a veil. The groom, dressed in a suit, is looking at her. A glass container and a sign are on a table in front of them, and the scene is set against a dark curtain background.

FIRST LOOK

Do I need to do a first look?

It’s 100% up to you!

- to have a special intimate moment together before they walk down the aisle. It’s usually a private moment between you both. This helps with anxiety for some couples.

- to take their couple + family photos before the ceremony so they can enjoy cocktail hour.

- ceremony is at 4PM in the fall, which means the sun would be gone by the time portraits would take place.

FLAT LAYS

Why do couples want flat lays?

So much time and effort goes into stationary. Save the dates, invitations, table decor, etc. It should be appreciated!

I recommend couples put things in a box that they would like to add to their flat lay. Flat lays take about 15-20 minutes to make & take photos of. I usually take these photos before getting ready photos or before the ceremony.

flat lay box ideas:
- save the dates & invitations
- rings
- ring boxes
- jewelry (necklace, chains, earrings, bracelets, cuff links, etc.)
- perfume & cologne
- wedding shoes
- ties
- veil
- floral arrangements
- makeup

A black and white photo of a bride and groom dancing closely together, holding hands and smiling with their foreheads touching at a wedding reception.
Two people celebrating LGBTQ+ pride at a wedding, one wearing a white wedding dress and the other in a black suit, holding LGBTQ+ pride flags in an outdoor setting during sunset.
A wedding ceremony in a church with the bride and groom standing in front, the bride holding a bouquet, and the officiant in the background with raised arms.
A group of six people celebrating on a deck outdoors surrounded by trees and greenery. They are dressed in formal attire, with some raising their arms and smiling.
Bride and groom walking down the aisle at their outdoor wedding ceremony surrounded by friends and family waving rainbow pride flags.
A black and white photo of a man and woman dancing closely at a formal event. The woman is wearing a dark dress and flats, the man is wearing a suit, tie, and glasses. In the background, there are other guests seated at tables and standing, with wood
Two women, one in a wedding dress and the other in a white blazer, smiling and holding glasses in a toast at a wedding reception.
Two women in wedding dresses holding hands in front of a barn with red siding and black door.
A woman with a large bow in her hair and in a sleeveless dress writes on a whiteboard with a marker, while a young girl in a similar dress watches. They are outdoors next to a large tree.
A bride and groom wearing wedding attire pose outdoors at night, each holding a large carved pumpkin with a jack-o'-lantern face in front of their faces.
Two men dressed in suits holding hands walking on a city street, smiling at each other.
A bride and groom kiss outdoors during sunset, with mountains and a cloudy sky in the background. The bride wears a white lace wedding dress and holds a floral bouquet, while the groom wears a tuxedo with a bow tie.
Three people at a wedding reception, with the man on the left flexing his arm and the woman on the right sticking out her tongue. The woman in the middle is wearing themed sunglasses with the date '6-21-2025'. The background shows string lights and o
People celebrating at a party, one person wearing a monster mask, others holding glow sticks, in a room with brick walls and warm lighting.

MONEY, OH MONEY

Trust me, I know.

Wedding photography is truly an investment. To have someone there to document your special day so you can stay present is such a relief.

I will strive to make sure moments are documented. Whether it’s your friends giggling at their table, a sweet hug between family members, or grandma dancing her heart on the dance floor. I have photographed so many weddings, I know what I am looking for. I want to bring you joy, laughter, and happy tears when scrolling through your wedding gallery.

I edit photos with a reason. I cull through over ~7,000 photos to pick out the best. I edit shoelaces that are untied, add a bouquet that was forgotten about in wedding party photos, a piece of hair on a windy day, trash cans that we can’t move, and so much more. I color grade photos to make sure they are true-to-color with a hint of warmth. I bring extra cameras with dual slots, lenses, batteries, SD cards, flashes, and more to make sure nothing slips. And sometimes, an additional photographer for bigger weddings so nothing is missed!

elopements & courthouse

3 hours | $2,000
Valid for under 20 guests
80-100 photos per hour

weddings

simple
6 hours | $3,000
80-100 photos per hour

grand (most popular)
8 hours | $4,000
80-100 photos per hour

all day
10 hours | $5,000
80-100 photos per hour

add-ons

$500 - 1 hour engagement session
$100/hr - second photographer
$500 - the night before / welcome party
$300 - boudoir session ($500 value)

If you have any other questions,
I will answer them!