UPSTATE NY ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER
capturing couples through the state of NY
Plan the Perfect Upstate New York Elopement
You’re ready to throw tradition to the wind and instead of planning a big, stale affair you’d rather elope in New York. Now you’re looking for a New York Elopement Photographer and expert! The state of NY has spectacular waterfalls, lakes, and lush forests. The state parks and national forests are home to some of the most stunning views.
Let’s get started planning your perfect, adventure wedding day.
Why Elope or have a small outdoor wedding in Upstate New York?
New York is a huge state, so there are tons of options for incredible views. The further north and west you go you’ll find a little more seclusion, but some of the most incredible spots can be found just a few hours from New York City. So decide whether you’d like to get married with a waterfall backdrop, mountain views, or on a boat in the middle of a pristine lake. Regardless of what you choose, New York has something that will make your jaw drop in awe. Most places do require permitting of some sort for your ceremony. If you choose me as your photographer I help you walk through the process step by step and make sure you have the correct info for people to contact to get seamlessly through the process.
So if you’re looking for seclusion and views check out something like renting Whiteface Mountain summit for the occasion, or if you’d like to take advantage of stunning public lands for your elopement check out the Finger Lakes or the Catskills. Either way, get in touch and let’s start planning your dream elopement.
When planning an elopement, especially one in the summer months, it is always best to plan on a weekday. If you plan on having no guests, or just your immediate families, it is ultimately less expensive, plus easier to plan ceremonies with fewer crowds.
Where to Elope in Upstate NY?
These are the best places to elope in Upstate New York. Check out the full article HERE, but here’s the short list of my favorite places to shoot elopements in Upstate NY.
THE CATSKILLS
MINNEWASKA STATE PARK
THE FINGER LAKES
WHITEFACE MOUNTAIN
ROCKY MOUNTAIN
INDIAN HEAD
ADIRONDACK WOODCRAFTS CAMP
GARNET HILL LODGE
LETCHWORTH STATE PARK
HEART LAKE
WHERE TO STAY IN Upstate New York
I always recommend checking VRBO when looking for places to stay and planning your elopement. Why do I recommend VRBO over Airbnb? Because Airbnb no longer allows any type of event to take place. If it’s just the two of you that’s not a problem, but if you want to have any friends or family over and just enjoy a simple dinner celebration together VRBO allows that. In fact, there’s a box that you can check labeled “events allowed” and VRBO only shows you places where you are allowed to host a few people for a dinner celebration. Again, Airbnb is a great option if you don’t plan to use it for a celebration. I especially like their unique stays which feature super cool places, like treehouses. Who doesn’t want to elope and stay in a treehouse? I know I do!
Upstate NY Elopement Packages
As an elopement photographer I provide a service that includes so much more than just beautiful photos of your day. I am a part guide/part planner as well, helping you craft your perfect experience.
Planning guidance and assistance
You get my massively informational 90+ page elopement experience guidebook. It comes with a packing list, how to navigate family dynamics when eloping, and more. It’s going to answer questions you didn’t even know you had.
In addition, I offer planning guidance and assistance including (but not limited to) locations, timeline, and permitting requirements.
Timeline
Plan your small outdoor wedding or elopement day timeline. Want to make sure you’re choosing a location during the best time of day for light, or best time of year for weather? I make sure we do just that. And then I put together the perfect timeline of your incredible day, so everyone is on the same page and the day unfolds seamlessly!
Location Scouting + Vendor Recommendations
My years of experience have taken me a lot of different places. You get knowledge of incredible elopement locations that include everywhere from stunning waterfalls, mountain tops, forest tunnels, and coastal cliffs. Along with that comes working with some pretty amazing teams of wedding vendors. So I pass that info along too.
Activity Ideas
From a backcountry helicopter tour to canoeing, hiking, climbing, train and ferry rides, horseback riding, plane rides, and everything in between. There is no limit to what you can experience on your adventurous day.
Officiant
I can also sign your marriage license. I’m an ordained officiant in every New England state and in New York. So if you don’t want to hire an officiant or make a family member fill the role- you can say your vows to each other and I can sign the paperwork.
Travel Included
You never have to worry about paying travel fees. You don’t worry about where I’m staying or how I’m getting anywhere. One less item on your to-do list!
FAA Certified Drone Pilot
That’s right, I have a pilot’s license to prove it and everything. I stay up to date on the latest drone laws so that I can fly my bird and capture your day from a huge variety of angles throughout the day.
Elopement expert
I use my GPS to make sure we don’t get lost. And I’ll bring along things that you might not have thought about like hand warmers, tissues, umbrellas, and headlamps. Most of all, you get an expert who has been through this over 100 times to guide you through the process.
Hi, I’m Kat
I’m a small outdoor wedding and elopement photographer. I photograph weddings all over Upstate New York and New England. I love this region so much and want to give couples here an incredible elopement or small outdoor wedding experience. If you’re looking for Upstate NY elopement packages, you’ve come to the right place!
My style focuses on telling the complete story of your day, from all the quiet moments to the exciting celebrations. So whether you are eloping with just the two of you or you decided to bring along some of your closest friends and family, I capture each moment, person, and experience as it happens.
I firmly believe you should get married exactly the way you want. I hope that means you get married outside in a stunning and adventurous location. I’m here to make sure your day is completely captured. Sometimes that means I’m a fly on the wall, taking in the action as it happens, and other times that means posing you and your partner or making sure your family portraits take place in the spot with the best light.
Whatever format or timeline your day takes on I’ll work with it, because after all it is your day, and I want you to have images that let you relive every moment over and over.
Hear from my amazing clients
Lindsay & David
Kat of Swell & Stone provides the most spectacular service and product!!! My husband and I couldn’t have imagined a better experience! When we first started planning our adventure elopement we had no idea what we were doing or what to expect. Nobody we knew had ever done what we were trying to do. When we started doing research, Swell & Stone stood out because of Kat’s amazing night sky photos and her website, which was easy to navigate. When we reached out, she was responsive, warm, upbeat, and knowledgeable. She put us at ease right away and helped us tap into our excitement. We didn’t bother looking into anyone else. As busy as Kat is, she was patient and responsive across the whole process. We worked with her for about 10 months before our big day. She walked us through each planning stage and gave us great options for vendors. She provided us with questionnaires that made us think about the spirit of the day and our journey as a couple as well as all the tiny details we would’ve overlooked without her expertise. When we finally met with Kat the day of, we were nervous about basically being models for an entire day. Immediately, Kat made us feel better about what was ahead of us. She provided reassurance, clear instructions, and a peaceful presence. We were able to get out of our heads and have a great time, just being ourselves. It felt like we spent the day hanging out with a new friend. Once we received the finished product it was obvious Kat and the mood of the day brought out the best in us. Kat helped us craft and carry out the elopement of our dreams and her pictures captured that perfectly. I never knew I could look so beautiful! We can’t stop looking at them and brainstorming ways to display them! It was the best day and we can’t thank Kat enough! Because of her, we have this beautiful, bright memory to look back on for the rest of our lives!
Emma & L.A.
I couldn’t have asked for a better photographer. Kat became such a special part of our day. She has an eye for detail and really puts the time in to get to know us as a couple with questionnaires and phone calls. It really felt like she understood our aesthetic and general outlook on life! That incredible skill has given us photos full of character that I will treasure and proudly show to loved ones for the rest of my life. We eloped in the middle of a pandemic winter and Kat was reassuring at every turn, from spikes to prevent us from slipping on ice to responding super quickly to any of our inquiries. I loved having Kat be a part of our day. I feel so fortunate. The image turn around time is also incredibly quickly. Highly recommend!
Brittany & Wayne
Kat was amazing to work with! Not only were the photos stunning but she was so helpful with recommendations in the area where we were getting married and always answered any questions we had in a timely manner! The photos she took were absolutely everything we had dreamed they would be and we couldn’t be happier with them!
