The Legend Awards is a new competition for elopement photographers to share the very best of candid and storytelling elopement photos. Excluding all styled shoots and all weddings with over 15 guests, the competition focuses on the real moments that happen at elopements and microweddings all around the world.

The judges, who rotate from round to round, are also full-time elopement photographers who know the unique challenges and rewards of elopement photography. They’re looking for strong composition, creative storytelling, emotional impact, and personality to select the winners.

The awards aim to show the world that elopements are so much more than just a photoshoot in a pretty location, but are in fact full of magical, emotional, spontaneous and authentic expressions of true love. Not every elopement happens on a cliff edge or after a grueling hike. Couples who get married on a rooftop, a courthouse, a downtown bar, or in their living room are just as welcome. 

Submission Details

All photographers are invited to submit up to five elopement images per round for only $19, no subscription necessary. Round 2 is underway now and open until June 30th, 2024. Legend Award winners are given a backlink and badged winning image, as well as a ready-made social media press kit to share with their followers. All couples from all backgrounds, body types, orientations and elopement styles are welcome.

Photographers who submit and are not selected as winners are invited to post their images for feedback inside their welcoming Facebook group. The opportunity to find out why their images didn’t make the final cut is a valuable asset to photographers who are looking to grow their skills — not just to win awards, but to bring additional value to their next client shoot. 

There are four rounds of competition per year. Round 1 photos were judged by 2024 Rangefinder Rising Star recipient, Traci Edwards of Adventure and Vow. While over 100 photographers submitted to the first round, fewer than 7% of images were awarded. These elopement images represent the best of the best from every corner of the globe. Because when a story is told well, it becomes Legend.

Stay up to date on all the Legend Awards news on their website and by following their Instagram. 

The award-winning photographers featured in this article are: Victoria and Fabian Willi, Raini Rowell, Malachi Lewis — Shell Creek Photography, Kelly Shoul — In Love and Adventure, Marla Manes, Nina Larsen, Naomi Leavit, Emre Nesli, Julie Haider, Kaitlyn Holeman, and Kate Okenatez-Mahoney — Make Adventure Stories. To see the rest of the winning images, view the Elopement Legend Awards Winners Gallery.

As a thank you to our readers, we’re pleased to offer you a Rangefinder exclusive discount code to get 25% off The Portrait Masters courses below. Use the code RF25 at check out to redeem. This code cannot be used in combination with other sales.

Photographing Couples In Love by Kristina Wikle

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