Elopement locations are often chosen for their photographic potential. The mountains, with their range of different landscapes and dramatic peaks, are often a favorite location. Yet mountains present challenges for photographers — from the quickly changing weather to working at higher altitudes. This week, find inspiration and tips for mountain elopement photography with our Photos of the Week from Daria Endresen, Charleton Churchill, Gabe McClintock, Diana Lustig, and Flora Gibson.

Daria Endresen, Ást og Hraun

When photographer Daria Endresen of Ást og Hraun first saw this location in the Icelandic Westfjords, she knew she had to take a couple there one day. She finally got the opportunity for mountain elopement photography in this location on a moody day in June. While her initial idea was to have the couple holding hands and looking towards the fjord, they took this stance and embraced unprompted, creating one of Endresen’s favorite shots. She captured the image using the Canon R5 and RF 24-70mm f2.8 lens.

“If the mountains are far away, I prefer using tele lenses, anything from 85 to 400mm. It gives great compression, making the background much more prominent and grand than what it would feel with a wide angle,” she explains. “If the mountain is closer, I love shooting at the angle from below. Again, it helps to convey the feeling of how high and sometimes overwhelming the background is.”

Charleton Churchill, Charleton Churchill Photography

Having hiked and photographed many of the trails at Yosemite, Charleton Churchill of Charleton Churchill Photography knew that the half dome would have this glowing light that only lasts for a short season. When the couple’s plans changed, Churchill knew this light and location would be perfect for the elopement. He captured a series of shots at this location with the Nikon Z6 ii and Z7 ii and the Nikon 70-200mm f2.8 lens to compress the mountain in the background.

“I don’t know if I have any magical advice,” Churchill says, “I just shoot what I see, adjusting the color/lighting as close as possible to what it looks like in real life — pretty much a timeless look. Filters are fine if that’s your style, and I have tried many, but tend to gravitate towards a stronger look, increasing the darks/lights a little more for a pop. I used to use the contrast a lot when I first started but have backed off quite a bit and refined my look. Be bold, but know when to go softer, allowing light and scenery to direct your image processing.”

Gabe McClintock

While mountainous backgrounds typically take up a large part of this image, keeping the couple and mountain small in this image by Gabe McClintock of Gabe McClintock Photography creates an otherworldly feel. McClintock took the image with a Leica Q during an Iceland elopement.

“Be prepared for anything,” he advises. “Weather, light and conditions can change very quickly in the mountains.”

Diana Lustig, Love and Latitudes

While Diana Lustig of Love and Latitudes has photographed this location in the Sierra Nevada many times, she’s always inspired by capturing the same location in a new season, with new light and a new couple. For this shot, Lustig wanted to capture the couple’s awe and adoration over the area. She took this image with the Canon R6 and a 35mm lens.

“Always check the weather,” Lustig advises photographers for mountain elopements. “This wedding saw snow, chilly temperatures, and high winds—despite it being late spring. Don’t forget to drink water and remind guests to do so as well—the elevation can be rough!”

Flora Gibson, Flora Gibson Photography

While Flora Gibson of Flora Gibson Photography uses this location in Big Sur for mountain elopement photography often, the fog inspired her to use the cliffs differently and take advantage of the light being less harsh than it typically is. The softer light allowed her to shoot from more angles than the location typically allows. She captured the shot with the Nikon Z6 ii and a 50mm f1.2 lens.

“My biggest advice for shooting in the mountains is to take five steps farther away than you initially think to stand. Sometimes this allows me to see the landscape in a different way,” she says.