For past generations, elopements have often been defined as the act of ‘running away secretly in order to get married, especially without parental consent’. While that may have been the case in the past, elopements no longer have secretive or rebellious connotations, and the definition has varied drastically within the past few years. Many modern-day elopements aren’t last minute or without ‘parental approval’. They aren’t all at the local courthouse or decided on within the week (but totally okay if it is!). Most of the couples I work with who choose to elope - whether they’re getting married near a waterfall or inside a City Hall - are choosing to be fully intentional about their wedding day by keeping it intimate and authentic to who they are.

There are many reasons people choose to elope! Here are a few reasons: 1.. Intimacy and Privacy: Many couples opt to elope to escape the pressure and scrutiny of a large wedding ceremony, preferring a more intimate and private exchange of vows. 2. Simplicity: Elopements offer a simple and straightforward way to get married without the complexities of planning a traditional wedding; including guest lists, venue bookings, catering, etc. and allowing the couple to truly focus on what’s most important- solidifying their union! 3. Cost: As most of us know, weddings can be expensive and eloping is often a more budget-friendly option, allowing couples to allocate their resources elsewhere or save for future endeavors. 4. Spontaneity: Some couples are drawn to the spontaneity and adventure of eloping, choosing to exchange vows in a location that holds personal significance or simply feels right in the moment. 5. Avoiding Family Drama: Family dynamics can be complex and eloping can be a way for couples to sidestep potential conflicts or disagreements with family members regarding wedding planning decisions. For more reasons, check out my BLOG POST!

I can literally count on one hand the couples who HAVEN'T been concerned about this. I'm sure by now you've seen my work and you've noticed that not a single couple looks like a deer in headlights with awkward smiles lol. I’ve been photographing couples for years and have worked with all different personality types, so i’m pretty good at working with different comfortability levels! I also take a very non-invasive approach when taking photos - my biggest goal is to keep the two of you engaged with each other and present in the moments of your elopement. To check out some examples, view my elopement GALLERY.

BEST DAYS: If looking to elope in a public space, weekdays are the recommended because most shoot locations aren't as packed on weekdays. BEST TIMES: On a normal, sunny day, for an outdoor elopement, the best time to shoot would be either a start time at or close to sunrise (ideally starting no later than 9 am, but the earlier the better for best results to avoid harsh sunlight) or 1 hour before sunset. Prior to booking, you can do a google search to see what time the sun is projected to rise and set in GA on the date you are looking to elope. Direct sunlight (typically in the middle of the day) for outdoor sessions isn't ideal for photos however, if the location chosen has plenty of shade, we’d have more flexibility to shoot during the day! INDOOR SESSION: If the elopement is indoors, before 3pm is ideal, that way we get as much sun as possible coming into the space (since I am a natural light photographer, please only consider using indoor spaces with lots of windows and sun coming inside the space!) WHEN CLOUDY: If it ends up being a cloudy day, it’s best to shoot anytime before 4-5pm (depending how overcast it is) to avoid too much darkness. Since we can’t accurately predict whether or not a day will be overcast though, I recommend clients choosing a time based on what's mentioned above.

Due to the spontaneous nature of my job, I am unable to be flexible with dates due to weather. The GOOD NEWS is that I'm always prepared to embrace whatever the day throws at us and my best advice to you is to do the same! The success of your wedding day doesn't depend on a perfect sunset - it depends on the two of you living large and being in the moment. And honestly, rain makes for some cool photos. Just bring a cute umbrella we can use as a prop 😉

While some people do choose to elope with just the two of them and their officiant, lots of couples are opting to bring along a few close friends or family members to celebrate the day with their loved ones. I’ve also had the pleasure of photographing a variety of intimate weddings where couples include their very close friends and family. They get to spend more quality time with each and every guest and still have a lot of flexibility they might not have with a larger group. Here are a few ideas for incorporating friends and family: -Have a close friend or family member officiate -Spend the morning getting ready with your closest friends and family -Have a reception following your intimate ceremony to include a larger group -Keep some traditions, like having a sibling say a toast over champagne, dance with your parents, share dinner with the group, take them somewhere new and explore together -If they can’t be there physically with you, take time to call or FaceTime with them as you head off to your ceremony or have them send you thoughtful cards to read on the wedding day!

It's recommended to book your elopement photographer as soon as you've set a date and location for your ceremony, especially if you're planning a destination elopement or getting married during peak wedding season.

Just like any wedding, it varies from couple to couple how much coverage one should get. Whether you’re planning to have 0 guests or 50, I personally believe your wedding day deserves to be captured in full; That’s getting coverage of you getting ready, the vow exchange, semi-posed and candid photos of you two together, photos with loved ones (if applicable) and anything else you have planned for your special day. However, you can also decide to just have photos of the vow exchange and coupled shots afterwards! Whatever you decide, my ultimate goal is to ensure that your day feels more like an experience rather than just a photo-op.

A few questions to ask yourself as you’re trying to determine a spot: -What type of scenery do we want in our photos? - Is there a place that’s meaningful to us or one we’ve been wanting to explore? Will this location make sense logistically (considering time it takes to get there, accessibility, noise level, view, sun exposure, etc.) Check out some of my favorite places to elope in Georgia.

I personally do not offer videography services however, upon booking, I can recommend you to a few (non-affiliated) videographers to reach out to! I also offer an add-on option for a quick iPhone video for a reel/Tik Tok.

The proofs are typically sent within 24 hours of elopement day and edits typically delivered up to one week from the day you make your selections. Since this depends on workload, holidays and vacations, please communicate with me prior to booking if you have any specific deadline.

Yes! Feel free to check out my ENGAGEMENT gallery and click the “book” then “book session” tab on my WEBSITE for package info. Tasteful Boudoir sessions are also offered- perfect way to surprise your soon-to-be spouse 😉. You can choose the "portrait/birthday session" package and mention it's for a boudoir session when the questionnaire comes up.

I love to celebrate realism, so my editing style is more on the natural side. I try to keep editing to a minimum and showcase exactly what was captured in the camera as the final product. With that being said, you should expect minor fixes like color correcting and brightening if necessary, adding a little clarity/sharpness and contrast, as well as SLIGHTLY smoothing the skin and removing some small body marks. If one prefers more of an airbrushed look or more editing in general, please communicate that prior to booking.

I am typically reachable via text on and off between 9am-7pm, Monday-Friday (unless we have a weekend session or early AM session booked together.) Please note that I am a "one-man show" and will respond back to your messages as soon as possible!

BEST DAYS: Weekdays are the recommended days to shoot. Mainly because most shoot locations aren't as packed on weekdays and if your session date happens to be cloudy, there's a higher chance of me having the flexibility to move your shoot time around. BEST TIMES: On a normal, sunny day, for an outdoor session, the best time to shoot would be either a start time at sunrise (or starting no later than 10 am, but the earlier the better for best results to avoid harsh sunlight) or 1 hour before sunset. Prior to booking, you can do a google search to see what time the sun is projected to rise and set in GA on the date you are looking to shoot. Direct sunlight (typically in the middle of the day) for outdoor sessions isn't ideal for photos however, if the location chosen has plenty of shade, we’d have more flexibility to shoot during the day! INDOOR SESSION: If the session is indoors, before 3pm is ideal, that way we get as much sun as possible coming into the space (since I am a natural light photographer, please only consider using indoor spaces with lots of windows and sun coming inside the space!) WHEN CLOUDY: If it ends up being a cloudy day, it’s best to shoot anytime before 4-5pm (depending how overcast it is). But since we can’t accurately predict whether or not a day will be overcast, I typically recommend clients have flexibility on their session date, in case we need to shoot earlier (also dependent on availability).

To view package info and book your session, click on the "book" tab from the home page, then click "book photo session". Please read ALL prompts! Your session will be solidified upon approval and payment of 50% non-refundable deposit.

If you already have a location in mind, great! We’ll go with that. If not, I’d recommend checking out my Instagram for location ideas (@capturedbyshantel), checking out the BLOG POSTS on my website or googling popular areas to take photos. If from there you are still unsure, you can just tell me the vibe you are going for and I can help you choose a location! Please note that I am a natural light photographer- I do not use artificial lighting so if you wish to book an indoor location, whether a home, studio or another venue, please remember that it must have lots of windows and good sunlight coming into the space! You can rent out my studio (rates starting at $50/hr) or rent a natural light studio at www.peerspace.com. For $50 off your Peerspace rental, click HERE

Yes! I have access to a natural light studio with rates starting at $50/hour. If one wants to use their home (must have good natural light coming into the windows) or choose to rent a natural light studio on their own (a studio with lots of windows and sunlight coming into the space), that is also an option! If you choose a studio on your own, please communicate with me the date and time requested before booking it! To receive $50 off your Peerspace booking, use this LINK

Typically, clients will receive their proofs within 24 hours from time of session. Once you make your selections, your final images are typically sent back within 3-5 business days. Though this is typical, it all depends on how busy that week is. If you are on a time restraint and/or need a rush fee option, please communicate that before booking!

These are the thumbnails sent over for you to choose your final images. The watermarked proofs are SOLELY for choosing images and not for use of any kind (sharing on social media, printing, etc).

The first 20 miles are complimentary and anything after that would be 60 cents per mile. If you'd like to confirm the mileage prior to booking, feel free to message me from the chat box on the home page!

It’s ultimately up to you, but I recommend wearing colors that will compliment the shoot location and your personal vibe. If there are multiple people in the shoot, I recommend color coordinating but also not being too “matchy matchy”!

I ALWAYS welcome my client’s vision! So if you have anything specific in mind, please communicate it and also feel free to send over inspiration (photos from pinterest, social media, google, etc) to assure we’re on the same page. If you have nothing specific in mind, that’s okay too! We will “freestyle” it and just get great, natural “lifestyleish” shots that show your personality.

I do not provide these services nor am I affiliated with any makeup artist or videographer. If you need recommendations though, I can gladly send some over upon booking (please note that most recommendations are people I follow on social media, not people i’ve personally worked with). Please be sure to do your own vetting/research for any recomendations given!

I love to celebrate realism, so my editing style is more on the natural side. I try to keep editing to a minimum and showcase exactly what was captured in the camera as the final product. With that being said, you should expect minor fixes like color correcting and brightening if necessary, adding a little clarity/sharpness and contrast, as well as SLIGHTLY smoothing the skin and removing some small body marks. If one prefers more of an airbrushed look or more editing in general, please communicate that prior to booking.

I am typically reachable on and off between 9am-7pm, Monday-Friday (unless we have a weekend session or early AM session booked together.) Please note that I am a "one-man show" and will respond back to your messages as soon as I can!

The deposit is made through the website via Stripe. For the balance (due immediately after session), I accept Zelle or Apply Pay.