Fall in love, not in line
Pittsburgh micro wedding photographer
Elopement? Micro Wedding? Am I in the right place?
Whether it’s just the two of you, ten of your nearest and dearest, or fifty of your somewhat less near but still dear friends and family, you’re in the right place. And if you embrace the weird, the non-traditional, the things that make your heart sing, even if nobody else gets it, well, I’m here for it, too.
You’re here for meaning over tradition, and having an intimate, intentional experience for your wedding day, not a whirlwind of crowds and deadlines. You march to the beat of your own drummer, or maybe you’d prefer a flute quartet instead.
Introverts are welcome here. Maybe you don’t consider yourselves to be “photo people,” but neither did the other lovely people on my website. I take a non-invasive approach to portraits. You’ll get enough direction and guidance to get those cinematic portraits you want, but still feel like you. Twenty years of experience means that I know when to step in to make magic, and when to step back and let it happen.
Non-traditional is my jam, and your micro wedding or elopement is about you and the things you value, not me and my portfolio. You want someone who gets you and your vision, and I can’t wait to hear about it.
The possibilities for how and where to get married are basically endless, and it’s easier than ever to get hitched in exactly the way that fits you best. If the thought of having hundreds of people packed into a huge cathedral, or watching you cut your cake in a traditional reception hall that makes you want to run away and elope… you can do that. There is no right way to get married, there is only the way that makes you feel happy. Do that.
Want to elope, but want to invite your parents? Do that. Need to have your besties there, too? Do that. Elope in a forest, have a microwedding in a brewery, build the day that brings you joy. Do that.
I’ve photographed weddings on mountains and in bank vaults, in backyards and concert venues, self-uniting ceremonies and celebrant-led weddings. Anything can be an adventure, if you look at it in the right light. Think your ideas might be too weird? I’ve photographed GWAR, you can not scare me.
why go small?
Frequently Asked Questions about Eloping in Pennsylvania
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Thanks to the Quakers, you can have a self-uniting ceremony in PA. You have to apply for a marriage license (do this at any county Register of Wills), wait 3 days, and have it signed by two witnesses (hi, I’m one!) Let the county clerk know when you get your license that you need a self-uniting one, and it’s valid for 60 days anywhere in the state.
You can also have a celebrant or officiant marry you, and then you just have to get the regular license.
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That isn’t a question, but I’m here to help. Get in touch, and tell me what kind of vibe you want, if you’re city folks or forest types, and I’ll recommend some spots for you.
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Yes, oh my God, please bring your pet. I get along just great with animals, and I’m not allergic to any. I have photographed both an engagement session and a wedding with a cat, so it can be done.
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You don’t have to elope on top of a mountain. Elopements aren’t just for thru hikers and vanlifers, you can stay in a real hotel, hit scenic overlooks, and elope in the city if you want to. It’s your wedding. I love the forest, but if you’re an indoor cat, a courthouse elopement gets you just as married.
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I am not. Some elopement photographers offer combination services, and that’s something you definitely want to look at when you compare pricing. I’ll gladly give you all of my favorite vendors, and all the knowledge that I have as a person who has been involved in lots of weddings, but I am not truly a planner. Just a lady who likes to help.
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Sure, why not? Maybe you want photographs of your vow renewal, anniversary trip, or just a fun adventure for the two of you. Works for me.
Your photos are the only thing from your wedding day that become more valuable over time.
Let’s make ‘em count.
We’re on the same page if you totally don’t care about what a wedding is supposed to be. You’re just gonna get married however the hell you want to.
If you want a relaxed day where you can slow down and actually get to experience your wedding. You don’t want your entire day to be a photo shoot, and value spontaneous, honest, imperfect moments in your photographs.
You want someone who really gets you and your vision, because I can’t wait to hear about it.
Hi, I’m Caroline and I’ll be taking your photograph.
I’m a little bit country and a little bit punk rock. Like the Johnny Cash of wedding photographers. I actually got my start shooting shows in basements, so I excel at getting beautiful photos in just the absolute worst light you’ve ever seen. I love campfires and flannel, and have described my style as the Portlandia “put a bird on it” sketch, but with skulls. There’s a 20% chance I’m going to use the word “critters” at your wedding.
Some moments only happen once, and you deserve some reassurance that you’re getting an artist who is reliable and prepared, and will deliver work that looks just like the photographs that made you reach out in the first place. I’ve been photographing weddings for twenty entire years – I even earned Master of Fine Arts degree. I’ve worked with all kinds of people in every kind of light, and my backup gear has backup gear. I may not take myself seriously, but I take what I do very seriously.
I’m introvert friendly, body positive, queer affirming, and environmentally conscious. Non-traditional is totally my wheelhouse. Embrace the weird.
“I love that our wedding photographer has also shot, like… Green Day.” - Jon
Always included:
The best elopement or microwedding experience
I’ll design your timeline for the best light and the least rushing around. Introvert-friendly posing and directing means you’ll feel comfortable in front of the camera, and I’ll match the energy you bring to your day (whether that’s super romantic or very goofy.) I’ll keep track of time so that you don’t have to, adjust plans for weather, and generally ensure that you have the best day possible.
Film-inspired digital photography by Caroline
Soulful black and whites with lo-fi grain, joyful candids. True colors – both visually and metaphorically. A documentary approach with cinematic, film-inspired results. To get the charm and nostalgia of film without the expense and unpredictability, I use a Fujifilm x100F which mimics a film look, along with top-tier gear and digital edits based on Portra film. Actual film is available as an add-on.
Clarity calls, location scouting, and all the help I can give you
I am not a full on planner. But you’ll have direct access to me personally throughout your whole planning process, and can text or call or email me with any questions. I’ll scout locations and give you all of my best vendor recommendations.
Artistic, hand-crafted edits
All your photos to keep forever, edited individually by me, 100% human. Online gallery of high resolution images for you to download, share, and print. You’ll have printing rights to all of your photos, as well as access to my professional lab. Full retouching of any photographs you choose to print. And the option to schedule an ordering session with me, where I’ll help you decide how you’d like to display your images.
Travel within 50ish miles of Brownsville
If you are in the little triangle of Pittsburgh PA, Morgantown WV, and McHenry MD, you have no travel fees for your elopement or microwedding day.
Engagement sessions, with an asterisk
An engagement session is included for those of you getting four or more hours of coverage. Engagement sessions are available as an add-on, for the rest of you.
Heirloom albums, keepsake boxes, and prints to last a lifetime.
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You can add on any of these services and products to your wedding collection, they’re all listed as extras in the price-o-matic calculator
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Heirloom albums are designed by me! I have degrees in both Film and Graphic Design, and I mostly use them for good.
Albums can be square or landscape format, in 6”, 8”, or 10” sizes, with leather or fabric covers. -
I work with a number of second photographers who are also photographing full weddings on their own, and try to always find someone close to my style. Second photographers give you more than just extra coverage, they give you a different artistic perspective, and a wider range of photographs to remember your day.
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Adding on instax shots means that you’ll have some photographs to take home with you that very same day, while you wait for your digital ones to be edited.
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I offer all kinds of prints – framed, collages, canvases, little prints, prints with deckled edges, keepsake boxes to put all of these prints in, it’s honestly too much to list as extras. So these are available to purchase straight from your online gallery, or if you aren’t sure where to start, you can schedule an ordering session with me and I’ll help you choose mats and frames and answer all of your print questions.
Elopement and Microwedding Pricing
I really value transparency, because you are busy and just want to know what all of this is going to cost you. Make your choices in the price-o-matic below, and see your total in real time (scroll down if you’re on mobile). You may notice that when you click certain boxes the price does not change, that just means that what you’re adding is already included in the cost. If you have any questions about pricing, or aren’t seeing exactly the thing you want here, reach out and I’ll make a custom quote for you.
We offer discounted rates for elopements and weddings taking place Sunday through Friday
I’m trying to be an environmentally conscious business, and to lessen my impact on the earth wherever possible. maybe you are, too. if you’re committing to making your wedding environmentally friendly (by going plastic free, donating your flowers, sourcing sustainable gifts, and the like) then I’ll give you $100 off. if you’d really love to make your celebration a little more eco-conscious and just aren’t sure where to start, I can help!
Frequently Asked Questions about Elopement and Microwedding Pricing
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Scroll on up for the list of everything that’s included.
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That’s a great question, so I made a little quiz (scroll down for that) to help you figure that out. Ultimately, we’ll talk about your specific plans and build a timeline together for your day, but this should get you in the ballpark.
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I love a second photographer, because it gives you not only the extra coverage but an additional artistic perspective and a wider range of finished photographs. If you’re on the fence, I say go for it.
That said, not every wedding needs a second photographer, especially those having elopements with small guest counts.
You likely don’t need one if
• you’re getting ready very close to each other
• it’s easy to move around your ceremony site
• your day has a fairly relaxed timeline.
You likely do need one if
• your wedding party is on the larger side (like, 12-16 people)
• you’re getting ready far away from each other
• you want lots of getting ready photos and don’t want any moments to be missed
• detail photos are super important to you
• you have a lot of wedding party and family photos to take, especially if you aren’t doing a first look
• it’s hard to move around your ceremony site, it would take a long time to get from the front to the back, and/or they have a lot of rules about where your photographer is allowed to stand
• you have a large extended family and might need some extra hands to organize themI’m always happy to talk through your options and help you make a decision, just reach out! If you do opt for a second photographer, I have a vetted list of photographers who are reliable and have a style similar to mine so that you’ll have cohesive images.
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For all coverage of four hours or more, yes!
If you’re getting less than four hours of coverage and still want an engagement session, it’s available to add on under extras.
Note: read the above question about travel for engagement sessions if you’re outside of the Pittsburgh/Morgantown/McHenry area.
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Yep! Maybe you already have your wedding photographer booked, or maybe you just want to try someone out before you commit.
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I do! Your deposit is 25% of your total collection, and the rest is split into thirds and spaced out between your booking and two weeks before your wedding. That’s my standard payment plan, however I’m flexible as to how they’re spaced out, and can make a custom one for you.
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This is on the honor system. If you tell me the specific plan you have for making your wedding more environmentally friendly (i.e. by going plastic free, donating your flowers, sourcing sustainable gifts, upcycling, or similar) then you get the $100 discount. If you later don’t actually do the thing you said you were going to do to get the discount, well, shame on you.
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So many. You aren’t going to wonder why there aren’t more photos. Editing is an underrated skill, so I do make an effort to edit very tightly, and deliver only the very best photos to you, and it’s still like a lot of photographs.
You have printing rights to all of your photos, and also access to my professional printing lab to order from. You’ll get an online gallery of high resolution images that you can also share with your friends and family, so that they can order their own prints and you don’t have to keep track of it.
Frequently Asked Questions about working with Caroline
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I love a film-inspired look. To get the charm and nostalgia of film without the expense and unpredictability, I use a Fujifilm x100F which mimics a film look, along with top-tier gear and digital edits based on Portra film. Soulful black and whites with lo-fi grain, joyful candids. True colors – both visually and metaphorically. That’s my style.
I have a documentary approach to the way that I shoot. I will put you in the good light, and move clutter out of the way, so it’s not 100% hands-off. But I try to capture what is happening rather than produce a moment. For most of the day, anyway. When it’s portrait time, people are looking for a little more guidance. Introvert-friendly posing and directing means that I’ll match the energy you bring to your day, whether that’s super romantic or very goofy. I like to give you something to do rather than a static pose to hold, and my goal is to get beautiful portraits while keeping you comfortable in front of the camera. -
Introverts are welcome here! If you like the photographs you see of the people on this website, you will like your photographs, too. I work with folks who are not photo people all of the time, and while I’m happy to get those intimate romantic shots if that’s your vibe, I’m just as happy to get goofy or quiet or candid shots if it’s not. It’s your job to enjoy your day, it’s mine to make you look great.
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I have photographed weddings all over the United States. But I do spend most of my time working in states that border Pennsylvania, so that’s what you’ll find in the drop down menu on the price-o-matic. If you’re getting married elsewhere and want me there, reach out and I’ll build you a custom quote for your location.
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I am totally willing to travel for engagement sessions HOWEVER that does require an extra fee. I haven’t been able to find a way that isn’t excessively clunky to work that pricing in to the calculator here, but I’m happy to get you a custom quote for it. Engagement sessions that happen within 50ish miles of me don’t have any extra fee.
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I edit each of your photos by hand, myself. I don’t run them through AI. I also fully retouch any photographs that you choose to print, whether that’s in your album, as framed wall art, or a 4×6. Retouching for me means removing any temporary blemishes, cleaning up any distracting background elements, and generally taking it from an A to an A plus. Retouching, for me at least, does not mean altering your body in any way, and also doesn’t include any major changes like removing braces or adding people into photos who were not there.
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Like Polaroids, Instax is an instant film camera. I generally take around one pack for every hour of coverage, and try to hit the major events of the day (although I avoid taking them in quieter ceremony moments, as printing can be a bit loud.) You have the option to take your instant photos home with you that day!
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I specialize in tiny weddings (and tiny people, my other specialty is newborn portraits!) It’s what I spend most of my time doing. But I still do some regular sized weddings every year, especially for folks who are having closer to 100 guests than 300.
How much time do I need for my elopement or microwedding photography?
That’s a really good question! I usually help you to find that out by talking through your plans, your timeline, what you want from your photography and from your wedding day, and it’s a very personalized process.
But in the meantime, you can take this fun little quiz and it will give you a ballpark idea. Get yourself a pen and paper, we’re doing this old school.
“Caroline understood our aesthetic and was friendly and easy to work with. We couldn't be happier with the results!”
— Jeanine
Are you adding me to your short list? Fill out the form if you’d like me to be in touch about photography for your micro wedding or elopement, or you can schedule a call with me right the hell now! Fortune favors the brave, I hear.