The Photographer Trust Fall: Hiring Someone You’ve Never Met for the Most Important Day of Your Life

You’ve scrolled through their portfolio. You’ve read their website. Maybe you’ve stalked their Instagram. And now you’re about to hand over thousands of pounds to someone you’ve never actually met, trusting them to document the most important day of your life.

That’s terrifying. And if it doesn’t feel terrifying, you probably haven’t thought about it enough yet.

This isn’t like hiring a plumber. If your plumber is mediocre, you get a slightly wonky pipe. If your elopement photographer is mediocre, you get photos you’ll wince at for the rest of your marriage. Or worse, you get a beautiful location and a meaningful ceremony and almost nothing to show for it because the person behind the camera didn’t know what they were doing.

No pressure.

What You’re Actually Afraid Of

Let’s be honest about what’s really going on here. The fear isn’t just “what if the photos are bad?” It’s deeper than that.

What if they’re weird?

You’re going to spend hours with this person on one of the most intimate days of your life. What if they’re awkward? What if they talk too much? What if they make everything feel performative and staged? What if you just don’t click?

What if they’re not who they seem online?

Everyone’s website shows their best work. What if those 30 stunning images are literally the only good photos they’ve ever taken? What if the rest of their work is mediocre and you just can’t see it?

What if they don’t understand what you actually want?

You’ve tried to explain it. Moody. Intimate. Not too posed. But what if their version of “moody” is completely different from yours? What if they show up expecting you to do that thing where you run toward each other laughing in a field?

What if something goes wrong and they can’t handle it?

Weather changes. Timings shift. Someone has a wobble. What if your photographer panics, or gets frustrated, or makes the stress worse instead of better?

What if they just… don’t show up?

It happens. More than you’d think. Photographers get ill, have emergencies, or in some nightmare cases just ghost. And you’re on a clifftop in Scotland with no backup plan.

These fears are all valid. Every single one.

Why This Is Different From Other Decisions

When you’re planning a traditional wedding, you usually meet your photographer in person. You might have an engagement shoot. You see them interact with you and your partner before the big day. You get a feel for who they are.

With an elopement, especially an international one, you often don’t have that luxury. You’re hiring from 4,000 miles away based on a website, some emails, and maybe a video call. The first time you meet in person might be the morning of your wedding.

That requires a different kind of trust. Not blind trust. But trust built on different foundations.

The Red Flags

After a decade in this industry, we’ve seen enough to know what warning signs to watch for. If you’re evaluating photographers, pay attention to these:

They won’t get on a video call.

This is the biggest one. Any photographer worth hiring should be willing to have a proper conversation before you book. Not a quick email exchange. An actual call where you can see their face, hear how they talk, ask questions and get a sense of who they are. If they’re too busy or just “don’t do calls,” move on.

Their portfolio is all over the place.

Consistency matters. If their website shows wildly different editing styles, or a mix of bright and airy alongside dark and moody, they probably don’t have a clear vision. You won’t know what you’re getting.

They can’t answer specific questions about locations.

If you’re eloping to Scotland and your photographer can’t tell you anything useful about the places you’re considering, they either don’t know the area or they’re not thinking about your day beyond just showing up. Either way, not great.

They pressure you to book immediately.

The classic sales tactic. “I only have one date left in September!” Maybe true. Maybe not. A good photographer will give you space to make the right decision. Desperation is a red flag.

They don’t ask you anything.

If the conversation is all about their packages, their prices, their process, and they show zero curiosity about you as a couple, that tells you something. You want someone who’s interested in who you are, not just your booking fee.

The reviews are generic or nonexistent.

“Great photographer, lovely photos!” tells you nothing. Look for reviews that mention specific things: how they made the couple feel, how they handled a challenge, what the experience was actually like. And if there are no reviews anywhere, ask yourself why.

The Green Flags

Now the good stuff. What does it look like when you’ve found someone worth trusting?

They ask good questions.

Not just “what time is your ceremony?” but “how do you want to feel on the day?” and “what matters most to you about this?” A photographer who’s curious about you will create better work than one who’s just going through the motions.

They’re honest about limitations.

If they tell you they don’t shoot in certain areas, or that they’re not the right fit for a particular style, that’s actually a good sign. It means they know what they’re good at and they’re not just trying to take every booking.

They have a clear point of view.

You should be able to look at their portfolio and understand what they’re about. Not just technically, but emotionally. What kind of moments do they capture? What do they seem to value? If you can’t articulate it, neither can they.

They tell you about themselves.

Not just their work. Them. What they’re into, what makes them tick, who they are when they’re not holding a camera. You’re going to spend an entire day with this person. Knowing they’re obsessed with a TV show you love or have opinions about the same things you do tells you more about compatibility than any portfolio ever could.

They make the conversation easy.

This one’s harder to measure, but you’ll feel it. Do you come away from the call feeling excited and understood? Or do you feel like you’ve just been through a sales pitch? Trust your gut.

They talk about the experience, not just the photos.

The photos matter. Obviously. But a photographer who only talks about deliverables and editing and turnaround times is missing the point. The best photographers understand they’re part of your day, not just documenting it.

How We Handle This

We should be transparent about what we do, since we’re clearly not neutral observers here.

Every couple we work with has a video call with us before booking. Non-negotiable. We want to see your faces, hear your voices, understand what you’re actually looking for. And honestly? We want you to see us too. To get a sense of whether we’re people you’d want to spend your wedding day with.

Sometimes those calls end with us recommending someone else. If a couple wants something we don’t do well, or if we can tell our style isn’t what they’re imagining, we’d rather point them to a photographer who’s a better fit than take a booking that’s going to disappoint everyone.

We also talk about the day itself. Not just where and when, but how. What’s the pace? What are you nervous about? What would make it feel perfect? By the time we show up on the day, we already know you. You already know us. The trust has been built before we ever meet in person.

That first moment when we see each other face to face shouldn’t feel like meeting a stranger. It should feel like meeting up with someone you’ve been planning an adventure with.

Since we’re asking you to trust us, it’s only fair we tell you a bit about who we actually are. We’re Jodie and Matt. We’ve been photographing elopements in Scotland for over ten years, and we’ve been together even longer than that. We have three kids, a dog and a cat – meaning a house that’s constantly chaotic.

When we’re not shooting, we’re probably rewatching The Office for the hundredth time, arguing about Harry Potter theories, or watching Outlander (whilst both drooling over Jamie!). We’re still not over the Game of Thrones ending. And we probably never will be.

And we love cricket. Properly love it. Yes, the sport that can last five days and still end in a draw. And lego. And reading. Matt’s lifelong dream was to have a library ladder and if you book in for a video call, he will show it off.

All in all, we are the least “cool” people you will ever meet. No intimidating backstory or hobbies here. Just regular folks.

We’re not for everyone. We know that. But if any of this makes you think “oh, these are my people,” then we should probably talk.

The Reality of the Day

Here’s something couples don’t always realise: a good photographer disappears.

Not literally. But when we’re doing our job well, you stop noticing we’re there. You’re not thinking about the camera. You’re not performing. You’re just living the day, and we’re capturing it.

The couples who’ve trusted us with their elopements often tell us afterward that they forgot we were taking photos for long stretches. That’s the goal. Not to be invisible, but to be so comfortable and unobtrusive that you can actually be present in your own wedding.

That only happens with trust. And trust only happens when you’ve done the work beforehand to find someone you genuinely connect with.

One Last Thing

You can’t eliminate the risk entirely. There’s no guarantee that any photographer will deliver exactly what you’re hoping for. You’re trusting a human being, and human beings are unpredictable.

But you can reduce the risk dramatically by paying attention to the signals. By having real conversations. By choosing someone whose work you love and whose approach makes sense to you.

The photographer trust fall is scary because the stakes are high and you can’t undo it. But couples make this leap every single day, all over the world, and most of them land safely.

Choose carefully. Trust your instincts. And when you find the right person, let yourself fall.

— Jodie & Matt

If you want to have a conversation about your elopement, no pressure and no obligation, get in touch. We’d love to hear what you’re planning. Or if you’re ready to look at the details, check out our packages and pricing.

Looking for more? Head to our blog for guides on planning your Scottish elopement, location ideas and more of our work.