My Top 5 Tips for Elopement Astrophotography

If you’re anything like me, then you absolutely love gazing up at a sparkling, diamond sky on a clear night. And there’s nothing I love more than including stargazing in elopements when I can! Capturing pristine photos of the stars is not easy, that’s for sure. I’ve failed countless times, but practice makes perfect, right?

Over the years, I’ve learned quite a few tips and tricks for capturing those dreamy photos of the Milky Way, whimsical views of the moon, and magical photos of eloping couples under a blanket of stars. If you want to learn how to include astrophotography in an elopement, I’ve put together this list of my top five tips to help get you started!

Plan for the Weather

If there is one thing I’ve learned over the years trying to capture the stars, it’s you need to be aware of the weather on the night you plan to shoot. Even if you’re just practicing (which I highly recommend before an elopement), you want to make sure the weather conditions are right. What does that even mean? The key is a dark, cloudless night far, far, far away from light pollution. The absolute best conditions are the days directly before, during, and after a new moon.

Your Tripod is Your Best Friend

I can’t tell you the number of times a tripod has saved me during a stargazing shoot. This might be my number one tip because honestly, it’s just that important. If there is one thing to take away from this post, it’s that you absolutely, positively, cannot be without your tripod. A sturdy tripod is essential to avoid camera shake (you know, the blurry, starry photos you keep capturing).

Pack Your Headlamp (That is if You Want to See in the Dark)

Here’s a quick tip that might be a gamechanger for you: invest in a headlamp with red light capabilities. This is UBER important. Why? Because red light allows you to maintain your night vision without polluting the sky with harsh lights. Here’s the deal, we want to be able to see where we’re going while we’re shooting, right? Well, then I don’t recommend passing up on this tip—especially if you want to include stargazing in an elopement.

The BEST Lens

Alright, the tip you’ve all been waiting for. What lens should you use for capturing those epic, starry photos? I recommend shooting with a wide-angle lens. This will help you capture more of the sky and landscape. We want the whole dang sky, don’t we? My absolute favorite, go-to lenses are the Canon 35mm f/1.4, Canon 24-70 f/2.8, and Canon 24mm f/1.4. All three of these lenses are incredible for capturing crisp, sparkling photos your eloping couples will be in awe of. 

Be Prepared

Last, but certainly not least, be prepared and plan ahead. There is so much that goes into taking epic astrophotos with your couples. If you forget one vital piece of gear (starts to sweat), you’re going to have a much harder time. I’m talking extra batteries, tripod plates, the right lens, or God forbid, forgetting your tripod altogether. Just typing that out almost made me faint. 

But don’t you worry, because I’ve got something for you! I’ve put together a couple little freebies—the ultimate astrophotography packing list AND another set of five tips for incredible astrophotography. This comprehensive list will tell you all the things you absolutely NEED for the best stargazing elopement experience ever and make sure nothing is left out. And I mean nothing. And who couldn’t use all the tips and tricks they can get their hands on when it comes to astrophotography?!

If you want the next set of tips and the ultimate packing guide, get on my email list—plus, you’ll never miss out on any epic announcements in the future!