STOKED - The Adventure Elopement Photographer Podcast - Build a Six Figure Elopement Photography Business

STOKED - The Adventure Elopement Photographer Podcast - Build a Six Figure Elopement Photography Business

Do you dream of having a successful elopement photography business but don’t know where to start? Welcome to STOKED, the go-to podcast for adventure elopement photographers at every stage—whether you're looking to book your first elopement or take your business to the next level. Imagine confidently raising your prices, filling your calendar with dream couples in breathtaking locations, and feeling truly stoked about your business, your life, and your bank account! I'm your host, Megan MacPhail. After photographing over 200+ elopements worldwide, I can tell you with certainty that your dream elopement photography business is 100% possible. Tune in every Thursday as my elopement videographer husband, Todd, and I share our experiences, strategies, and lessons learned. We also bring in successful elopement photographers and industry experts for fluff-free, actionable interviews that will help you book more elopements and grow a thriving business. We’re the only podcast specifically for elopement photographers, making STOKED your go-to resource in this niche. Not sure where to begin? Start with Episode 82: "The Secret to Booking and Planning All-Day Elopements " Get ready to be STOKED about your elopement photography business, life, and bank account! Cover photo by the amazing Henry Tieu → https://www.henry-tieu.com/ Check us out at → https://www.meganmacphail.com

Episodes

October 10, 2025 27 mins
Are you feeling like your mindset is holding you back from building the elopement photography business of your dreams? In this episode, I chat with California elopement photographer Christina Perhac, who once struggled with perfectionism, slow inquiries, and being unsure of how to attract the right clients. But after joining the Elopement Photographer...

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Have you thought about how some elopement photographers seem to create a business that actually supports the life they want instead of the other way around? During this episode, I chat with Hawaii elopement photographer, Aly Dove, who has proven that following your passion and investing in yourself can completely change everything.

 

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Ever wonder why some elopement photographers are hitting $20–30K months while others are saying bookings are slow? The truth is, couples are still out there searching, and the photographers I coach are already booking dream elopements well into 2026.

 

In this epis...

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What does it really take to launch your elopement photography business in less than a year? Estonia-based photographer Eva-Johanna Lepik has the answer. Just 9 months after joining the Elopement Photography Mastermind, Eva has gone from shooting micro-weddings to building a thriving elopement photography business.

 

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So, you want to charge at least $5k for your elopements, but you’re not sure what a $5k client experience looks like? Don’t worry, because we break down exactly what it should look like and why having high-quality photos isn’t the only thing that you should be focusing on. 

 

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Are you still charging the same prices that elopement photographers charged years ago? If you are, it’s more than likely holding you back from creating a profitable and sustainable elopement photography business. 

 

In this episode, we talk about why $5,000 should ...
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Inclusivity in elopement photography isn’t optional; it’s an absolute must. And with LGBTQ+ rights being under attack, it’s more important than ever to step up. This is why I decided to bring on Virginia elopement photographer, Cameron Warren, to share how allies can create safer, more affirming spaces for LGBTQ+ couples.

 

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It's been two and a half years since we released our very first podcast episode, which is crazy to think about, and a lot has changed since then. If you haven’t gone all the way back to the first episode, you may not know our story, so we figured it was the perfect time to reintroduce ourselves and share where life has taken us. 

 

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When you’re hiking in a remote location or shooting in unpredictable weather, the equipment you have can make or break the elopement day.  

 

In this episode, I share the must-have elopement photography gear I rely on, including what’s in my bag, why I chose each p...

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If you have a question about elopement photography, chances are we have the answer. In this episode, Todd puts me in the hot seat with some of the most common questions we hear from photographers, like how often you should follow up with inquiries, how to price for travel, whether your Instagram follower count really matters, and how to know when it’s time to raise your prices.

 

We’re diving ...

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Are you setting goals in your elopement photography business that are fueled by purpose or by pressure? If your only goal right now is to book enough elopements to pay the bills, then we need to talk. I have actually been struggling a lot with my motivation lately, and I haven’t been able to figure out why, until now. 

 

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Think making money from elopements is impossible? My guest today is here to bust that myth. Vanessa Halliday is an elopement photographer based in the white mountains of New Hampshire. She went from studying kinesiology to being a struggling wedding photographer to having a thriving elopement photography business on the East Coast, and she is sharing her story of how she did it.

 

During the c...

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Have you heard of an artist statement? Basically, it’s a written statement that drives your work, and something that represents you as a photographer. If you don’t have one, it can definitely change the game for your elopement photography business. 

 

Writing an ar...

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Does booking your first $5K elopement feel impossible? Well, what if I told you it’s totally doable? In fact, the photographers I work with have been doing it even faster than I was able to do it on my own! Today, Todd and I are revealing the 5 steps - align, attract, convert, funnel, and plan - to successfully book your first $5K elopement.

 

You will learn how to know...

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Are you debating whether you should be using AI for your elopement photography business? Here’s something you may not realize: if you’re using Instagram, Facebook, or Lightroom, you are already using AI. So, this episode isn’t about whether you should be using AI or not, but how you can use it strategically to save you time and energy. 

 

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As elopement photographers, our job is more important than you may think. Yes, we are taking beautiful photos, but it’s so much more than that. It’s about preserving memories, telling stories, and capturing emotions that couples will hold onto for the rest of their lives.

 

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Do you dream of booking beautiful destination elopements, but not quite sure how to make that happen? My guest, Gina Mangiante, a San Francisco-based elopement photographer, opens up about how she first fell in love with photography when she picked up a camera in college, and how that turned into her booking $10K elopements in Italy! In fact, she just got back from shooting not one, not two, but thre...

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Does being an elopement photographer sound like a dream, but you’re feeling stuck where you are, and have no idea where to start? Today, I chat with Amanda Kluesner about how she completely changed her life after a tough divorce, moving across the country, and following her heart to go all in on elopements in Lake Tahoe.

 

Amanda talk...

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Do you feel like there are way too many elopement photographers out there for you to thrive in your business? We’re calling total BS on that! Todd and I are revisiting one of our favorite episodes, which is all about the myth of market saturation. While the original episode covered a range of online careers, we want you to look at it through the lens of an elopement photographer.

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What is a wedding content creator? And should you consider adding one to your elopement day team? Content creation for elopements is a growing service that not many couples, or even elopement photographers, know exists. However, my guest, Joy Sheehan, an elopement and wedding content creator based in the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee, is here to change all of that for you.

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