Portland Wedding Photographer

because these moments are fleeting

The way your day feels, Matters.

This sacred day should unfold in a way that’s meaningful to you. Your wedding day is not a photoshoot, it’s not a series of stiff poses. The organic moments you experience with genuine emotion, that’s what matters.
But do it your own way.

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When you imagine your wedding Day,

When you think back on your wedding day, what do you hope you feel? What moments stand out when you imagine your experience? What matters most to you? When you look at your wedding photos, you won’t just be reminded of the perfect visuals you curated, but you’ll be brought back to how you felt. Creating an honest narrative of every drop of emotion, the way you felt it, that’s where I come in.

As a intimate wedding and elopement photographer, my goal is to preserve what you feel on your wedding day. This is your visual legacy to keep and pass down. The way your experience feels, matters. However that looks, it should make sense for you and your partner.

It should fit.

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what do you feel?

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Hi there, I’m Elissa.

One of my favorite late poets, David Berman, penned, “Souvenirs only reminded you of buying them.” This must have so many meanings, but the one I take from it is that the photographic evidence of an organic experience is vastly more important than the posed photo that took you out of the moment.

I feel that any photo spotlighting human interaction, emotion, a truly lived experience is much more interesting than a stiff, posed one. Posed photos have a place, they are important and purposeful, however I’m much more drawn to the moments that occur, for instance, when a family is interacting while they get arranged before and after the few seconds they look at the camera and say ‘cheese’ rather than the ‘cheese’ moment itself. The in between moments are the real real, those are the smiles that will offer a glimmer into a personality, that will show you who they are. This is why candid photos will always have my heart. I do love a photo that has been purposefully set up as well, so when the time calls for it, I guide and direct to create something beautiful and artistic with you. Though one key will always be the leading force and inspiration: it should look and feel like you. You should see yourself and feel what you felt.

Featured In:

I ADORE film and analogue cameras. I have a collection. An obsession. A problem maybe. I still have my old 80s Konika film camera I used for my high school photography classes. I pack it with me on every trip I take and every wedding I document.

35mm, Medium Format, Polaroid

View the wedding film gallery

Kind Words

“So many endless wonderful things to say about Elle.

Not only is she so easy to work with, she’s also so much fun!! She took our engagement and wedding photos and both have turned out absolutely amazing. She is great at taking candids without you even realizing she’s there- even when she’s right in front of you!”

Bri + Chris

“I lover her aesthetic and ability to capture candids so perfectly!”

She was so fun to get to know and so reassuring on our wedding day that we didn’t have to be overly posed or know how to act in front of a camera. We love our pictures so much! They are exactly how I remember everything.”

Lizzy + Trey

Frequently Asked

Yes. Even if it’s only a video chat, some kind of interaction between us beyond email is necessary. I cannot begin to tell you how big of a difference it makes to have a connection and rapport with each other before your wedding/elopement day- the most important day of your life. Even if you choose not to book with me, I urge you to meet with each one of the photographers you’re seriously considering to have document your wedding day. Connecting and trusting your photographer is so important. My aim us to document the most honest telling of the days unfolding story. Having someone there to translate that story who has history with you (at least a little), someone you can be yourself with, will add so much to that honesty. Being at ease and comfortable with each other goes a long way with seeing an honest YOU in your photos.

For an engagement session, anywhere from 1-3 hours depending on whether or not we travel/hike to get to our ultimate location, wardrobe changes, etc. However, I don’t place a limit on how much time we spend together. For your wedding or elopement, I offer packages that allow me to focus on the full narrative of the day. That pricing can be found here.

About 90% of the weddings I shoot, I shoot solo. I have peers that I work with and trust if you would like a second pair of eyes and perspective on your wedding or elopement day. While it’s not necessary, you’ll never regret having a second perspective.

2 years. Nahhhh I’M JOKING! From May-November, usually about 8-12 weeks. I will send you a preview with some highlights within one week of your wedding! If you have any special requests (photos for thank you cards, elopement announcement, etc), please let me know and I’ll be happy to include them. Engagement sessions are usually about 3 weeks and can be expedited if need be.

A snuggie and cowboy boots. OK OK not really! Wear clothes that you feel confident and completely yourself in. I love neutral tones for photos- denim, grays, black, blues, deep colors and khaki palettes don’t distract from atmosphere or from your interaction and emotion together. Garments with billowy movement (like linens, cottons, chiffons, silks), always translate super well in photos. I’ll give you a few more tips as we get a little close to our session date! 

Anywhere from 6 – 18 months. I do keep flexibility in my schedule to allow for elopements and smaller sessions. I take on a limited amount of weddings each year so as to not spread myself too thin or sacrifice my time and attention with you.

Absolutely. I don’t take on many, but I’d love to talk about what you’re planning and see if we’d be a good fit!

Ohhhh boy do I relate to this! It’s easy to worry about being awkward in front of the camera, but you won’t be. You’re not awkward, you’ve just had awkward photos taken! Most of us aren’t used to having a camera in our face and because of this, I take a very relaxed approach to documenting. I usually describe a session as hanging out for a couple of hours, except I just so happen to have my camera with me. I’m not shy about directing, though for the most part, I will set you up and just have you talk to each other, love each other and be cozy, have fun and play together, laugh together, just be. My approach on your wedding/elopement day will be super similar, read about it here.

Via fax. KIDDING! Photos will be delivered through an online gallery. Here you can download to share on social media, share with friends and family as well as make prints.

BRING IT ON! Whether we’re talking wedding day or engagement session, I’m usually low key hoping for some kind of wind/rain/dramatic weather. Being raised in the PNW, being soggy while shooting outside comes with the job and can add elements of spontaneity and romance if you embrace it. Given, not everyone wants to take photos with umbrellas, wet hair and a muddy hem, so we can create beautiful images indoors too. I always come prepared for rain, I’m down for anything you are.

I do indeed! I do not charge a travel fee for if you’re getting married in Oregon, Washington, the Chicagoland area or the Asheville/Charlotte, NC area. If you’re planning a destination engagement session, intimate wedding or elopement, I would love to customize a quote for you.

Get in touch

360.903.0047

Elissa@elissadelinephotography.com