Disclaimer – This website contains affiliate links. We may earn a very small commission if you make a purchase using links on this site, at no extra cost to you. That’s how we can afford to keep this awesome site running!

Tell us your story

I’m Chris, a European elopement photographer based in Hamburg, Germany, shooting on medium format. I work with couples who choose their own path in life. Those who don’t want to conform to society’s expectations of how they love and live.

I’m a nerd at heart, a happy and social introvert, who thrives on deep connections, who loves to get lost in stories and geeky movies and games, and someone who prefers a quiet evening with close friends over a crowded party. I enjoy the kind of conversation that skips the small talk and gets straight to the point. There’s something about the silence of nature, the weight of a storm rolling in, or the quiet companionship of my ginger cat Mikkel that feels more real to me than the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

I spend my free time travelling with my tent, exploring the northernmost corners of the world. The Arctic North has always attracted me – the rugged landscapes, the solitude, the untamed weather. It’s the same kind of beauty I see in the couples I work with: those who don’t need sunshine and blue skies to have an incredible day, but who find beauty in whatever nature gives them. My five best friends are my people – the ones I can be completely myself with, whether we’re sitting in silence or laughing until our sides hurt. I value honesty, depth and people who make their own way rather than following expectations.

How long have you been working in the wedding industry?

For over 10 years.

What made you get into weddings & elopements?

I was a travel and landscape photographer before I got into weddings. I wanted to try something new and started doing portraits to broaden my horizons. I did a lot of freelance projects and one day asked a friend who was a wedding photographer if I could join them as a second shooter. I really enjoyed the documentary/reportage part, being a fly on the wall, chasing situations and those little stories that otherwise go unseen at a wedding. Also the mix of street, fashion, food, portrait, editorial and event photography that you need to cover in a single event like a wedding was great to play around with.

Getting involved in elopements felt like coming home to travel and landscape photography. The perfect way for me to combine my love of landscapes with my passion for intimate portraiture.

What do you love about intimate weddings and elopements?

What I love about intimate weddings and elopements is that they strip away everything unnecessary – no expectations, no performance, just two people choosing each other in a way that feels right for them. It’s raw, honest and real. There’s a kind of freedom in celebrating love without an audience, in being fully present with each other rather than following a schedule. Whether it’s on a windswept cliff, deep in the woods or in a quiet place that holds meaning for them, these moments aren’t about perfection, colour scheme, wedding trends, do’s and don’ts – they’re about them. And that’s what makes them so powerful. As an introvert, I also do enjoy the closer connection to my couples much more than it’s possible on larger events. I can create a true remarkable experience for them that fits their personality and preferences rather than rushing with them through a pre-planned day.

How would you describe your approach to your work?

Having grown up as an introvert, I know how hard it can be to live up to other people’s expectations. It’s no different on a wedding day. That’s why I support my couples on their wedding day in every way I can to create a wonderful, fully-fitting experience for them. A wedding that fits their personality, their energy level, their needs – a wedding of their own. 

For elopements, my approach is even more immersive and personal. Without the structure of a traditional wedding day, elopements allow for a slower, more intentional experience – one that unfolds naturally, without a strict schedule or outside expectations. My role isn’t just to document the day, but to help create an atmosphere where couples can be fully in the moment.

I don’t just turn up, take pictures and leave. I help couples navigate the logistics, find locations that really resonate with them, and create a timeline that feels natural rather than forced. On the day itself, I step back when the moment calls for silence, and step in when guidance is needed – whether it’s helping them find warmth in a storm, reminding them to take in the view, or simply holding space for them to experience the weight of their vows.

Elopements are about freedom – choosing intimacy over performance, connection over spectacle. My approach reflects this. No forced poses, no unnecessary interruptions – just two people, their story and the wild, untamed beauty of the place they have chosen to say ‘I do’.

What’s your favourite part of a wedding day?

My favourite part of a wedding day is the moments in between – the ones that aren’t planned or staged, they just happen. The quiet pause before the ceremony, when everything stops for a second. The way your hands find each other when no one is watching. The deep exhale after the vows, as it sinks in: We did it. It’s real.

I love those moments when a couple forgets the world around them – when the noise fades away and it’s just the two of them, fully present. Whether it’s a stolen glance, a shared laugh or a little physical touch, these are the moments that feel the most ‘real’. That’s what I’m looking for. That’s what I want to capture.

What advice would you give couples who are in the process of planning a wedding or elopement?

Do it your way. Forget expectations, traditions that don’t feel right, and what anyone else thinks you should do. Your wedding or elopement isn’t a performance—it’s a moment in your life that should feel like you.

Take the time to find out what is really important to you. Is it being alone in nature, exchanging vows with only the wind as your witness? Is it an intimate dinner with your closest people, free from the stress of a big production? Whatever it is, lean into it. The best weddings and elopements aren’t the ones that follow a checklist – they’re the ones where couples feel completely at home with their choices.

Logistically, keep it simple. Focus on what’s essential and don’t over-plan. Some of the best moments happen when you leave room for spontaneity. Trust your instincts, work with vendors who get you, and above all: be present. The day will pass in a blur, but if you stay in the moment, it will stay with you forever.

When you’re not at a wedding, what do you love doing?

When I’m not at a wedding or elopement, I’m usually recharging in ways that feel natural to me – spending time in nature as much as possible, travelling north with my tent when time allows, or diving into movies to fill up my letterboxd stats and good old-fashioned games for achievements on my couch. I’m a full-time nerd about open source software and secure communications, and think a lot about how to make the world around me a better place. I love cycling (indoor and outdoor) and listening to history podcasts. I love personal and outer space and value deep, meaningful connections, so quality time with my five closest friends is something I never take for granted.

And of course there’s my ginger cat, Mikkel – always ready to remind me to slow down, take a nap, have a snack and just be. 

Do you have a dream wedding or elopement you’d love to do?

Anything in nature! I love elopements in foggy woods and misty mountains – places where the atmosphere feels wild and untouched, where the landscape shifts with the weather and every moment feels like a scene from a dream. There’s something powerful about standing among towering trees as the mist rolls in, or on a mountain ridge as the clouds weave through the valleys below. I’ve been a couple of times to Svalbard in the Arctic and would love to create an adventure elopement for a couple there one day in one of the abandoned settlements.

What I enjoy most, though, is when a couple embraces the elements instead of fearing them – when they don’t see incoming rain as a problem but as part of their story. When the wind catches their hair, the storm rolls in, and instead of running for cover, they lean into it. Those moments – raw, unfiltered, and real – are what make elopements so special to me.