An elopement built around you —unhurried, unscripted, unforgettable.Lake Tahoe Elopement Photographer
Based in Lake Tahoe ·Elopements · Intimate Weddings · Couples Sessions · Planning + Photography & Film
★★★★★
“What can I say about Armando? Only the absolute best things! Not only was he extremely professional and efficient, but he is a joy to work with! The work he delivered is breathtaking and I know we will always have the best memories because of him!”
— Mar + Carlos
A DIFFERENT KIND OF WEDDING DAY
What if your wedding felt like the best day of an adventure?
No performing. No stress. No pressure.
Just the two of you, somewhere wild and beautiful, doing your day exactly the way you want to. No seating charts, no schedule built around 150 guests, no checklist running the show.
An incredible view that mirrors how big this moment actually is — and quietly tells you: this is not just another day. This matters. That's what I help couples build, and what I'm there to capture as it unfolds.
WHAT IS AN ELOPEMENT?
It's not a smaller wedding. It's a more intentional one.
An elopement is an intentional experience between the two of you — more personal, more intimate, and far more you than a traditional wedding could ever be. Less stress, less planning, more presence: just the two of you, somewhere wild, with all the time in the world.
Intentional & personal · Real photos & experience · Intimacy & privacy · Less stress · A love of nature · Simplicity · Adventure & spontaneity
I don't just photograph your day — I help you live it.
HEY, I’M ARMANDO
I'm an adventure elopement photographer & planner based in Gardnerville, Nevada, working Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, and the Sierra Nevada. I work solo, shoot hybrid digital + 35mm film, and create cinematic films you'll relive for years. I handle every permit, timeline, and logistics detail so your only job on the day is to show up and be present.
I photograph elopements, intimate weddings, and couples sessions — but elopements are where my heart is. I love them because they strip a wedding back to what actually matters: the two of you, somewhere wild, fully present, with all the time in the world. No performing for a crowd, no day that belongs to everyone but you. Just real moments I get to quietly witness and keep.
Armando
WHAT MAKES THIS DIFFERENT
More than a photographer. Your guide for the whole day.
Every elopement I take on is a fully guided experience — planned, designed, and documented from the first message to the last delivered frame.
Hybrid digital + 35mm film
Cinematic highlight films
Solo shooter — one calm, focused presence
Full edited gallery + sneak peeks
Full-resolution files + full print release
Full planning support, start to finish
Location scouting & guidance
Permit research & handling
Custom day-of timeline
Unlimited consultations
Candid, natural, unposed photography
SO HOW DOES THIS WORK?
Your elopement, in three simple steps.
Step 01
We meet & I learn about you two
Reach out with whatever you've got — a season, a feeling, a place you've been dreaming about. We'll talk about your relationship and what makes you feel alive, and I'll help you find the perfect corner of the West to say your vows.
Step 02
I design & plan the whole experience
A seamless, stress-free planning process tailored to your pace. Curated locations, lodging, and activities, plus timelines, permits, and logistics — I've got all of it covered for you.
Step 03
Relax & soak in every moment
It's your day. We adventure together and I document the whole story — from first light to last — while you focus on nothing but each other.
RECENT ELOPEMENTS
A look at real days in the wild.
WHAT COUPLES SAY
Stories from real elopement days.
★★★★★
" What a pleasure it was to meet AJ. From the beginning he was hands on figuring out what all we needed for our big day ...We shared laughs, he took us to amazing spots in Yosemite National Park."
— Rachelle + Jerome
★★★★★
"We had an amazing experience working with Armando. From the beginning he was very responsive with coordinating our shoot. The pictures turned out spectacular! If I could give more than 5 stars I would!"
— Lexi + Michael
★★★★★
" Armando was amazing. He captured everything exactly the way we pictured it for our elopement and we could not be happier. He was very flexible in the destinations and unknowning since it wasn’t traditional, and he helped the day go by with ease."
— Michaela + Brandon
FAQ
Elopement questions & answers.
Quick answers to what most couples ask first. Can't find yours? Write to me — I read every message myself.
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Yes — and honestly, this is one of the things I care most about. Planning support is built into every package I offer. That means I'll help you choose and scout your location, handle permit research and applications, build out your day's timeline, and coordinate the moving parts so nothing falls through the cracks. You don't need to hire a separate planner. From the first conversation to the moment we part ways on your elopement day, I'm your guide through all of it.
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It really depends on your timeline and location. Some couples book 6–12 months out to secure popular dates at places like Yosemite or Lake Tahoe — especially if a special use permit is required. Others reach out just a few weeks before and we make it work. If you have a date or location in mind, the best move is to reach out early so we can talk through what's realistic. I'll always be straight with you about availability.
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We roll with it — and more often than not, it makes for better photos. Moody skies, misty forests, dramatic clouds: these are the conditions that make mountain and wilderness elopements feel cinematic rather than staged. That said, safety always comes first. If conditions are genuinely dangerous, we'll talk through your
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I don't put a hard cap on your gallery. What I deliver is every image that genuinely tells the story of your day — edited, full resolution, and yours to keep. In practice, most galleries range from 300 to 600+ images depending on the length of coverage and how the day unfolds.
Let's start planning your dream elopement.
Don't worry — most couples who reach out have no plans at all. Turning vague ideas into something unforgettable is exactly what I do. Start with the pricing, then send me your vision below.
I respond to every inquiry personally, within 24 hours.