Part 4
Portfolio Building
Timeline
Phase 1 — Month 1-2
Existing Archive
You have an existing archive of wedding photos shot by others, with permission to use. This is a significant head start.
- Go through the archive and select the 50-100 strongest images
- Re-edit them in your developing style for consistency
- Organize by location and moment type
- Use these for website portfolio and social media while building your own portfolio
- This is also excellent editing practice
Phase 2 — Month 2-4
Styled Shoots
Organize 2-3 styled elopement shoots:
- Ask photogenic friends if they will model
- Choose locations that match the brand (mountains, forests, water)
- Plan a full "mock elopement": getting ready, hiking, ceremony, portraits
- Shoot at sunrise or golden hour for best light
- Budget option: provide simple attire direction, natural hair/makeup, sunrise shoot
- Invest option: participate in styled shoot events ($200-500, provides models, florals, styling)
Only create content you want to be hired for. If you want to shoot mountain elopements, do styled shoots on mountains. Your portfolio should leave zero doubt about what you do.
Phase 3 — Month 4-6
Practice Shoots
Offer 3-5 free or reduced-price couples shoots:
- Exchange: they get professional photos, you get portfolio content and practice
- Target couples already planning to elope in Squamish or Queenstown
- Post on local community boards, wedding Facebook groups, Reddit
- Treat these exactly like a paid wedding: timeline, preparation, full delivery
Phase 4 — Month 3-6 (parallel)
Second Shooting
Reach out to established local photographers:
- Offer to second-shoot their weddings for free or reduced rate
- Builds skills under real pressure and real conditions
- Usually you can use the images (with credit) for your portfolio
- Excellent networking with the local wedding community
Phase 5 — Month 6+
First Paid Work
Your portfolio should be strong enough for paid bookings:
- Start with the Elopement tier (simpler, 2 hours, lower pressure)
- Book through the existing Adventure Weddings pipeline
- Build confidence and gallery count
- Move to Adventure and Expedition tiers as confidence grows
Portfolio Curation Rules
- Only show what you want to shoot more of
- Quality over quantity — 20 incredible images beat 100 good ones
- Consistency — same editing style across the entire portfolio
- Diversity of moments — landscapes, portraits, details, emotions, movement
- Location variety — show both Squamish and Queenstown
- Seasonal range — winter snow, summer wildflowers, fall colours, spring rain
- Story arc — portfolio should flow like a story