ELOPE YOUR LIFE.®️

SAM STARNS – OREGON & Alaska BASED ADVENTURE ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER
I HELP FREE-SPIRITED AND FUN COUPLES CRAFT BOLD ELOPEMENT DAYS IN DRAMATIC PLACES.

Pacific Northwest, Alaska and Beyond

AS SEEN ON

AS AN ADVENTURE ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER, I SEE SO MANY PEOPLE LIVING THEIR LIVES ACCORDING TO OTHER PEOPLES’ EXPECTATIONS.


ANNNND UH, THAT’S KIND OF BULLSH*T. I’M NOT THE PERSON THAT’S GOING TO SIT HERE AND TALK ABOUT HOW EPIC AND BADASS ELOPING IS AS MUCH AS I’M GOING TO HELP YOU REALIZE THAT ONCE YOU HAVE THE CONFIDENCE TO BE TRULY YOURSELF ON YOUR WEDDING DAY, YOU CAN USE THAT POWER TO TRANSFORM THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.

ELOPING IS ABOUT SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST GETTING MARRIED.

It’s about being empowered to be unapologetically yourself and create a wedding day (and life) that YOU can be uniquely proud of.

I’M SAM. AND I REGRET MY WEDDING.

I know. Yikes. Here’s the thing: I cried on my wedding day. They weren’t happy tears, either. Let me tell you my story. I had a day that wasn’t really about the connection I had with my husband. It wasn’t about who we were as people and about the things we loved.

It wasn’t “us”.

Imagine having an adventure elopement day that includes whatever floats your boat. Whether it’s adrenaline packed, laughter-filled, chill vibes, or a combo of all of the above.

Then add in a kickass connection between you and your partner that’s enabled by dedicating that day TO YOU.

I help fun & free-spirited couples create bold wedding days in dramatic places like the Oregon Coast, Redwoods, Alaska, Glacier National Park, Hawaii, Scotland, Greece and beyond.

Then my couples use that empowerment to transform the rest of their lives.

Your wedding day should be an epic as feck adventure

Your “best day ever”, from sunrise to sunset. Full of things and sights you love. Go as far as making it a no holds barred, bucket list adventure. Then add in looking fine as hell and committing yourselves to one another.

Got dogs? Bring ’em. Always wanted to visit Ireland? Let’s dooooo it! This day should represent YOU as a couple.

Past couples who have eloped their lives…

Sam is an adventure elopement photographer who KNOWS what she’s doing, a true professional, but it was also so genuine. She wrote a book. She even did a TEDx Talk on eloping!! We were both like whaaaaat!!! Yes, woman, kill it! Seriously, hire Sam, great pics are sooo important, but it was more than pictures, it was an experience. It was worth every penny. I honestly cannot recommend her enough.

NIKKI & EVAN

Sam made things super easy so we were able to focus on what was more important, which was experiencing the day together and enjoying ourselves. Sam was also quick to empower us to do whatever we wanted – whether that was going to a diner in our wedding attire, or getting matching wedding band tattoos! Our day was everything we could have wanted and we felt like Sam was just a friend that was helping guide us through it.

MARTYKA & STEVE

As soon as I spoke to Sam on the phone we connected and I knew there was no one else! …Sam was super communicative, crazy knowledgeable, and just so much fun to work with!

Do yourself a solid and cancel your wedding, hire Sam as your adventure elopement photographer, and run away and marry your sweetie like you really want to!

KENDAL & MIKE

Eloping is not about the photos, or the dress or even the ceremony.


I KNOW WHAT YOU’RE THINKING. WHAT?! AN ADVENTURE ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER WHO THINKS ELOPING ISN’T ABOUT THE PHOTOS?!

Yes, you heard me right. Eloping is really about what represents your relationship, and the transformation that you can have that is the catalyst for real change in the rest of your life.

Eloping is full of growth and self-discovery. So why not infuse that in other areas to make your life MAGNIFICENT?

The most rewarding, and sometimes wonderful, things in life happen when you step outside your comfort zone. Be brave. Dare to elope.

WHAT SETS THIS EXPERIENCE APART

01

YOUR ELOPEMENT GIVES BACK

A portion of every elopement collection booked goes directly back to one of the following nonprofits: The National Park Foundation, Redwood Parks Conservancy, Glacier National Park Conservancy, and The Sierra Club. YOU get to choose who your adventure elopement supports!

Sam Starns Adventure Elopements is proud to be an official business partner of Glacier National Park Conservancy.

02

Leave No Trace Friendly

As your adventure elopement photographer, I’ll facilitate us working together to Leave No Trace in the EPIC places we explore. It’s incredibly important to practice good stewardship, and we’ll do that through our practices and learning on your best day ever.

03

Empowerment Focused

This day is about YOU and YOUR PARTNER. Your adventure should focus on you and what gets you stoked to be alive. Whether that is something you love doing, or an entirely new activity, this day is about EMPOWERING you to do what speaks to you, societal norms, expectations, and “rules” be damned.

For more info on empowerment and “Elope Your Life”, watch my TEDx talk.


I’M GIVING AWAY A FREE COPY OF
“ELOPE YOUR LIFE”

FOR A LIMITED TIME, I’M GIVING IT ALL AWAY
(Okay, nearly everything 😉 )

LOCATION INSPIRATION Hub

FEATURED DESTINATIONS


ELOPE IN OREGON

There is a reason Oregon is called the Iceland of the United States. An Oregon elopement can be anything from a ceremony on the Oregon Coast, to a Crater Lake elopement, or a jaunt out in the wild desert playa near the Steens Mountains. This state has endless possibilities!

Click below to check out the variety of backdrops you can elope to in Oregon.


ELOPE IN ALASKA

Alaska is just like Glacier National Park in mountainous views, but it can be, dare I say, better?! Within Alaska, you’re able to actually WALK ON GLACIERS, take a DOG SLED RIDE, HELICOPTER TO A PRIVATE MOUNTAIN PEAK, and VISIT A REINDEER FARM. Let’s be clear, I’m just scraping the surface of all Alaska has to offer.

Does eloping in Alaska sound like your dream adventure? Click below find out more.


ELOPE IN GLACIER NATIONAL PARK

“The Crown of the Continent” boasts some amazing elopement destination views. If you’re wanting rocky and mountainous terrain, with beautiful glacial-fed lakes (and an option to overnight in a backcountry chalet) in the contiguous United States, Glacier National Park is perfect for your elopement.

Click below to view resources and info on how to elope in Glacier National Park


ELOPE IN THE REDWOODS

There’s a reason I have a Coastal Redwood tattooed on my forearm. It’s one of my favorite places in the world. Magical, mysterious, whimsical, and romantic. Check out all you need to know for a Redwoods elopement, from locations, vendor info, permits and more.

Click below to see if eloping in the Redwoods is for you!


How to Get Married Abroad as a U.S. Citizen

5 important things to know when considering eloping abroad. Plus epic and popular destination countries and their ceremony requirements!

Click to see if you should legally elope abroad, or have a symbolic ceremony.


QUICK FAQ

Absolutely not! In fact, over half of couples who reach out specifically want me and Rachel to help guide them to the perfect location/date when we dive in and brainstorm! Your adventure elopement photographer is also often your adventure guide 😉

That’s a good question! Some dates are reserved for personal adventures, but most of my schedule revolves around couples and when their elopements are. So in reality, the sooner you book, the more likely your date is available! See Updated Travel Dates Here.

Based on the location of your elopement, any collections I send you will have my travel included unless it’s a unique situation.

While I love showing people new and beautiful locations in person, it wouldn’t be fair to booked clients or myself to provide info that I’ve spent countless hours collecting. Often people inquire wanting lots of info and resources when they plan on going with someone cheaper who doesn’t provide any of that (likely part of the reason why they are cheaper) Booked couples get a full range of location planning, though! Again, I’d encourage you to lean on your photographer for location inspiration, since that’s what most good elopement photographers provide, whether they’ve been there before or not.

Good question! Consider me your “planning guide/consultant”. I know the permits you need, top locations, the marriage license details, and have top vendor recommendations I can refer to you. All you have to do is make a quick call and tell the vendor what you’d like and pay them, taking the guesswork out of whether they’re reliable or professional. I’ll send you all the permitting info you’ll need so all you have to do is fill it out and send it in. I can even recommend top eats and places to stay!

That we are not! While not always true, I’ve found in that trying to do both photography and videography, one (or both) medium often suffers. I want to make sure you have next-level images, as opposed to just “okay” images and video on professional gear. The only video we do is an optional add-on of a TikTok video capture via phone.

Have questions? Let’s Chat!

Jump on a quick 15-minute call and we can go over any elopement-related questions you might have! How much does a typical adventure elopement cost? What’s a full-service planner? Best times to go certain places? Where do we start? We can tackle all those questions and more.

Note: This does NOT take the place of a full consult with both you and your partner. Topics not included in this quick chat: my full pricing structure, specific location services, or anything fully booked couples receive.

Ready to elope your life?

Here are the next steps!

1.

Reach out via the contact form on the contact page! Be sure to check the Info and Starting Pricing page to make sure your budget aligns.

2.

Once the two of you and I connect over a call, I’ll walk you through all the information you need and answer any questions you care to throw my way. This is a call to find out more about you guys, answer your questions, see if we’re a great fit for each other, and serve you in brainstorming what your experience can be like.

3.

Pick your collection, date, and location, and book! Easy as that!

Watch MY TEDx TALK HERE

“Elope Your Life”. It’s about your wedding, but it’s also about how you can transform other areas of your life into something you’re unapologetically proud of.

FEATURED IN

Oregon adventure elopement photographer, specializing in Oregon elopements, Alaska elopement photography, and worldwide.