If you are planning your wedding at a camp Minnesota or Wisconsin, you probably have a real love of togetherness, the outdoors, and camp fires.
The right photographer for you should be able add to your camp experience while documenting all the fun!
As a former camper, counselor, frequent photographer of outdoor weddings, and lifelong camp person at heart, I definitely have some recommendations when looking for a camp wedding photographer:
ROCKING YOUR MN CAMP WEDDING PHOTOS: GET IN THE CANOE
If you are getting in a canoe, your photographer should get in a canoe. Just trust me on this one. A perfect situation is having a few other guests who can help paddle in the lake for the perfect shot – guests should be strong paddlers, have not yet gotten into the keg, and very steady on the water.
MN CAMP WEDDING TIPS: FIND SOMEONE WHO LOVES CAMP AS MUCH AS YOU DO.
You and your honey love the camp life, and you will want to make sure your photographer enjoys outdoors and camp life, too. This should be totally obvious, but you don’t want someone so scared of ticks that they avoid the forest. They should be comfortable running through the woods and following the action from campsites to docks. (Bonus: able to start campfires AND put them out)
CAMP WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS: EVERY CHALLANGE IS AN OPPORTUNITY
This is one of those “camp lessons that is really a life lesson” mantras. When it rains, this is a gift of dramatic night portraits. When the harsh sun shines full, the dappled light is amazing.
These are two photos from two different weddings on the same dock at Camp Miller. One had a starry night, and one had rain, and they are both spectacular ways to document the end of a perfect day.
CAMP WEDDING TIPS: THE GENTLE CORRALLING OF YOUR TIMELINE AND GUESTS
Many couples plan a camp wedding so that they can spend extended time with their friends and family – you might even make a weekend of it! Because things are in one place, the schedule can remain pretty laid back. Your photographer should be direct enough that the photos happen but still laid back enough to keep the camp vibes flowing. (Bonus: a camp counselor voice and ability to convince people that being by the dock is the best idea ever!)
CAMP WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY “BAG OF TRICKS”
Your outdoor wedding will be unpredictable, and a camp wedding photographer should have a plan for all eventualities. In my days as a camp counselor, we often talked about having a “bag of tricks” so that you were prepared for all situations: ice breaking games, ways to deal with over active campers, diffusing tension, songs to pass the time.
The idea of a “bag of tricks” is maybe even more useful for photography: sun dappled lighting, capturing a campfire, getting photos on canoes, super windy days, and even rain plans. Is your photographer ready to make great use of the dark skies or make awesome portraits inside the lodge?
CAMP WEDDINGS ARE NOT COMPLETE UNTIL THE CAMPFIRE STARTS
Make your camp wedding photo timeline based on your campfire. Why? Because a camp wedding isn’t over until there is a campfire, and your photographer should be there until the s’mores come out.
Some local camps to check out:
- YMCA Camp Miller (MN)
- Voyegeur Nature Center (MN)
- Osprey Wilds Environmental Learning Center
- Camp Tanadoona
- YMCA Camp Nawakwa (WI)
- Hok-Si-La Campground (MN)
- YMCA Camp Du Nord
Not exactly camp but close:
Planning a camp wedding?
Oh, if you are planning your wedding at camp lets talk about your photography! I will always get in the canoe, bring my own bug spray, and want to document the amazing moments that come with a celebration in the woods!