Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you want
to know before you reach out.

Answered the way we'd answer them in a real conversation.

For summer and fall Colorado weddings and elopements, 10–16 months in advance is ideal. Popular dates in July, August, September, and October fill quickly. For elopements with flexible dates, 3–6 months is workable. However, we take a limited number of bookings each year to make sure all of our couples get the attention they deserve.
Send an inquiry with your date, location, and a little about your vision. We read every one carefully. If there's a fit, we schedule a call — a real conversation, not a sales pitch. After the call: a contract and 40% retainer locks your date.
Yes. Colorado travel is always included. For destinations outside Colorado (Utah, Wyoming, the Pacific Northwest, internationally) reach out with your destination for a custom travel quote.
We cap at around 24 combined. That number is intentional; it's the threshold at which we can give every couple our full attention, respond quickly, and deliver work we're proud of.
Absolutely, all weddings are unique and many couples choose to customize a package that suits their needs and wants for the day.

Yes. When it’s safe and legal. Ethan is FAA Part 107 licensed. We fly only if:
- The venue and airspace allow it (some areas are restricted; National Parks ban drones).
- Weather is safe (no heavy wind/rain/snow), and we can fly away from crowds/ceremony.
- Any required permits/insurance are in place (we’ll handle paperwork; fees pass through).
Tell us early if drone shots are a must so we can confirm feasibility for your location and date.
Sneak peeks and family formals will be delivered within 24 hours. We know you and your family are excited to share your day, and so are we!. Your full gallery, fully edited, including film scans will be delivered in 6-8 weeks.
We think you absolutely should. Digital galleries get buried. Physical albums get picked up, leafed through, and cherished for years to come. An album on a shelf doesn't need a password or a specific app to still exist in thirty years. Our heirloom albums are lay-flat bound, archival paper, linen or leather — built to be passed down.
Of course! Your photos are yours. You can print them and share them for any personal reasons as you see fit. We offer our own album design and printing services as a convenience to you, since we know that creating these things can easily wind up on the “someday” list.

Film captures light on physical film through a chemical process. The result is organic grain, natural highlight roll-off, and color rendering that digital cameras have been trying to replicate for twenty years. Film photographs feel timeless because the medium has looked the same for eighty years. You can't fake it in editing, although many try, the tonal physics of silver halide chemistry just can’t be matched by a filter or a Lightroom preset.
Film is included in every single package. Not an upgrade, not a premium tier. We believe film produces photographs with a certain charm and we don't want it to be something only some couples get to have.
Film frames are one part of your total delivery. You'll receive a gallery that includes both digital images and film scans, delivered together. While film tends to be slower and more intentional, your overall gallery will still contain all the photos you need to tell your story.
Of course not, if film isn’t your vibe we can shoot only digital for the day.

Both — fully. Our Elopement package includes complete planning partnership: permit sourcing and filing, timeline building, vendor coordination (florals, officiant, cake, etc), and day-of logistics. You just show up. This is not an add-on. It's core to what we do.
This will vary by location and is something we will work with you to figure out. Each National, State, and Local park will have its own rules and guidelines. It’s always a good idea to start looking up these rules ahead of time though since many permits are competitive and have to be reserved far in advance.
This, of course, depends on the experience and landscape you’re looking for. Summer (June-August) has stunning wildflowers and long golden hours. Fall (September-November) has aspen colors and the chance for snowcapped peaks and golden valleys. Winter (December-March) is a time for solitude, snow-loaded forests, frozen lakes, and stillness. And Spring (April-May) is a time for thaw, when streams start to flow again and flowers poke up from the snow. Every season has some of its own magic.
We always have a backup plan and stay flexible. Colorado afternoon thunderstorms are punctual — we build timeline buffers and alternate locations into every elopement plan.

Either email me directly at Jillian@solpinestudios.com or include your questions in your inquiry.