We had the good fortune of connecting with Joe Hendricks and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Joe, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
We’ve been running our own photography business for 14 years now. We shot weddings in Nashville for 11, got bored of that and decided to buy an Airstream and travel America while we could still afford it! We were on the road for 2 years, when we had to stop to take of my wife’s Mom. We decided that taking care of her in Colorado would be best for our “health”, so we moved to Montrose Colorado.

With my love for photographing the mountains and our 11 years of experience shooting wedding, we decided to give Adventure Elopements a try and started “Elope Telluride”!
For the first year we really struggled, but then COVID hit and everything changed for us, but in a positive way! Couples were having to find a new way to get married and we were all the sudden a great option for them!
Now we book 30-40 elopements a year and feel like we have fallen into our dream job! We LOVE it and couldn’t be happier with our current business. We only shoot elopements, no micro weddings or big long weddings, just two people up in the mountains having the best day of their lives.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I started my photography in the US NAVY, shooting on film while stationed on an Aircraft carrier for 5 years. I was very fortunate to have that as my job and the greatest thing I learned was to never give up. You are going to have good and bad days. The bad days weigh much heavier on you and it will make you feel like giving up sometimes, but if you push through those bad days, you will eventually get to the great days that are life changing!

What sets me apart from other photographers is my ability to get along with everyone and the fact that I have an amazing wife (Rhonda) that does the admin side of our business! She is a truly game changer, because she answers all the emails, schedules all my meetings, arranges vendors for our couples, does taxes… basically everything any photographers hates doing, she does! All I have to do is take pictures and meet with couples online! It’s the perfect combination for a photography business!

We also focus only on this area in and around Telluride Colorado. I’ll let all the young photographers go and travel the world for their elopements! I want to be home with my family every night. With Rhonda doing the admin and us only focusing on Telluride, it allows me to deliver every picture to my clients within 1-2 weeks, which is a pretty amazing turn around time in this industry.

We love what we do and where we live and we have never been happier, but if God ever decides that we need to do something else in the future, I’m 100% up for it! I’m just thankful for every day I get to take pictures of couples in the mountains. It truly is a dream. come true for me.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
When a friend visits, we are going into the mountains, as high and far as we can go! There is nothing else like it in the world. I always take them up in my Land Cruiser, but there are so many places to rent a jeep and explore for yourself. Telluride has Bridal Veil Falls and all kinds of amazing places to see! The Gondola is free to ride there and it’s a great way to see the small town from above!
I highly encourage people to go on the Apline Loop, which is right outside of Ouray and finish your day my soaking in the Hot Springs of Ouray!
If you want the best burger in Ouray, you need to go to Maggie’s kitchen! If you need amazing desert, you have to stop by Mouse’s Chocolate and Coffee!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My wife Rhonda deserves the biggest shoutout! Having someone believe in what you’re doing is big! She has always believed in my photography and watching her come alive while she responds to an inquiry is amazing!

Another huge shout out would be to “Jason and Daris photography” here in the Telluride area! I quickly became friends Jason and we would go our adventuring together in the mountains. When things weren’t going good for my business that first year, he was the one that told me to hang in there. He knew we would eventually take off and I have always appreciated his friendship and honesty. I’ve always encouraged other photographers throughout my career, but to have someone encourage me in my time of need, made a huge impact on me and I will never forget that!

Website: www.ElopeTelluride.com

Instagram: instagram.com/elopetelluride

Facebook: facebook.com/elopetelluride

Youtube: youtube.com/joehendricks

Other: pinterest.com/joehendricks tiktok.com/hikerjoe

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.