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

Hi Lucy, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
The Elopement Photography Awards is all about lifting up the international community of elopement photographers. I think of the awards as a giant theater spotlight, that highlights the incredible work of photographers around the world who make this niche so special.

Elopement Photographers are unsung heroes for couples who want to elope without the rules of traditional weddings. Elopement Photographers are hardcore, gritty, tough and tenacious business owners and extremely talented artists. Most of all, they give so much to their couples, empowering them and supporting them throughout the planning process. Getting to shine a light on their hard work is a privilege. By featuring their Award-winning photographs on our site, we help elopement photographers get meaningful backlinks that are niche-specific. That SEO juice is a key ingredient to their success in getting found online by their ideal clients.

 

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m most excited for our new membership option. This allowed photographers to create a profile on our website and upload their own portfolio, website, instagram and contact details. Members get to submit to all 4 annual rounds of competition at a discount, and get exclusive access to monthly themed galleries as well. This will soon become a place that couples use to find award-winning elopement photographers, which provides so much extra value for our members.

What sets this photo competition apart is its niche. We offer a photo competition specifically for those photographers who shoot small weddings. Not everyone does, and that’s ok! We wanted a space for folks who break the mold of traditionally posed photography and focus on the candid, authentic storytelling that makes each elopement unique and special. Most of all, we wanted to pull back the curtain on elopements – since hardly any of us get to attend these exclusive events – and show the world what eloping is really like.

There are many online wedding photography photo competitions, but we are the only one with a limit on the size of the group at the event. We define an elopement as any marriage or microwedding with up to 15 guests at the ceremony.

It has not been as easy road – many photographers struggle with our guest limit requirement, or our focus on documentary style images over the beautiful and epic photos that they showcase in their portfolios. In the beginning it was difficult to get my vision for the awards across and to start from scratch with no examples of what the winning photos would look like. I think these growing pains are working themselves out as folks get more and more examples of the documentary photos we are seeking to award.

I want people to know how hardworking and skilled elopement photographers are. I want to show the diversity of all the different ways that couples elope. And I want to help elopement photographers succeed in their mission to capture it all.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I wouldn’t be able to run this special photography award without the support of the entire elopement photography community. In particular, the support of female photographers in Colorado has been vital. From being my sounding board, to reeling me back in when my ideas go too far, and supporting me every step of the way, I have to thank Jennie Crate, Stacy Gillespie, Gabrielle Stowe, Bonnie Kory, Autumn Parry, Nina Larsen Reed, Larissa Welch, Kaitlyn Holeman, and Catherine Norwood.

In the bigger picture, Huy Nguyen at Fearless Photographers has provided tons of advice and strategy for running a photo competition, and generously gave his time to support the vision. Jessie and Dallin of Adventure Wed Mag have been in my corner since day 1 and constantly build me up with both public shout outs and late-night strategy calls. My web designer, Galit Weinfeld, took a simple idea and created the entire platform out of thin air, and I’m so grateful to have these superheros on my team.

Website: https://www.elopementphotographyawards.com

Instagram: @elopementphotographyawards

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558773423689

Other: Community Facebook Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/elopementphotographylegends

Image Credits
Gabrielle Stowe, Ski The Day
Jennie Crate Photography
Jerrilynn Latta, Latta Photography
Kaitlyn Holeman, Skyewater Photo
Laura Sparks Photography
Salisha Blackburn, Storybook Photo
Danielle Tolson Photography
Jessica Margaret Photography
Amber Sovorsky, Storymaker Photo

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.