big sur wedding photo

The Top 5 Elopement Photographers for Big Sur, California

2024 Onward.. I’ve made the decision to not photograph elopements in Big Sur. (See recommended Photographers below)

Big Sur was one of my original bucket list locations, but I’m focusing my attention on my home market and serving the greater Portland area and elsewhere in the state of Oregon.

For Oregon elopement locations, check out this link: https://dylanmhowell.com/oregon-elopement-locations/ or send me a note.

big sur ocean cliff wedding photo

Check out my list of great local Big Sur photographers below.

Best Elopement Photographers in Big Sur

Lynn Lewis Photography

Lynn has extensive Big Sur experience and lives in the area. Her husband Keith is a licensed officiant if you need that as well!

https://www.lynnchanglewis.com/

Flora Gibson

Flora is an incredibly talented and award winning photographer based in Big Sur. She has a stunning portfolio and testimonials.

https://www.floragibson.com/

Better With You Photography

Kristen lives just north of Big Sur and has absolutely lovely work. She’s photographed over 200 elopements in Big Sur over the past five years.

https://betterwithyouphotography.com/

Melissa Ergo Photography

Melissa is based in the Santa Cruz mountains and has extensive local knowledge of the Big Sur area. Her work is stunningly beautiful, without requiring your day to feel like a production.

https://melissaergo.com/

Evynn LeValley

Evynn’s work is incredibly stunning and artistic. Based in Big Sur, she offers weddings, elopements, and lifestyle photography.

https://www.evynnlevalley.com/

Julia Mina Photography

Northern California based with experience in Big Sur.

https://www.juliaminaphotography.com/

Best Time to Visit Big Sur

Big Sur is beautiful all year, but if you want to plan for a warm day with a bit of sun, we recommend choosing a date April – October. In the spring the coastal hills are full of colorful wildflowers. In the summer months you can take shelter from the sun in the giant redwood trees and head to the beach at sunset. June, July, and August are typically the peak tourist months in Big Sur, so we recommend the quieter months of April, May, September, and October.

How to Get to Big Sur

By Air:

San Jose International Airport
For couples flying in from the east coast of the US or internationally, San Jose is probably your best option. The airport is about 100 miles north of Big Sur. Driving time can vary based on traffic, but typically it takes no more than 2 hours to arrive in Big Sur.

San Luis Obispo Airport
This is a small regional airport about 100 miles south of Big Sur. SLO is a beautiful city and the 2 hour drive up Hwy 1 is incredible!

Monterrey Regional Airport
If you’re flying in from the northwest (Portland or Seattle) you can usually find flights that are about the same prices as flying into San Jose. Monterey is the closest airport – just 30 miles north of Big Sur.

By Car:

Renting a car is a must for exploring Big Sur because Highway 1 south of Monterey has little public transportation. Big sur is 100 miles south of San Jose and about 100 miles north of San Luis Obispo.

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62 Comments

  1. ohh my goodness! These are some of my favorite images of yours! Those tones are making me swoon so much!

  2. Valerie (Our Ruins) says:

    These are gorgeous photos! Big Sur is truly the perfect place for an elopement!

  3. Forester Fotógrafos says:

    Amazing! as always! we love those kind of intimate weddings.

  4. Wow! What an amazing intimate day captured beautifully.

  5. Insanely good. Just… all of it

  6. Bali Wedding Photography says:

    This is Real Storytelling, love the tonal as always. D & S you guys amazing <3

  7. Angela Tracey says:

    Seriously breathtaking. The first one of the couple down on the beach with that mist in the air…fantastic work!

  8. So awesome, great work! <3

  9. Beautiful work guys! What an amazing place.

  10. Beautiful work guys! What an amazing place.

  11. Ahh.. wow. Yes, ahhh… No words.

  12. Wow!!! These are amazing guys. The very first one is my absolute fav, what a location!

  13. Wow!!! These are amazing guys. The very first one is my absolute fav, what a location!

  14. Dado Calabresi says:

    Awesome history, insane photos!

  15. Poppiesandme says:

    Incredibly awesome! beautiful location and those intimate portraits is so so good!

  16. Poppiesandme says:

    Incredibly awesome! beautiful location and those intimate portraits is so so good!

  17. Albert Palmer says:

    Big Sur is the best – you guys rocked this one – amazing!

  18. Jaakko Sorvisto says:

    Well, that editing suits so well to that atmosphere. I have watched these like 3 times through 🙂

  19. Jaakko Sorvisto says:

    Well, that editing suits so well to that atmosphere. I have watched these like 3 times through 🙂

  20. Mariam Lezcano says:

    Without words… just…WOW!

  21. Mariam Lezcano says:

    Without words… just…WOW!

  22. damian burcher says:

    Lovely feel to your images, what a great location, woods, log cabin, waterfalls, coast, amazing.

  23. absolutely unreal. like. efff.

  24. heather nan says:

    Well, shoot.. This was just perfect.

  25. heather nan says:

    Well, shoot.. This was just perfect.

  26. lovely and gorgeous photos, really beautiful:) I can see they had sweet wedding and really great place for it:)

  27. How can you work just be so perfect? Absolutely beautiful as always guys!!!

  28. How can you work just be so perfect? Absolutely beautiful as always guys!!!

  29. Heather Kanillopoolos says:

    Your work is so bold and cinematic!!

  30. Heather Kanillopoolos says:

    Your work is so bold and cinematic!!

  31. Pedro Bellido says:

    Perfect photos, awesome place!

  32. What a beautiful, beautiful elopement…I love the intimacy and sense of place you’ve established in these images…so well done!

  33. What a beautiful, beautiful elopement…I love the intimacy and sense of place you’ve established in these images…so well done!

  34. WoW!! what a place for a wedding! great light, congratulations.

  35. Eric Ronald says:

    Oh man. This is too good

  36. Veronica Varos says:

    Gorgeous! The shot of him helping her climb the boulder in front of the crashing waves tugs at my heart strings. What a moment in such a spectacular setting.

  37. Veronica Varos says:

    Gorgeous! The shot of him helping her climb the boulder in front of the crashing waves tugs at my heart strings. What a moment in such a spectacular setting.

  38. this is nuts! seriously so beautiful!

  39. DAAAAAYUUMM.gif so good. Makes me want to go back to Big Sur.

  40. DAAAAAYUUMM.gif so good. Makes me want to go back to Big Sur.

  41. Epic location for an elopement, and wonderfully captured – Dylan and Sara you guys are amazing. Congrats to Beatriz and Morgan!

  42. Neil Palmer says:

    Amazing images guys ! And a setting to die for. Luv it !

  43. Neil Palmer says:

    Amazing images guys ! And a setting to die for. Luv it !

  44. Mariana Carvallo says:

    I LOVE THIS!!!! I will be definitely contacting you guys soon!!! awesome work and inspiration!!

  45. These images are absolutely enchanting!

  46. These images are absolutely enchanting!

  47. Jon Tinkler says:

    Absolutely beautiful. Brilliant in its simplicity, and your use of that gorgeous light is great. Nice 🙂

  48. Kathryn Gillespie says:

    These photos are stunning beyond words.

  49. Kathryn Gillespie says:

    These photos are stunning beyond words.

  50. freakin love these, hope to one day shoot a wedding like it

  51. Che Birch-Hayes says:

    What I love is the amazingly consistent style as photographers you achieve. Amazing work. great stuff

  52. Che Birch-Hayes says:

    What I love is the amazingly consistent style as photographers you achieve. Amazing work. great stuff

  53. stewart girvan says:

    wow! love your work! very inspirational!

  54. stewart girvan says:

    wow! love your work! very inspirational!

  55. Christina says:

    Hi! I’m looking for a photographer for a big sure elopement! Love these pics

  56. AbrahamGonzalez says:

    Amazing!!! Any specific name of location? Going to Big Sur soon for my engagement session. Would love to stop by here! Thanks!

  57. Yara Gomez says:

    Where exactly in big sur was this? I’m planning on eloping there, I have never been, and I need help selecting a spot… this place is gorgeous!