LAKE TAHOE ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER
Available Worldwide | PNW | California | Italy | Switzerland | Greece
Effortless elopements.
Unforgettable adventure.
And a local that knows all of the secret, stunning backdrops.
let me show you around
Good news: you just found the person who's gonna make this process a whole lot easier.
Why? Because as a lifetime Lake Tahoe local (2nd generation, even - pretty wild!) and elopement photographer/planner, I am deeply connected to the mountains that raised me & the world beyond - finding magic in every pocket of light, the breeze, and even stormy weather. Queen of "we'll figure it out" and "how can I help you right now?", I'm here to make your elopement day go off without a hitch.
I'm the luckiest girl in the world to get to share my home with people in love & witness couples start their forever. And from the looks of it...you just might be next!
Howdy, I'm Ruthanne!
let me show you around
I no longer call myself an "adventure elopement photographer" because I think it implies that you have to be a certain kind of person to work with me. I'm just an Elopement Photographer, and I believe you're allowed to have whatever version of untraditional you want.
I will gush over the tiny, pretty details...but I'll also hike 4 hours before the sun comes up to summit a mountain at sunrise with you. I'll help you find the best makeup artist out there...but if you want to jump in the lake at the end of the night, I'll be cheering you on the loudest.
June 2023 | Lake Tahoe
She’s not just a photographer—she’s an elopement expert, a guide, and a calming presence. From our first conversation, she instantly put us at ease with her warmth, knowledge, and enthusiasm. She helped us navigate every detail, from choosing the perfect location to planning a timeline that felt natural and relaxed. We never once felt overwhelmed, and instead, we got to fully enjoy the magic of our day, knowing we were in the best hands.
Looking back, we can’t imagine our elopement without Ruthanne. She gave us so much more than beautiful photos—she gave us a stress-free, deeply meaningful experience that we’ll cherish forever. If you’re considering eloping, don’t think twice—Ruthanne is truly one of a kind.
Jenna & Jacob
August 2024 | Lake Tahoe
Ruthanne was everything I ever could have wanted out of a wedding elopement specialist/photographer - and more! We had only been to South Lake Tahoe in the winter for skiing, but at Ruthanne's recommendation we planned our summer elopement on the north shore. We showed up sight-unseen the week of our wedding, but felt completely comfortable following her suggestions for timeline and locations. Her thorough pre-planning questionnaire helped us think through what was really important for our big day. She helped us to capture our perfect day and we have received endless compliments over the pictures. She gave us a truly personalized experience and was both professional and kind.
Tyler & Jason
SEPTEMBER 2024 | Lake tahoe
We cannot recommend Ruthanne enough! She was the perfect wedding planner and photographer for our small, elopement-style wedding, making the entire process seamless, beautiful, and completely stress-free. From start to finish, Ruthanne was professional, kind, and incredibly creative, ensuring every detail felt special and perfectly "us." Her communication throughout was top-notch, and even after the wedding, she stayed in touch to make sure everything, including our photo book, was taken care of. We are over the moon about our photos—they perfectly capture the magic of the day and will be cherished forever. If we had to do it all over again, we wouldn’t hesitate to choose Ruthanne. She exceeded every expectation and made our wedding an unforgettable experience.
Kendall & William
October 2021 | Tahoe
"Our wedding day was everything we wanted and nothing that we didn’t and that is thanks to Ruthanne. She is so much more than a photographer who shows up, takes pictures and leaves. She makes you feel so comfortable and like you’ve known each other for years - we felt totally at ease taking pictures. Once you understand that, you understand how incredibly worth it the investment is. I really could go on and on about her and the day she created for us but I’ll leave it at this- if we could go back, we wouldn’t change a thing about our wedding. Not many people get to say that."
Bailey & David
March 2024 | Lake Tahoe
Choosing Ruthanne was the BEST decision we made for our wedding. She made the process incredibly easy, stress-free, and FUN. Our pictures are so beautiful (were delivered so quickly!!) and capture all of the things we want to remember forever.
The day was perfect and her guiding us through everything allowed us to truly stay in the moment and get the most out of our important day. 1,000,000% recommend her, if I could get married every year I would choose her every time.
Connelly & Scott
On the day of our elopement she had every detail planned, the time table correct, and trudged through deep snow to get us the pictures we really wanted. She had a smile on her face the whole day and made us feel like we were her family. She makes a point to really let you soak in the moments versus having a traditional wedding where you have so many people to please and entertain or having to rush. She had an answer for everything, everyone, and every issue that could possibly arise. She is an all mountain girl and knows exactly what, where, and how to do it all.
Allison & Don
January 2023 | Tahoe
From start to finish, Ruthanne created a truly magical experience that exceeded all my expectations. Her expertise, attention to detail, and commitment to making our elopement stress-free were absolutely remarkable. I am such a type-a, overthinking Virgo that planning things can be exhausting and overwhelming. Let me tell you that nothing about this process was stressful. Ruthanne ensured that every moment was filled with laughter, happiness, and genuine fun. Her ability to create a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere allowed us to be fully present, which I don't believe would be possible for me in a typical wedding setting.
Emily & Brian
May 2021 | Truckee
Emily & Brian
Having an elopement like this was a little stressful because I’ve never heard of anyone I know doing this and I’d never been to a wedding like this before so I had no clue what to expect. Ruthanne was the best person I could’ve chosen to be with us that day. Meeting her for the first time and then having to be vulnerable in front of her was so easy and it honestly felt like 3 friends just hanging out at times. She really is an elopement expert, from helping me with my hair, to literally making my husbands boutonniere on the fly AND pretty much my bouquet as well. Ruthanne is a rockstar.
Courtney & Matt
October 2022 | Big Sur
Courtney & Matt
October 2021 | Tahoe
"Our wedding day was everything we wanted and nothing that we didn’t and that is thanks to Ruthanne. She is so much more than a photographer who shows up, takes pictures and leaves. She makes you feel so comfortable and like you’ve known each other for years - we felt totally at ease taking pictures. Once you understand that, you understand how incredibly worth it the investment is. I really could go on and on about her and the day she created for us but I’ll leave it at this- if we could go back, we wouldn’t change a thing about our wedding. Not many people get to say that."
Bailey & David
On the day of our elopement she had every detail planned, the time table correct, and trudged through deep snow to get us the pictures we really wanted. She had a smile on her face the whole day and made us feel like we were her family. She makes a point to really let you soak in the moments versus having a traditional wedding where you have so many people to please and entertain or having to rush. She had an answer for everything, everyone, and every issue that could possibly arise. She is an all mountain girl and knows exactly what, where, and how to do it all.
Allison & Don
January 2023 | Tahoe
Allison & Don
Ruthanne created a truly magical experience that exceeded all my expectations. Her expertise, attention to detail, and commitment to making our elopement stress-free were absolutely remarkable. I am such a type-a, overthinking Virgo that planning things can be exhausting and overwhelming. Nothing about this process was stressful. Ruthanne has a warm and friendly personality that instantly puts you at ease. She ensured that every moment was filled with laughter, happiness & genuine fun. Her ability to create a relaxed & comfortable atmosphere allowed us to be fully present, which I don't believe would be possible in a typical wedding setting.
Emily & Brian
May 2021 | Truckee
Emily & Brian
Having an elopement like this was a little stressful because I’ve never heard of anyone I know doing this and I’d never been to a wedding like this before so I had no clue what to expect. Ruthanne was the best person I could’ve chosen to be with us that day. Meeting her for the first time and then having to be vulnerable in front of her was so easy and it honestly felt like 3 friends just hanging out at times. She really is an elopement expert, from helping me with my hair, to literally making my husbands boutonniere on the fly AND pretty much my bouquet as well. Ruthanne is a rockstar.
Courtney & Matt
October 2022 | Big Sur
Courtney & Matt
If you like what you see around here, the next step is to fill out my inquiry form! After it's submitted, you'll get an auto-responder (fancy schmancy) with a link to book a zoom or phone call. Whether you just want to check availability or are ready to say "heck yes" for the long haul, this is the very first step.
hi
A verbal conversation prior to booking is just part of how I do things around here. Don't worry though, I'll crack some bad jokes & my dog will probably run around with a squeaky ball to lighten things up. You can expect a 30-45 minute convo just to be sure we're all on the same page!
chat
After our call I'll send you a trio of docs, all digital. A proposal & questionnaire for you to choose your collection and ensure I have necessary info, a contract, & an invoice. I know money talk is not our fav but it's part of this - so I'll let you know now that 50% of your collection is due to book & I accept all credit cards.
docs
how to work together
Everyone has their process, and this is mine! Every single step is intentional and has been curated over 150+ elopements to serve you in the absolute best way possible. Here's what happens to get the ball rolling on your experience:
say
chit
the
inquiry form
Fill out the form below to get started! The average investment is $8250 for 8 hours & a base album. Please note: I am all about the experience and do not provide coverage for less than 5 hours. I can't wait to hear from you!