Ep 338: How to become a successful elopement/adventure wedding photographer with guest Joel Alston

Adventure and elopement weddings are exploding in popularity in the last few years.

Pandemics, social distancing and travel restrictions and $$$ are influencing more couples to rethink the traditional 100+ people wedding. Joel Alston has grown his intimate and elopement wedding photography business from 2 weddings a year to 70 + weddings a year which is HUGE. He has photographed couples in some gorgeous locations including Iceland and New Zealand.

In this episode we have a raw conversation about:

  • The joys and advantages of shooting intimate and elopement weddings 
  • How he grew his business from 2 – 70 + per year so quickly
  • The pros and cons of growing so quickly
  • The personal cost of doing 70+ weddings in a year
  • Work-life balance
  • Mental health and photography
  • What “success” means to Joel 
  • His thought process from start to finish including, planning an elopement shoot, scouting locations etc
    + heaps more!

Gina and Valerie hope you enjoy the podcast.

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Click play to listen to the podcast or find it on iTunes here. If you don’t use iTunes you can get the feed here, or listen to us on Stitcher radio.

Joel’s bio:
My name is Joel and I am Barefoot & Bearded. Not just in business, but in life as well!

Based in Newcastle NSW, but a worldwide traveller, I have had the privilege to photograph in many different countries. Photographing for 3 years full time, things have grown and happened really quickly for me which is awesome!

Primarily photographing with digital for most of my career, my new passion and drive is to pursue a film time photography career in film and analog cameras. There is something about the way film makes me feel. The nostalgia, the uncertainty, the rawness and tangibility all play a massive part in it for me.

I am an elopement and intimate wedding photographer who craves the unique and intimate approach in everything I photograph!

Social Media links
Blog: https://www.barefootandbearded.com/covid-catalyst
Website: https://barefootandbearded.com/
Instagram: @barefootandbearded
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/barefootandbearded
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-ddXTrfyjz3krjt79vHFqA
Products/workshops/exhibitions: https://www.barefootandbearded.com/online-course

Joel Alston
Image by Joel Alston
Image by Joel Alston
Image by Joel Alston

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About Gina

About Gina

Gina Milicia is one of the most widely known and respected photographers in Australia. She is the master of capturing that ‘magical moment’... READ MORE

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