This Isn’t a Photoshoot. This Is Your Story.
My elopement and intimate wedding packages
"When you finally meet Jaakko in person, I can promise you all your worries and anxieties about your big day will melt away.
It felt like we were reconnecting with an old friend."
Gigi and Bernic eloped in France in 2025
Start your journey here
Imagine an elopement day where nothing needs to be rushed, performed, or shaped into a picture.
Where you don’t have to entertain anyone, or worry about things going perfectly, because you’re free to feel, connect, breathe, and actually be there for the moment you get married.
I don’t create staged moments or chase perfect images. We design a day where your experience comes first – and the photographs simply follow what’s true.
When you look back years from now, my hope isn’t that you think “that looks beautiful,” but that you can say, “I remember exactly how that felt.”
Because You’ll Never Get This Day Back
When you give yourselves the space to be fully present together, the day becomes more than an event — it becomes a memory you’ll return to again and again.
get to know me
I’m Jaakko – a husband, father, and elopement photographer who learned, on his own wedding day, how easy it is for a day full of meaning to pass without the space to actually feel it. I didn’t realise it then, but what I needed most wasn’t a flawless timeline or perfect photos – it was time, presence, and a quiet moment alone with the person I loved.
That experience changed how I see weddings. Today, I help couples create days that are intentional, honest, and deeply personal –
days where you’re not performing for anyone, including me.
My approach is slow, human, and rooted in trust, so that you can experience your day fully while I quietly document what it truly felt like.
How I Ended Up Photographing Elopements
international awards and features I'm proud of
how it worls
Your elopement isn’t something we create for photographs – it’s something you would still choose to experience, even without them.
Elopements shouldn’t be about chasing epic views or dramatic content. We can go somewhere wild, remote, and breathtaking,
but never just for the sake of an image.
The location should hold emotional value, not become a backdrop chosen for content.
My goal is a day that feels honest, calm, connected, and true to who you are – so that every photograph reflects a real moment, not a staged version of one.
Here’s how we build that experience together:
EXPERIENCE OVER PHOTOS™
SIGNATURE EXPERIENCE
Introducing
my approach
Ready to begin? Click here to connect
On your elopement day, I’m there to gently guide when needed and step back when the moment belongs only to you.
Nothing is rushed, repeated, or staged.
You get to be fully present with each other – and I quietly capture your story with honesty, care, and intention.
You live the day fully – and I capture what’s real
03
Instead of planning around photos, we plan around presence: locations that align with who you are, a timeline that allows space rather than pressure, and an experience that suits your personalities, energy, and comfort – whether that’s a slow morning in a cabin or a quiet hike to a secluded fjord vista.
We design a meaningful experience
02
You send me a message, and we set up a relaxed video call – not as a formality, but to get to know each other.
We explore what kind of experience you’re hoping for, what matters most to you, how you want the day to feel, and whether I’m the right person to walk this journey with you.
We begin with a conversation
01
Here’s how we build that experience together
how it works
Rachel and Andrew eloped in Norway in 2025
Why I'm different
Why My Approach Matters
My work is rooted in connection, psychology, safety, presence, and trust – not just in photography technique.
My background in outdoor experiences, navigation, and Nordic environments, and emotionally grounded communication allows you to explore beautiful, meaningful places without fear, uncertainty, or pressure.
You won’t hear me say:
“Hold that, do it again, look here,” and you won’t need to pretend you’re feeling something bigger than you are.
I don’t just take you somewhere beautiful – I take you somewhere where you can feel something real.
Beautiful photos matter.
But a meaningful elopement day matters more.
This experience is made for couples who value presence over performance and want a wedding day that feels honest, intentional, and deeply personal.
It’s for you if you want:
✓ a day that feels like your relationship, not a production
✓ privacy, space, calmness, and emotional safety
✓ beautiful places – but without crowds, pressure, or performance
✓ planning that supports how you want to feel, not how things should look
✓ photographs that come from real moments rather than recreated ones
✓ an experience you’ll remember with warmth – not a day that went by too fast
⍻ You don’t need to be adventurous, outdoorsy, or camera-confident.
⍻ You only need to care more about the meaning of your day
than about proving anything to anyone.
Who This Is For?
I want your day to be real, to be about who you truly are. I want you to show up as yourselves. Not for the photos but for each other.
the freedom to express emotion without an audience
an elopement day that feels calm, spacious, and unrushed
Locations chosen for meaning, privacy, and atmosphere
What You Can Expect
This is what you get
the space to be yourselves without performing or pretending
gentle, thoughtful guidance before and during the day
photography that reflects your connection
Every location I suggest is personally scouted and carefully researched using my orienteering skills. None of my couples had any idea these places existed before working with me – and they felt more like their place than a postcard spot. I’ll give you a curated list that fits who you are, not just what looks dramatic.
What’s Included In Every Experience
What's included
✓ Secluded & meaningful locations
01 one-of-a-kind Elopement SUPPORT
Where you stay matters – waking up slow, hearing the wind, feeling at home. I’ll guide you toward places that support connection and atmosphere, not just convenience, trendiness, or proximity.
✓ Intentional lodging guidance
I’ll help you shape a ceremony that feels meaningful, safe, emotional, and true – whether it’s quiet vows by a lake, handwritten letters, or a ritual inspired by your story.
✓ Ceremony ideas that feel like you
I build your timeline so you’re not rushing, forced into staged moments, or thinking about light every second. Instead, we’ll create space to breathe – allowing emotion, spontaneity, and warmth to naturally unfold.
✓ A presence-focused timeline
Everything below is already included
If you need vendors, I’ll recommend people I genuinely trust – those who value intimacy, nature, and a calm, grounded experience. No large lists, just humans I would personally feel comfortable inviting into your moments.
✓ Trusted vendors who fit your values
02 Your Personal Elopement Guide & Consultant
We’ll talk through your hopes, personalities, and comfort levels, not just logistics. My role isn’t to persuade you into a certain plan, but to help you find one that feels natural, meaningful, and aligned with who you are.
✓ Unlimited calls & planning conversations – without pressure
I’ll help you understand what’s realistic based on weather, daylight, terrain, and season – especially in places where conditions can change quickly. We’ll choose locations and timing that feel safe, calm, and fully enjoyable, with clear backup options if needed.
✓ Guidance for remote places
From the very beginning, you can reach me whenever you need clarity, reassurance, or a second opinion. I don’t disappear between emails – I stay close, so you never have to guess what comes next.
✓ A direct access to me the whole way
My role is to create an environment where the day feels natural, not staged or rushed. I pay attention to your energy and comfort, and I guide only when it helps you feel more connected, relaxed, or grounded – not to force a specific image.
✓ A calm, comfortable atmosphere where you can be yourselves
03 Genuine Connection & Award-winning storytelling
I’m close when support, reassurance, or direction is helpful, and I give space when moments unfold on their own. Some of the most meaningful images happen when you almost forget I’m there – not because I disappear, but because you feel safe to be fully present with each other.
✓ Present when needed, invisible when it matters
I look for authentic interactions, natural pauses, and honest emotion, shaped by the landscape, weather, and your own rhythm. The result is a collection of images that will mean just as much years from now as they do today — not because they’re perfect, but because they’re true.
✓ Photographs that reflect how it felt — not how it was arranged
My Elopement Packages Anywhere in Europe
5+ hours of guided, FUN & meaningful photography coverage by Jaakko
Experience Over Photos™ Signature Experience
Designing a meaningful experience doesn’t happen by accident – I help shape the atmosphere, flow, and experiences so you can be fully present together.
✔️ Secluded & Unique Locations Scouted by Experienced Orienteer
✔️ Inspiring Lodging Options from Unique Locations
✔️ Ceremony Ideas for a Truly Meaningful Ceremony
✔️ Fun Activity Ideas
✔️ Experienced Focused Timeline
✔️ Elopement Packing checklists
✔️ Travel Advice
✔️ My Suggested Vendors
✔️ My Experience Over Photos™ 60+ Page Elopement Guide
I don’t just plan your day – I guide you through it in a deeply personal way.
✔️ Unlimited video calls & email support to understand your personalities & hopes
✔️ Designing your day based on who you are, not what’s trendy
✔️ Helping you not just make a plan, but choose the right one
✔️ Coaching you on how to be present & connected
✔️ Helping you avoid stress or overwhelm
✔️ Helping you choose meaningful rituals & fun activities
✔️ Softly guiding the atmosphere on the elopement day
✔️ Helping you navigate expectations from family
I take time to know you deeply – your personalities, your fears, your hopes, how you connect. That connection is what allows you to be yourselves on your elopement day, fully present and unfiltered. And when you feel real emotions, the photos become real memories.
My work has been recognized internationally – including two Best of the Best awards by Junebug Weddings – but what I’m most proud of is how my couples feel in the moments we create together. The most meaningful photos come naturally when the moments are real.
✔️ You’ll receive 20+ sneak peeks within 48 hours, along with a full gallery delivered in high resolution and complete printing rights – your memories, fully yours.
✔️ I’m happy to drive if you’d prefer not to navigate narrow or winding mountain roads, turning the journey into a relaxed, shared road-trip experience.
✔️ I quietly record your ceremony on my Pro iPhone. It’s a honest keepsake that many couples love to rewatch and share with their loved ones.
A two-day mountain journey with a slow, quiet morning in a remote cabin.
A peaceful helicopter drop-off on a secluded ridge for the most intimate ceremony.
Eloping in extraordinary places – Greenland, Svalbard, Inverie, the Azores.
If you’re dreaming of something that doesn’t fit a template, let’s create it together.
If it feels meaningful to you, it’s possible.
LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TRULY UNIQUE?
Custom Elopement Packages
“We didn’t know where to start or how to plan. What we love about Jaakko is that he’s passionate about finding the most breathtaking spots off the beaten path, far from tourist crowds. When you finally meet Jaakko in person, all your worries melt away — it felt like reconnecting with an old friend. You’ll find yourself not just with an amazing photographer, but with a lifelong friend.”
GIGI & BERNIC - eloped in France
“Planning an elopement in another country was intimidating, but Jaakko guided us through it all — helping us find locations, scouting ceremony spots, and showing us how to prepare. We never felt rushed or set to a specific timeline, and when things didn’t work out as planned, he always had solutions. For those on the fence, if there’s one person who is going to take your elopement as seriously as you and your partner, it’s Jaakko.”
RACHEL & ANDREW - eloped in Lyngen Alps
“That face-to-face over the internet left both of us so excited for our wedding day. He took the time to understand what we wanted in terms of a secluded outdoor space that showed off everything that is Lofoten. It surpassed all expectations. Jaakko does such an incredible job of creating a calm, controlled, safe atmosphere to be vulnerable in — a place that elicits authenticity. We came away from Lofoten with a true friend.”
LINDSIE & DANIELLE - eloped in Lofoten
5-Star Experiences, In Their Own Words
Real stories from real couples
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