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Notes from a Las Vegas wedding photographer

Planning advice, favorite locations, how Nevada weddings actually work, and stories from real couples.

A bride and groom kissing on the temple lawn, the white building and its spires rising behind them

October 21, 2026

Las Vegas Temple Wedding Photography: How the Day Works

Las Vegas Temple wedding photography, start to finish: nothing is photographed inside, so here is when your photographer arrives and how the grounds work.

Read Bride and groom walk out through a petal toss, a small group of guests throwing petals from both sides of a brick aisle

October 20, 2026

Micro Weddings in Las Vegas: Cost, Venues, and How the Day Runs

A micro wedding in Las Vegas runs 10 to 50 guests. A Las Vegas wedding photographer on what it costs, where to hold it, the permit caps, and how the day runs.

Read Bride in a fitted lace gown and groom in a burgundy tuxedo holding hands outdoors while their officiant speaks

October 19, 2026

10 Outdoor Wedding Venues in Las Vegas I've Photographed

Ten outdoor wedding venues in Las Vegas from a local wedding photographer: guest capacity, what each one costs, and the ceremony hour that works at each.

Read Groom in a black tuxedo throwing an arm out as he dips his bride in a full satin gown in front of a wall of colored pipes

October 18, 2026

Smith Center Engagement Photos in Downtown Las Vegas

Smith Center engagement photos in downtown Las Vegas: the four backdrops on the block, permits, the best time of day, parking, and what a session costs.

Read A bride and groom walk a garden path past rows of white ceremony chairs, string lights glowing in the trees

October 17, 2026

Sunset Gardens Las Vegas Weddings: A Photographer's Guide

What a Sunset Gardens Las Vegas wedding costs, which room fits your guest count, what the package covers, and how photography works at this garden venue.

Read A bride and groom sit on wide garden steps between two flower girls in white and a small boy in a tuxedo

October 16, 2026

Wedding Family Photo List: 12 Groupings, 20 Minutes

A wedding family photo list you can fill in tonight: 12 groupings in shooting order, a version for blended families, and how to keep formals to about 20 minutes.

Read Groom in a grey suit dipping his bride for a kiss at sunset, her lace train sweeping the cracked dry lake bed

October 15, 2026

Eloping in Las Vegas From Out of State: Step by Step

Eloping in Las Vegas from out of state? You need one Clark County marriage license, no residency and no waiting period. Here is the whole trip, step by step.

Read Newly engaged couple on pale sandstone at dusk, she kisses his cheek while he grins at the camera, red hills behind

October 14, 2026

Valley of Fire Engagement Photos: Permits, Timing, and Spots

Planning Valley of Fire engagement photos? Here is the drive, the entrance fee, the photography permit, the months parts of the park close, and the best spots.

Read Elvis impersonator in a white jumpsuit sings under the Las Vegas sign as the bride, groom and guests in cowboy hats watch

October 13, 2026

Welcome to Las Vegas Sign Wedding Photos: What to Know

Wedding photos at the Welcome to Las Vegas sign: how the parking and the line work, what Clark County's permit rule says, and the best time of day to go.

Read Bride in a blush ruffled gown and groom in a grey suit stand on a marina dock, village and stone bridge across the water

October 12, 2026

Lake Las Vegas Weddings: A Photographer's Venue Guide

Lake Las Vegas weddings, venue by venue, from a Henderson wedding photographer: what each place has, which one to call first, and when to start your ceremony.

Read A friend in a blue dress reads from a folder at the microphone as a bride and groom hold hands under an ivy arch

October 11, 2026

Who Can Officiate a Wedding in Nevada?

Who can officiate a wedding in Nevada? Ministers, notaries, judges, and friends can, but only with a county certificate of permission. Here's how to get one.

Read Sunlit gravel path winding between towering rows of salvaged casino letters and neon signs

October 10, 2026

Neon Museum Wedding in Las Vegas: A Photographer's Guide

Everything to know about a Neon Museum wedding in Las Vegas: ceremony options, what's included, photography rules, and how to book in the right order.

Read Bride and groom hold hands during their vows alone on a dry lake bed, low mountains on the horizon behind them

October 9, 2026

Do You Need a Las Vegas Desert Wedding Permit?

Do you need a Las Vegas desert wedding permit? Almost always yes. Here is which agency issues it, what it costs, how early to apply, and who files it.

Read Couple embracing on the sidewalk at dusk in front of the lit Doge's Palace facade hung with theater banners

October 8, 2026

Venetian Las Vegas Weddings: What Each Ceremony Space Is Like

Venetian Las Vegas weddings, space by space: the gondola ceremony, the bridge, the chapel, the garden, what moves the price, and what to ask about photos.

Read Woman in a long navy dress and her fiancé in a white shirt holding each other in golden grass below the red cliffs of Red Rock Canyon

October 7, 2026

What to Wear for Engagement Photos in Las Vegas

What to wear for engagement photos in Las Vegas: how many outfits to bring, colors that show up against red rock and neon, what the evening asks for, and shoes.

Read Bride sliding a ring onto her groom's finger as their officiant reads from an open folder inside the white chapel room

October 6, 2026

A Little White Chapel Elopement: How the Day Really Goes

A Little White Chapel elopement runs under an hour: check in 30 minutes early, a 7 to 10 minute ceremony, then about 15 minutes for photos. Here's how it goes.

Read Couple sitting close on a fallen log at a Mount Charleston overlook, pine slopes falling away to the hazy desert valley

October 5, 2026

Mount Charleston Wedding: How to Get Married on the Mountain

Planning a Mount Charleston wedding? Here is where on the mountain you can hold the ceremony, when you need a Forest Service permit, and which months actually work.

Read Bride swinging the skirt of her ivory ballgown as low gold sun floods the dry lake bed behind her

October 4, 2026

Best Time of Day for a Las Vegas Elopement (Month by Month)

The best time of day for a Las Vegas elopement is the hour before sunset most of the year, and sunrise in summer. Real sunrise and sunset times, month by month.

Read Bride and groom kiss on the fairway, her long veil streaming sideways, the gold Mandalay Bay tower behind them

October 3, 2026

Bali Hai Golf Club Weddings in Las Vegas

Bali Hai Golf Club weddings, from a Las Vegas photographer who shot one there: the spaces, guest counts, what the rental covers, ceremony times, tradeoffs.

Read Groom in a black suit with his cheek against his bride's temple in front of a blue LV mural and yellow Coming Soon script

October 2, 2026

Las Vegas Arts District Engagement Photos: What to Know Before You Book

Las Vegas Arts District engagement photos: where to shoot, the free city permit, timing, parking and what to wear, from a Las Vegas wedding photographer.

Read Couple stand forehead to forehead in dry winter grass below the striped red and cream cliffs of Red Rock Canyon

October 1, 2026

Red Rock Canyon Engagement Photos: Permits, Fees, and Timing

Planning Red Rock Canyon engagement photos? A Las Vegas photographer on the permit question, the entrance fee and reservation, and the best time to shoot.

Read Couple exchange vows under a white draped arch on the patio, guests seated around, fairway and mountains behind

September 30, 2026

Canyon Gate Country Club Weddings in Las Vegas

Canyon Gate Country Club weddings, from a Las Vegas photographer who shoots there: ballroom capacity, the outdoor ceremony space, cost, and start times.

Read Bride in an off shoulder gown and groom in a navy suit walk hand in hand between two lines of clapping guests

September 29, 2026

How to Choose a Las Vegas Wedding Photographer

How to choose a Las Vegas wedding photographer: the style words to use, the galleries to ask for, the venue rules to check, and what coverage costs here.

Read Groom dipping his bride for a kiss on the Bellagio overlook with the Paris Las Vegas Eiffel Tower behind them

September 28, 2026

Bellagio Engagement Photos in Las Vegas: Rules and Timing

Can you take engagement photos at the Bellagio in Las Vegas? A Las Vegas photographer on the rules, the three best spots, and the best time of day to shoot.

Read Groom kisses his bride's cheek on the lawn, the lake fountain and low clubhouse behind them

September 27, 2026

Las Vegas Country Club Wedding: Cost, Spaces and Timing

Can non members book a Las Vegas Country Club wedding? What the listings say it costs, which space fits your guest count, and when to start an outdoor ceremony.

Read Bride and groom at a wooden triangle arch with gold lanterns while their officiant reads, two guests watching in the desert

September 26, 2026

Valley of Fire Elopement: Permit, Cost, and Timing

Yes, you can elope at Valley of Fire with a Nevada State Parks permit. Here is what it costs, where the ceremony sites are, and the best time of year to go.

Read A groom presses his hands to his face, overcome, as his bride comes up the aisle, groomsmen beside him

September 25, 2026

Wedding Timeline Without a First Look in Las Vegas

Skipping the first look? Start your Las Vegas ceremony about two hours before sunset. Here is the timeline, sunset times by month, and what to do if you cannot.

Read Groom in a black tuxedo kissing his bride's cheek under a white arbor draped with hydrangeas and eucalyptus

September 24, 2026

How to Get a Marriage License in Las Vegas

How to get a marriage license in Las Vegas: where to go, what to bring, the $102 fee, the hours, and when to pick it up so it never delays your wedding day.

Read Bride and groom kiss on the golf course as her long veil streams sideways, mountains behind them

September 23, 2026

Stallion Mountain by Wedgewood Weddings: Cost and Spaces

What a wedding at Stallion Mountain by Wedgewood Weddings costs, how the fees stack up, its three ceremony sites and two reception rooms, and the best light.

Read Bride and groom walk hand in hand ahead of their bridesmaids and groomsmen past a resort's white columns

September 22, 2026

How Many Hours of Wedding Photography Do You Need in Las Vegas?

How many hours of wedding photography do you need in Las Vegas? Real hour ranges for three kinds of wedding day, plus sample timelines and what an extra hour costs.

Read Groom in a white suit and bride in a wide-brim hat walking hand in hand past a Bellagio fountain, Paris tower behind

September 21, 2026

Where to Elope in Las Vegas: 8 Spots and What Each Needs

Where to elope in Las Vegas, from Red Rock Canyon to the Neon Museum. A Las Vegas native photographer on the permit, the timing and the feel of each spot.

Read Newly engaged couple holding hands and laughing at the Bellagio fountain overlook, the Paris Las Vegas tower behind them

September 20, 2026

How Much Does Proposal Photography Cost in Las Vegas in 2026?

Proposal photography in Las Vegas usually runs $350 to $600. See what each price actually buys, my own hourly rates, and what to budget for park entry.

Read Bride in an ivory lace gown and her groom nose to nose in dry grass below a bright red sandstone slope

September 19, 2026

Red Rock Canyon Elopement: Permit, Sites, and Timing

Yes, you can elope at Red Rock Canyon with an approved BLM permit. Here are the ceremony sites, the timed entry rule, and the best time of year to go.

Read A couple stand with their officiant under a draped wooden arch in a backyard, guests seated in front of tropical plants

September 18, 2026

Backyard Wedding in Las Vegas: Rules, Costs, and Timing

Can you have a backyard wedding in Las Vegas? Here's what the local rules say, what the rentals really cost, and what time to start the ceremony in this heat.

Read Groom reading his vows to his bride while their officiant stands between them in the desert at Red Rock Canyon

September 17, 2026

How Much Does It Cost to Elope in Las Vegas?

A Las Vegas elopement runs about $200 to $2,100. Here is every real cost, from the $102 license to park permits and the chapel fees nobody advertises.

Read Guests seated on white chairs under lace drapes and string lights strung between the trees at an outdoor ceremony

September 16, 2026

The Grove Las Vegas Wedding: Prices, Spaces, and Timing

What a wedding at The Grove in Las Vegas costs in 2026, its three outdoor ceremony sites and two reception rooms, and when to hold an outdoor ceremony there.

Read A bride and groom kiss in front of the tall colored pipes of the Pipe Dream sculpture in Symphony Park downtown

September 15, 2026

Best Places to Propose in Las Vegas: Where to Go and When

The best places to propose in Las Vegas, from the Bellagio fountains to Red Rock Canyon and Valley of Fire, with crowds, costs, drive times, and when to go.

Read Man dipping his fiancée for a kiss in front of a pale blue vintage Beetle at a desert ghost town

September 14, 2026

How Much Do Engagement Photos Cost in Las Vegas in 2026?

How much do engagement photos cost in Las Vegas? My published rates by session length, what should be included, park entry fees, and how to read a quote.

Read Bride and groom embrace on a marble landing beneath a gold chandelier, curved iron railing and petal-dotted wall behind

September 13, 2026

Four Seasons Las Vegas Weddings: A Photographer's Guide

Four Seasons Las Vegas weddings, from a Las Vegas wedding photographer: the spaces, the size limits the hotel publishes, the cost, and when the light is good.

Read A bride and groom kiss beside giant LOVE letters on a busy promenade while a small boy photographs them

September 12, 2026

Las Vegas Strip Wedding Photos: Spots, Permits, Timing

Yes, you can take wedding photos on the Las Vegas Strip. Here's which spots you can actually use, who you have to ask, and how many fit in an hour.

Read Guests hold sparklers overhead as the groom dips the bride for a kiss on the venue steps at night

September 11, 2026

How Much Does a Wedding Photographer Cost in Las Vegas in 2026?

How much does a wedding photographer cost in Las Vegas? Real published rates, a price by hours table, what national averages say, and how to read a quote.

Read A bride and groom hold hands under a draped wooden arch on a lawn as seated guests watch, tall cypress trees behind

September 10, 2026

Green Valley Ranch Weddings: A 2026 Photographer's Guide

Green Valley Ranch weddings, from a Las Vegas photographer: which space fits your guest count, what the bill actually includes, and when to start your ceremony.

Read A couple embraces in front of red sandstone cliffs at Red Rock Canyon, her red lace dress bright against the pale grass

September 9, 2026

Best Engagement Photo Locations in Las Vegas

A Las Vegas photographer shares the best engagement photo locations in the city, from Red Rock to the Neon Museum, with permits, fees, and timing tips.

Read McKenzie Stewart smiling with her camera raised, red rocks behind her outside Las Vegas

September 8, 2026

What Is an Associate Photographer? What Las Vegas Couples Should Know Before Booking a Big Studio

An associate photographer shoots weddings under a company's name instead of their own. Here's what that means for your Las Vegas wedding and what to ask first.

Read A groom kissing his bride's forehead in the middle of a wide dry lake bed near Las Vegas as the sun sets behind the mountains

September 7, 2026

Dry Lake Bed Elopement Las Vegas: Permits, Timing, and Cost

Yes, you can legally get married on a dry lake bed near Las Vegas. Here is how to pick a lake bed, handle the permit, choose your time of day, and plan it.

Read A plus size bride laughing with her groom as they walk arm in arm down a brick lane

September 3, 2026

Wedding Photography for Plus Size Brides

Wedding photography for plus size brides: how to tell before you book whether a photographer will photograph you well, and what to ask before you sign.

Read Bride laughing as she sees her groom for the first time in a hedge garden, him in a navy suit and hat

August 31, 2026

First Look at a Las Vegas Wedding: Why I Recommend One

A first look at your Las Vegas wedding means seeing each other before the ceremony. Why I recommend one, how long it takes, and where it lands in your day.

Read Two brides sharing their first kiss on a dry lake bed outside Las Vegas, mountains and cheering guests behind them

August 29, 2026

Planning an LGBTQ+ Elopement in Las Vegas, Step by Step

Planning an LGBTQ+ elopement in Las Vegas? The order you do it in, what the county form actually asks, the witness rule, and what the whole thing costs.

Read A bride and groom walking up the aisle past their standing guests at an outdoor garden ceremony

August 28, 2026

Do You Need a Witness to Get Married in Nevada?

Do you need a witness to get married in Nevada? Yes, one at the ceremony, and none at the license bureau. Here's how to find one when you're flying in alone.

Read A man kneeling with a ring box as his girlfriend covers her face with her hands during a surprise proposal at the red rocks outside Las Vegas

August 27, 2026

Do You Need a Proposal Photographer? A Las Vegas Photographer's Honest Answer

Do you need a proposal photographer? Most people propose without one. Here is an honest answer from a Las Vegas photographer, including when to skip it.

Read An engaged couple lifted into a joyful kiss on a lakeside dock at sunset

August 26, 2026

Best LGBTQ+ Friendly Wedding Photographers in Las Vegas: How to Find Yours

Looking for LGBTQ+ friendly wedding photographers in Las Vegas? How the posing works without a bride and groom, how to build a shortlist, what to ask.

Read A bride in soft window light, her sheer lace sleeves glowing against the bright room

August 25, 2026

Light and Airy Wedding Photography in Las Vegas

What light and airy wedding photography means, whether the look works at a Las Vegas resort, chapel, or ballroom, and how to tell if it is the style you want.

Read A bride and groom in golden sunset light on a Las Vegas golf course

August 24, 2026

The Best Time of Year to Get Married in Las Vegas

Spring and fall are the best times of year to get married in Las Vegas. A local photographer of 17 years compares all 12 months, room rates, and dates to avoid.

Read A bride and groom kissing on the Las Vegas Strip flanked by two showgirls in red feather headdresses

August 23, 2026

George Street Photo & Video Alternatives in Las Vegas for 2026

Weighing George Street Photo & Video alternatives in Las Vegas? A local photographer explains how the big studio model works and how to choose your own.

Read Bride and groom kissing among the red rocks outside Las Vegas during a redo session

August 23, 2026

Hate Your Wedding Photos? A Redo Session Can Fix That

Hate your wedding photos? A Las Vegas wedding photographer explains what to ask your photographer for and how a redo session works, from cost to timing.

Read A newly engaged couple kissing on a Bellagio balcony high above the Las Vegas Strip

August 23, 2026

How to Plan a Surprise Proposal in Las Vegas

Learn how to plan a surprise proposal in Las Vegas: the best spots, timing, permits, real costs, and how to keep the secret, from a local proposal photographer.

Read Bride and groom among the red rocks outside Las Vegas at an outdoor elopement

August 23, 2026

How to Plan a Las Vegas Elopement (Without a Chapel)

Yes, you can get legally married outdoors in Las Vegas. Here are the exact steps, locations, permits, and costs for an elopement with no chapel involved.

Read A bride and groom celebrating with their burgundy and gray wedding party under palm trees at a Las Vegas venue

August 23, 2026

Planning a Summer Wedding in Las Vegas: How to Beat the Heat and Still Get Beautiful Photos

Yes, a summer wedding in Las Vegas can be beautiful. A photographer with 17 years of experience shares how to time your day around the heat for glowing photos.

Read An engaged couple dancing together under a rustic pergola, both wearing cowboy boots

August 22, 2026

Why I Want Every Couple to Do an Engagement Session

The engagement session is where the awkward part gets burned off, weeks before your wedding. Here's how it works and where we go around Las Vegas.

Read Wedding rings on a pale mint background

October 24, 2016

Wedding Album Options: Covers, Pages, and Add Ons

A walk through the wedding album choices McKenzie offers, from linen and leather covers to page thickness, engraving, and gilding.

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