Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jess Drawhorn. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Jess thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to start by getting your thoughts on what you are seeing as some the biggest trends emerging in your industry.
I’ve spent the last year reintroducing film photography into my offerings, which is a massive trend in the wedding industry right now. Not just the look of film, recreated with a preset – but actual tactile film loaded into a camera. In the emerging age of AI, people are looking all the time for signs of humanity in the arts.
There will always be a place for poised and tack sharp images and any photographer should be able to deliver them – but the messy, imperfect, delayed gratification of film is definitely being celebrated right now in the wedding and elopement industry. Being limited to 36 frames really forces you to slow down and be considerate of every single detail of the story in front of you, while allowing for a little magic to happen between you and your subject.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
For those who may not be familiar with me, I’m Jess Drawhorn, an adventure elopement photographer based in Colorado. My husband, Austin and I specialize in crafting and capturing elopements that are as unique and adventurous as the couples we work with.
Our journey into the elopement photography business was born from a deep love for nature and a desire to offer couples an alternative to traditional weddings. We wanted to create a space where couples could fully immerse themselves in the beauty of their surroundings and the significance of their commitment, without the stress and formality of a conventional wedding day. This vision led us to focus on adventure elopements in breathtaking locations across every inch of Colorado, as well as most of the Western US and international destinations like Iceland, Costa Rica and the Canadian Rockies.
What sets us apart is our commitment to authenticity and our holistic approach to elopement planning. We don’t just show up to take pictures; we’re there to guide our couples through the entire process—from selecting the perfect location to planning a timeline that allows them to savor every moment. Our clients often describe working with us as more like hanging out with old friends than a typical vendor relationship. We strive to make the day feel effortless and full of joy, allowing couples to be present and connected to each other and the experience.
I’m incredibly proud of the work we’ve done, especially being featured in the New York Times, which helped us share the beauty and intimacy of elopements with a broader audience. But more than any accolade, what I’m most proud of is the feedback we receive from our couples. Hearing that we’ve helped them feel comfortable, relaxed, and truly seen on their wedding day is the greatest reward.
How’d you meet your business partner?
Like many of our clients, we met on Tinder! I never imagined that I would ever want to work with my partner, but I think when you’re an artist, your approach to making work as well as your work ethic, dreams, goals, and aesthetics all get wrapped up into the calculus of what attracts you to another person. When Austin and I met, it just felt like we were so aligned in our vision for the future as artists that working together was inevitable.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
An educator in my field told me early on in my career to niche down hard. To shoot exactly one specific kind of elopement experience and become the absolute go-to provider – so much so that anyone looking at my site would be either be totally magnetized or repulsed with no in between.
I think this strategy worked for a long time, but a few years ago I started to realize that I couldn’t relate to this idea any more for two reasons. The first is because in reality my ideal clients are nuanced people with varied interests, just like myself! I no longer want to attract clients with a hyper-specific vision for their wedding day because I really love helping people find their vision in our planning process. And the second is because I want to see my clients through many stages of life, before and after their wedding day! If you can’t see me also shooting your anniversary photos, your new business launch and your family photos down the road – why would you want to work with us for wedding photography? We want this to be a long term relationship!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thedrawhorns.com
- Instagram: @thedrawhorns
