Leave No Trace, Outdoor Ethics for Photographers
Leave No Trace (LNT) is a set of ethics and best practices we should all follow in order to enjoy and protect the outdoors at the same time. Leave No Trace applies to anyone who spends time outdoors, not just photographers.
We took the Elopement Photographers Leave No Trace Course specifically to better serve our environment, our clients, and protect these wild places for years to come.
Why Did I Invest in this Course?
I both grew up in Utah. I have spend a lot of my time exploring the thousands of trails, canyons, and peaks that are found in the heart of Utah. I was the one who still went tent camping every weekend when there was 3+ feet of snow outside. Waking up in a frozen tent was pretty common before I moved to the desert, working on the suns’ schedule to dry out. I fell in the river once pack and all (would not recommend) getting to a designated camping site I had been to many times before. I frequently got off work at 9pm, and immediately met up with friends to drive 30 minutes up the canyon to set up tents and sleep for the night.
I’ve always followed the principles in my own way, and am conscious of my actions. But I wanted to dig deeper and learn more.
These places are worth it, and they’re worth protecting. I want to help people realize the worth of the beautiful places we’re taking them to. That’s you!
Chances are, if you’re here, you care about these spaces too, thank you for your commitment to Leave No Trace.
Learn More About Leave No Trace.
S H A R I N G Y O U R M E M O R I E S
After your day is over, the most amazing way to get to relive your memories is through your
photos! I would know :)
When you share, it’s important to consider the impact putting your images publicly online.
Over the last few years, I’ve witnessed some of the most beautiful easily-accessed places in Utah get overrun beyond the capacity of the environment to withstand, resulting in places getting destroyed.
SUSTAINABLE SHARING OF YOUR WEDDING PHOTOS
Think before geotagging your exact location: Even if you don’t have a ton of followers,
including exact geotags or hashtags of fragile environments can result in cumulative damage
to that environment.
Be Mindful of What Your Images Portray: Give some thought to what your images may
encourage others to do, and what the impact of those actions may be. Images that demonstrate
good Leave No Trace practices and stewardship increase the likelihood that others will emulate
this behavior. Be mindful of the platform you have and the people you reach when sharing.
Kindly Educate & Include information on Leave No Trace: Given the millions of social media
users in the world, think of the incredible potential that social media has to educate outdoor
enthusiasts!
When you share your images, it’s always a good idea to include the relevant
information on how you kept your event sustainable in that area. You never know what other
couples might see your photos—and that’s an amazing way to ensure that your wedding
location stays beautiful for years to come.
Simply put, Leave No Trace is a set of ethics & best practices we should follow to enjoy and protect the outdoors at the same time.
Leave No Trace has a set of 7 minimum-impact principles, that help guide our decisions when we’re outside;
Plan Ahead & Prepare
Travel & Camp on Durable Surfaces
Dispose of Waste Properly
Leave What You Find
Minimize Campfire Impacts
Respect Wildlife
Be Considerate of other visitors
© 1999 by the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics: www.LNT.org
HOW DOES LEAVE NO TRACE APPLY TO MY BUSINESS?
Weddings, elopements, and photo sessions can have a big cumulative impact on the environment—and without following Leave No Trace, this is what could happen:
Locations that are currently available for weddings, & elopements could become off-limits for special events and professional photography—meaning it could become impossible to come back to a location for a vow-renewal or anniversary session in 5 years.
The spot that you said your vows could get so badly damaged, destroyed, or trashed that it needs to be closed for restoration, and won’t look the same at all when you want to come back in the future.
The prevalence and costs of special event permits could spike, causing it to become very difficult to have any kind of events on public lands
We believe it is possible to have the BEST day, while also protecting our natural world for future visitors.
By reducing our impact as we visit, photograph, and celebrate the outdoors, we can protect these places we love! You don’t have to limit your celebration to reduce your impact– when you book with me, I’ll send you a guide that will help you each step of the way as you plan, prepare, and finally have your session or get married somewhere beautiful!
