What & Where Camp Elsewhere Is
Some relevant details of the venue that impact photography:
It’s about 55 acres of woodland, trails, two lakes (McLean Lake is private; Gooseneck Lake is shared) surrounding the property.
There are lodging options: cabins, vintage Shasta campers, glamping tents, etc., plus bathhouses, suites, lounges.
Built‑in ceremony and reception infrastructure: an onsite cedar chapel, a lodge / main hall, indoor/outdoor event spaces, tented outdoor areas.
Capacity and guest‑stay potential: sleeps up to ~82 guests overnight; ceremony / reception guest counts appear to go up to ~150 or so in many cases.
Photography Style & Opportunities at Camp Elsewhere
From shoots and real weddings at Camp Elsewhere, the style tends toward rustic, natural, woodsy, with touches of luxury or whimsical/nostalgic flair. Here are what photographers seem to be using, and what couples often embrace:
Natural light & forested backdrops – because of the trees, lakes, and natural surroundings, there are lots of opportunities for soft filtered light, especially morning and late afternoon. Woods create beautiful frames and layers.
Mix of indoor/outdoor – when the weather is good, outdoor ceremonies (chapel, tented or open) and portrait work in nature shine. Indoors (the lodge or main hall) are used for dances, reception, more controlled lighting.
Details & wide variety – vintage trailers, glamp tents, cabins, wood textures, lakesides, trails, etc., give a lot of visual diversity. Photographers seem to lean into detail shots: signage, décor, tents, ambient lighting, etc.
Rustic elegant / nostalgic themes – couples are choosing stuff that feels collected, personal, vintage or “campy” in an elevated way. For example, the stylized shoot “Heirloom Elegance” used vintage objects, muted & natural color palettes, textured florals to lean into the camp setting.
Challenges & Things to Plan For
To get the best possible photos, some things to watch out for / plan ahead:
Lighting indoors – the main lodge and some cabins likely have limited natural light, plus tricky mixed lighting (ambient, string lights, maybe warm bulbs). This means photographers will want to bring off-camera flashes, possibly continuous lighting, good lenses (wide aperture) to handle low‑light.
Weather & daylight timing – woodland settings often get shade early, and the canopy can block harsh light but also reduce brightness. Timing portraits for golden hour is helpful; cloud cover good for soft light; plan buffer time for rain or overcast.
Logistics with terrain – trails, wooded paths, possibly uneven ground, distances between lodging / ceremony / reception. Move between spots will take time. Photographers should scout ahead, plan setups accordingly, possibly plan for hiking or moving gear through woods.
Evening & dusk shots – magical opportunity, especially with lakes, woods, ambient lighting. But requires experience / gear to handle low light.
Guest count vs space – if expecting ~150 guests, ensure the location chosen (chapel, tent, hall) is spacious enough. Wider lenses may be needed. Plan group shots where the lighting is good and space allows.
Overnight & multi‑day coverage – since lodging is onsite and many weddings turn into weekend events, there may be multiple moments spread across more than one day (rehearsal, welcome, after party, etc.). Photographers and couples should plan what moments to capture.
What Makes Photos at Camp Elsewhere Unique
What tends to make weddings there memorable visually:
Connection with nature — lakes, woods, cabins, trails bring organic, peaceful, story‑rich backgrounds.
Mixed textures — wood, canvas, rustic metal, glamping tents, vintage trailers, lush foliage: great for visual contrast.
Ambient & moody lighting — wooded areas filter sunlight, evening lighting with woods and reflected lake light or string lights gives romantic mood.
Personal details & creative touches — couples decorate in ways that reflect personality (campy, vintage, whimsical), which translate well in photos (props, signage, unconventional attire, etc.). The “Kitschy Camp Wedding” blog is a good example.