Your Elopement Photographer, adventure guide, wedding planner & bouquet holder

Elopement photographer norm roberts at Taft point

HI There! I'm Norm Roberts the Fifth,

elopement photographer & outdoor adventurer

Portrait of norm Roberts

I started photographing weddings all the way back in 2009

and loved every minute of it. But in 2018 I was contacted by a lovely couple looking to elope in Yosemite and obviously there was no way I could turn down such an awesome opportunity. That incredible adventure led me to completely change my focus to elopements. Being able to combine my love of hiking, camping, and the national parks, with my passion for photography really was a dream come true. Seven years, and over 200 elopements later I’m still loving every minute of it. I’ve met some amazing couples and feel blessed to have had the opportunity to be a part of their adventures and create memories and photographs.

A marymere falls couple in wedding attire embracing in a dense, dark forest.

My Mission

to give couples an un-awkward and, dare I say, fun photography experience.

A montana couple kissing while standing in a calm body of water with mountains in the background of lake mcdonald.

Based on feedback from 200+ happy couples I do it well.

The thought of standing in front of the camera for a few hours can be a daunting prospect. I get it. Almost every couple featured on this website told me they were going to be incredibly awkward.

Two wedding hikers with backpacks sitting on a rock by a turquoise mountain lake, surrounded by green hills and steep rocky mountains under a partly cloudy sky in colorados island lake.

I'm dedicated to going above and beyond to make sure your special day is unforgettable

With my years of experience both in elopement photography and in exploring the outdoors, I can go beyond just creating incredible images for you, but also provide all the help and advice to ensure your wedding adventure is a blast!

15+
years of experience

Over 200
Elopements

0
Unsatisfied couples

  • My husband and I were both nervous for day of because we’ve never really done pictures before but Norman made it so fun and easy. It all felt like a breeze!

    —Beth

  • His knowledge of the area led us to the best spots for pictures across several locations, and he made two not very photogenically inclined people feel very much at ease spending hours in front of his lens!

    — Laura

  • As people who don't get usually get professional photos, he made us feel so comfortable and at ease. We got married in Yosemite and he knew all the amazing locations in the park to take us to. I am completely blown away by our photos--they are absolutely stunning and truly captured so many special moments from our day.

    - Jessica

My Photography Style

My photography style is a mix of editorial and artistic with a focus on unplanned moments that also showcase the natural beauty of the landscape. I specialize in creating romantic portraits that can double as landscapes as well as close ups that capture that heartfelt love you have for one another.

A couple dressed in wedding attire walking on a black sand beach near the ocean, with a small island and partly cloudy sky in the background, their reflection visible in a puddle nearby of olympic national park.

My Editing style

I lean towards a darker and more moody look with natural colors. Dramatic images that look incredible but still realistic. My color grading is based on Kodak Porta 400 Film for a timeless look that will never go out of style. All the images on my website are my current editing style so that’s going to be the best example of my work.

An eloping couple dressed in wedding attire standing close together in a wooded area with large giant sequoia trees.
couple in dark attire holding a lantern on a rocky beach at dusk, with large rock formations and driftwood scattered on the shore of ruby beach.
Two women in wedding dresses embracing on a rock near a lake with mountains in the background.
A couple dancing in lake tenaya Yosemite surrounded by mountains during sunset.
A couple in wedding attire sharing a kiss on a beach with rocky cliffs and a small body of water in the background oregon beach.
A backpacking wedding couple walking hand in hand with two dogs in a oregon rocky mountain landscape during daytime.

What’s it like to shoot with me

I keep things pretty fun and casual and have had great success in getting couples comfortable with being in front of the camera. My goal is to help lead you naturally into good poses through prompts rather than micro managing your every move for a more natural look. But don’t worry should you find yourself in an awkward pose I’ll make sure to help you fix it.

Minimal Guided posing that feels natural

Focus on fun and real emotion

I’ll demonstrate, you’ll get a good laugh

More About me

Three people sitting on a large rock, looking at a snow-covered mountain range with rocky peaks and trees under a clear blue sky.

When I’m not creating with my clients, my time is spent driving the desolate roads of California's deserts, camping in Inyo National Forest and trying to get in better shape for bikepacking, again. So I’m always stoked to get to join a couple on their epic adventure. Have something a little more relaxed in mind? I’ll never turn down a more easy going day soaking in the sunshine.

A man with a beard and a striped shirt riding a mountain bike in a rocky desert landscape with snow-capped mountains in the background.

In my natural Habitat

  • Hiking with my dogs (and yelling "big stretch" at them).

  • Driving the desolate roads of the California deserts.

  • Editing your photos while listening to an audiobook. DCC, Red Rising, Stormlight are some faves!

Person crouching outdoors, looking through a camera on a tripod, on a paved walking path near wooden benches and structures.
A dog curled up and sleeping on a rocky forest trail with trees, rocks, snow, and mountains in the background.
A man with a beard wearing sunglasses, a large straw hat, and a backpack, taking a selfie in a mountainous landscape with rocky terrain, patches of snow, green trees, and snow-capped peaks in the background.
Dog wading in a shallow rocky creek with trees and hills in the background.

Some More of the Awesome people I’ve Photographed

Photographer poses with clients at Yosemite elopement

Where to even start? He deserves a billion stars! He is seriously the best photographer we could've asked for. He made us feel so relaxed and at ease.

-Melissa

Read more Client Reviews

Sunset selfie of wedding photographer and couple.
Everyone is all smiles after this wedding in Yosemite.

HAVE A QUESTION? READY TO BOOK?

SEND ME A MESSAGE AND I'LL GET BACK TO YOU RIGHT AWAY.

Let's craft a unique and unforgettable experience together. My goal is not to snap photos, but create stunning visual narratives that reflect your unique love story. And to make sure we have a whole lot of fun doing it.

Man with long hair and beard wearing sunglasses and a backpack outdoors in a desert landscape.
I realized I don’t think I’ve introduced the newest member of the Fifth Photography team. This is Maple! She’s an almost 3 year old #staffy mix we rescued. She’s a sweet little goblin who would probably rather be sleeping than
From their first look and ceremony in the California Redwoods to a magical sunset on the Oregon coast I had a blast creating with these two. Every adventure should have high fives and lots of laughs like this. . . . . . #pnwedding #forestwedding #mou
What an incredible day in Zion I had with these two! From a tender ceremony at sunrise to our hike through some of the lesser known trails of Zion we saw it all. We also lucked out and managed to finish our last bit of shooting just before a thunder
With 36 elopements across the country this year taking all my time and focus, this poor Instagram has definitely been neglected. But we are going to work on that so let’s kick things off with this awesome adventure. These two started their elop
Currently finishing a little vacation to British Columbia and looking forward to getting to #Zion tomorrow! All the towering granite here in BC reminds me of #Yosemite and I realized I’m falling behind on sharing this year’s weddings! So
If you’re considering eloping to Olympic, but worried about all the rain, just take a look at this adventure! They really didn’t let the rain spoil their fun and we made some incredible photos and memories all over the park. Photographing
Starting out a month and a half trek across the western US today. From The Olympic Peninsula in Washington to the Canyons of Zion in Utah, it is going to be a wild month for Fifth Photography with eight elopements! Beginning the trip strong with a su