Taos Wedding Photographer

Taos Has a Different Kind of Light

Taos operates at 7,000 feet, surrounded by the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, and the light here doesn't behave the way it does anywhere else in New Mexico. It's harder — more direct — and then at golden hour it turns the adobe walls a color that makes everything look like a painting. As a photographer, you either know how to work with it or you don't.

I've shot weddings in Taos regularly, which means I know where the shadows fall at El Monte Sagrado's river garden in early October, what time to position the couple at Taos Mesa's Mothership to catch the Sangre de Cristo glow, and when the Rio Grande Gorge is too windy to attempt a veil shot. That knowledge takes years of being there. It's not something you can approximate.

Venues I Know Well

Each Taos venue has its own rhythm as a photography location:

• El Monte Sagrado — The river-fed gardens photograph beautifully in the hour before sunset. The ceremony kiva has challenging mixed light; I always scout it on arrival. The Sacred Circle ceremony space is intimate and low-ceiling — requires a specific lens approach.
• Taos Mesa Brewing Mothership — One of the most visually striking unconventional venues in New Mexico. The wide-open high desert backdrop gives you drama in every direction. Best in late afternoon when the mountains go gold.
• Rio Grande Gorge — Best for elopements. Permits required. Wind is a significant factor — plan your shot list with flexibility. The gorge walls at midday can be harsh; early morning or late afternoon are ideal.
• Hacienda del Sol — Historic adobe, lush gardens, Taos Mountain directly behind the ceremony space. One of the most naturally photogenic venues in the region. Books fast.
• Taos Inn — Downtown Taos, courtyard ceremonies, a mix of ambient and Adobe architecture. Good for smaller weddings and elopements.

What I Cover in Taos

Casey Addason Photography handles photo and video — you don't need to coordinate two separate vendors. Full-day wedding coverage starts at $3,500. Elopements and intimate ceremonies start at $1,000. Travel to Taos from Santa Fe is included in most packages.

My approach is documentary — I'm watching what's actually happening, not directing a performance of it. The result is a wedding gallery that looks like your wedding, not a template.

LGBTQ+ Weddings in Taos

Taos has been a genuinely welcoming community for LGBTQ+ couples for decades. I photograph all couples, all ceremonies, all configurations — no qualifications. If you're planning a same-sex wedding or elopement in Taos, I'd love to hear about it.