diff --git a/changelogs/unreleased/1729-prydonius b/changelogs/unreleased/1729-prydonius
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6ba027a01
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/unreleased/1729-prydonius
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+adds the ability to define custom tags to be added to snapshots by specifying custom labels on the Backup CR with the velero backup create --labels flag
diff --git a/pkg/backup/item_backupper.go b/pkg/backup/item_backupper.go
index 00abca956..f15435401 100644
--- a/pkg/backup/item_backupper.go
+++ b/pkg/backup/item_backupper.go
@@ -435,10 +435,12 @@ func (ib *defaultItemBackupper) takePVSnapshot(obj runtime.Unstructured, log log
 
 	log = log.WithField("volumeID", volumeID)
 
-	tags := map[string]string{
-		"velero.io/backup": ib.backupRequest.Name,
-		"velero.io/pv":     pv.Name,
+	tags := ib.backupRequest.GetLabels()
+	if tags == nil {
+		tags = map[string]string{}
 	}
+	tags["velero.io/backup"] = ib.backupRequest.Name
+	tags["velero.io/pv"] = pv.Name
 
 	log.Info("Getting volume information")
 	volumeType, iops, err := volumeSnapshotter.GetVolumeInfo(volumeID, pvFailureDomainZone)