Tips for Getting the Best Yosemite Wedding Photos
Everything You Need to Know for Your Yosemite Wedding Photos
Yosemite National Park is one of the most stunning places to get married in California. The dramatic granite cliffs, towering waterfalls, and ancient sequoia groves create a backdrop that takes your breath away every time. When you tie the knot, your wedding photos will be the way you relive this day for years to come. As a photographer who works in Yosemite a ton, I’m here to give you my favorite tips for making sure your Yosemite wedding and photos are everything you’re dreaming of!
Finding a Location for Yosemite Wedding Photos
Like they say in real estate…location, location, location! This will be the backdrop of your photos, so it’s going to have a HUGE impact. Yosemite has a list of about a dozen approved ceremony locations – these are your options for the actual wedding ceremony. However, if you’re eloping with a smaller group (fewer than 11 people), you can actually get married pretty much anywhere in the park! This also means that you can take photos anywhere in the park, as long as you don’t bring a big group with you.
Go to Multiple Locations!
One tip I have for your Yosemite wedding photos is to go to a few different locations. For example, you can have your ceremony at Glacier Point, take some photos there, then head to a quieter spot. Yosemite has a lot of different kinds of backdrops, so seeing a few of them gives you more variety to your wedding photos.
Find Somewhere Private
Yosemite is a popular place, and it can be hard to find privacy and having an audience might not be what you want for your wedding photos. I recommend finding a private spot for your photos. Even if you take photos in one of those epic places, like Glacier Point or Tunnel View, it’s still possible to find similar views without the crowds! You just need to know where to go!
This couple did their first look at Tunnel View – a super popular overlook. We took some photos, then did a little mini hike so that they could do their vows, with a similar view but so much more private!
Time of Day for Yosemite Wedding Photos
The time of day you choose for your Yosemite wedding photos makes a massive difference in how your images turn out. Light is huge for photography, and understanding how lighting affects your photos can help you plan your day!
It’s a common misconception that you want the sun out for photos, and bright lighting. It’s actually the opposite! Sun casts harsh shadows, so while it’s of course possible to get beautiful photos in direct sun, it’s not ideal. Golden hour – the hour just after sunrise and just before sunset – is where it’s at. The light is soft, warm, and makes everything glow! It’s absolute magic for wedding photos! A close second would be blue hour! The hour right after the sunsets! If you have a full day of wedding activities planned, you might not be able to avoid midday light completely. That’s totally okay, but I recommend planning to take photos during golden hour and scheduling some time for this.
Have a Plan B (and C) for Yosemite Wedding Photos
Yosemite is an incredible place, but it’s also nature, and it’s a high elevation, mountain environment. Things can be unpredictable! Weather can change pretty quickly, and even in summer, storms can come through and cause road closures.
For example, the couple in these photos, Erinn and Damien, were planning to take photos at Glacier Point, but the roads closed days before their wedding. This is where hiring an experienced photographer is key! I want your day to be as un-stressful as possible. So I always have a backup plan for my couples, and can guide you through any unexpected pivots. I showed them some photos of my Plan B, and they loved it.
Bring Layers!
Like I said, the weather in Yosemite can be unpredictable! It can also change as you gain elevation, and you might be warm all day but get chilly as the sun starts to set. Bringing layers with you is key, and it’s actually a tip for Yosemite wedding photos too because being comfortable makes such a difference in your photos! If you’re freezing and just wanting to get the photos over with, you’ll get a much different result than if you’re having a good time and forgetting the camera is even there.
You can match your layers to your outfit by adding a jean jacket, shawl, or cape to be part of the look while keeping you warm! Or, you can always bring layers with you to put on while you’re walking or between photos.
Comfort applies to the rest of your outfit too! Make sure you wear comfortable shoes that your attire doesn’t pinch or poke, and that you feel good in what you’re wearing. When you’re comfortable, you’re more relaxed, more present, and more able to enjoy the day. That WILL show in your photos!
Take Some Solo Time
Your wedding day is about the two of you! Even if you want to invite guests to your wedding, it’s also nice to build in some private time just for yourselves. These quiet moments together give you the space to really soak in the experience of getting married in one of the most beautiful places in the world. And, it’s great for your Yosemite wedding photos, because you can relax without an audience, spend some time exploring, and just enjoy the moment.
Private vows are one way to do this! Some couples like to do the standard “I do’s” at their ceremony, but read their own, personal vows to each other privately. If you feel a little uncomfortable being vulnerable in front of an audience, this can be a great option.
Some other ideas include taking a short hike together, giving you time to talk, reflect, and be present with each other, or a picnic with your favorite snacks at a scenic spot. Plan something that feels right for the two of you!
Hiring a Photographer for Yosemite Wedding Photos
Choosing your photographer is one of the most important decisions you’ll make for your wedding day. Your photos are what you’ll have forever to remember your day, and the right photographer makes all the difference. Not just in how the images turn out, but in how you experience the day itself.
Experience matters, especially in a place like Yosemite. A photographer who knows the park will understand which locations photograph best at different times of day, where to find the best light, what location accessibility is like during that time of year, how to handle logistics of permits and parking, and they’ll have backup plans for weather changes and know the less crowded spots with incredible views.
But beyond technical skill, the most important thing is that you feel comfortable with your photographer. You want your photos to show the two of you and your authentic selves. Not a posed, forced version of it. So hiring someone you feel comfortable with allows you to be more relaxed and let your love shine!
If you’re planning a Yosemite wedding and want a photographer who knows the park and is there to make sure you have the best experience possible, contact me!
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Yosemite Wedding Photo Inspiration
Erinn told her friend Marissa, a past client of mine, that she wanted to get married in Yosemite. Marissa immediately told her that she knew the perfect photographer. Enter…yours truly! I specialize in outdoor elopements, and I know Yosemite. So I was thrilled when they reached out.
They decided to get married at Evergreen Lodge with some loved ones, but wanted to do private vows, just the two of them, the day before so that they could explore the park. The plan was to do the first look and vows at Glacier Point. Unfortunately, a storm came through, so we had to pivot. I let them know we’d need a Plan B if it didn’t reopen, and I showed them a spot I knew that would be the perfect alternative. They loved it, so we did their first look at Tunnel View, then did a mini hike to get away from the crowds for their private vows that overlooked the valley. It was gorgeous, and afterwards, we explored the rest of Yosemite Valley. The day was exactly what they wanted! It was all about them connecting before celebrating with loved ones the next day.
Hi, I’m Liz!
I believe that the connections we build with those in our lives is what makes life worthwhile. I am truly a people person. I thrive being around others, and being part of a couples’ wedding day feeds my soul!” My couples aren’t just my clients, they are my friends and we are building a friendship through your whole wedding journey.
As an elopement photographer, avid traveler, and outdoor enthusiast, I’ve visited tons of great places for elopement ceremonies. I’m excited to share them with you in this post!
