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Yosemite Wedding Photographer
Half Dome
September 1, 2011
| Personal
Living this close to Yosemite is sometimes painful. Almost every week I'm up in the park enjoying the natural beauty, but more often than not, it's for work. Yosemite has so much to offer, so many long and spectacular sights to see that even living this close I can't make time for everything.

For the past few years since I have lived here, I've always wanted to tackle the grand-daddy of Yosemite hikes, a day hike to and from the top of Half Dome. One of my local friends managed to secure permits to hike Half Dome earlier this year and invited me to join him on the hike. To be honest, I was completely excited for the opportunity to hike Half Dome, but the knowledge of the hike itself was daunting.

If you've read or heard anything about hiking Half Dome, I'm sure you know the difficulty. In a little over eight miles, you will climb nearly 5000 vertical feet. Narrow steps, scrambling sections, and cables up the dome itself are all in store on this hike, before you have to turn around and come right back down. It's not an easy hike.

Five of us started our hike together at 3:30 in the morning. There was no moon out, but the stars above shown forth in amazing beauty. We climbed up through the mist trail by headlamp, only able to see Vernal Falls with our ears. Watching four hikers ahead of me shrouded in mist pass up the rock steps was like watching a scene from Lord of the Rings unfold before my eyes.

It wasn't until we reached Little Yosemite Valley that they stars were overcome by the power of the sun. Suddenly, the very dome that we would later summit popped out of the sky to our left as it was bathed in early morning light. The hike continued out of the valley, climbing up to the ridge of Half Dome. It was somewhere along this point, five hours into the hike and with at least two miles to go before the summit, that my legs began to burn. We pushed on.

Reaching the Sub Dome, we stepped above the tree line and began to scramble up the granite face. Instantly we were all aware of the lack of oxygen at this elevation. We gulped down breath after breath of air, but it seemed to do nothing. Our little rests seemed to come more frequently now as we pushed on together.

Finally, almost seven hours after starting our hike from the valley floor we reached the cables leading to the top of Half Dome. At this point, I brought out my harness and clipped into the cables for the remainder of the hike. Being attached to the cables gave me an extra sense of security and confidence as I climbed that many lacked. It's an incredibly serious stretch, where one false move can have life ending consequences.

Standing on the top of Half Dome, with the world stretching out beneath us in very direction was amazing. Even with the view, I couldn't help but look down on the valley floor almost 5000 feet down and realize that just a few short hours ago, I started walking from that very point. We enjoyed the view from the top as if sharing a drink in celebration; and really that is what it was. It was only as we happened to look down carefully against the face of Half Dome that we saw the pair of climbers that had been climbing all morning long and the day before to reach the summit. It's amazing to me what we as people can do.

Of course that was really just half of the hike. With smiles on our faces, we turned around to follow the path that we had taken earlier. It was refreshing not to exert that same amount of energy require to climb uphill, but the return somehow seemed longer than the hike up.

This morning as I write this, I am sore. My legs ache and my muscles remember what I made them do, but it is good. The hike was taxing to say the least, but filled with incredible experience and memories. There were moments during the hike that I was unsure if I would be able to safely continue, but we made it together. I know for sure that every time I stand in the valley from this day on and look at Half Dome, I will remember the day that five of us climbed her together.


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melissa says: Thursday, September 1, 2011

That's amazing. Congrats on a big life achievement.
Shanna says: Thursday, September 1, 2011

Truly lovely and inspiring!

Patrick says: Thursday, September 1, 2011

Thank you both! It was an incredibly memorable journey :)
Holly says: Sunday, September 4, 2011

Oh my gosh, this is amazing!!! What a feat. Awesome job :)
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Yosemite Wedding Photographer
Myerberg Family
August 30, 2011
| Portraits
The Myerberg's recently traveled from San Francisco to Yosemite for a family vacation. I love to see families on vacation together, especially in a place like Yosemite. There's just something about sharing the beauty of the natural world with your family that just feels right. They were able to go on a few hikes together, see wild animals, even a few waterfalls. After spending a few days enjoying everything that Yosemite has to offer, we met up for a portrait session.

We drove from the Ahwahnee Hotel where they were staying to one of my favorite places in El Capitan Meadow. It was a warm day, but the shade of an oak combined with a cool breeze to create the perfect place for us. As soon as they sat down in the grass together, the Myerbergs instantly looked at home together. Of course, in the midst of family portraits, I made sure to get some couple shots of mom and dad too - all alone in Yosemite, just the two of them.

Their two daughters reminded me so much of my own children, not just because they are of a similar age, but also their personalities. Between hamming it up for the camera and running around to explore every nook and cranny of the meadows, along with some good lollypop 
bribery, I could have been spending the afternoon with my own two.



Family portrait in Yosemite.jpg
Couple with Half Dome in Yosemtie.jpg

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Rhonda says: Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Beautiful picture, beautiful family! So what photographer takes an amazing photographer's family portraits?

Rhonda
Cathie Sowell says: Friday, September 23, 2011

These photos are simply AMAZING! Makes me want to get married all over again! Congratulations to the beautiful and happy couple!
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218
Yosemite Wedding Photographer
Emily and Justin
August 22, 2011
| Weddings
It really is amazing to me how someone can create a wedding so perfectly their own if they want to. Emily made it a priority to have as much creative control of her wedding as possible. They made their priorities to enjoy themselves and share time with their loved ones Yosemite.

I met up with Emily in the morning of her wedding day. She was preparing in a room at the Ahwahnee with details for her wedding spread across the room. Nearly everything here had a specific purpose and meaning, from her grandmother's jewelry which had been repurposed to the hand made wedding bibs. I was instantly blown away by the detail of her bouquet. She made the flowers. And when I say she made the flowers, I do not mean that she arranged individual flowers into attractive groupings to form bouquets. She started with bare thread and crocheted her own arrangements, creating bouquets one stitch at a time.

Emily got ready for the wedding in a flash, not wanting to delay the moment when she would see Justin any longer than possible. As soon as she was in her dress, we headed downstairs to meet with Justin. With Justin walking just outside of his room, Emily surprised him in a hallway. Catching his first glimpse of his bride, he nearly tripped over his own two feet. One moment he was walking directly to the elevator, the next he was wrapped up in the arms of his bride.

We scheduled tons of time before the ceremony to photograph Emily and Justin all across Yosemite, but I had no specific in mind. So when I asked Emily and Justin where they wanted to go and they responded with the high country, I knew exactly where we were going to go. We jumped in my car and headed straight to Olmstead Point. The sparse granite landscape with trees breaking through is magical.

As I showed earlier, we traveled to Tenaya Lake where Emily was actually able to get into the lake on her wedding day. I suggested that they might be able to stand on some rocks just above the waterline, a place that they could get to by walking on rock to rock as stepping stones. Emily took one look at the location and knew that she just had to get into the lake on her wedding day, because that's just who she is.

Just as the sun took sight of the horizon, Emily and her father walked down an aisle toward Justin in the Ahwahnee's wedding lawn. The sunlight was peeking through the trees, casting a wonderful glow across them as the exchanged their vows. It was a small intimate ceremony, matching perfectly with the setting. I've gotten to know them quite well over the past year and it was really beautiful to witness these two wonderful people declare their love for each other.

As the sun set behind the oak trees, Emily and Justin joined their guests for a reception on the Ahwahnee's West Portico. The weather that summer afternoon was perfectly comfortable and mixed together to create this wonderful and classy backyard wedding feel. In order to help create a sense of community and conversation, their were no centerpieces to isolate one side of the table from the other. Instead everyone was able to visit with each other and enjoy the outdoor setting. The Ahwahnee served a perfect summertime dinner complete with BBQ ribs and chicken, grilled veggies, and my favorite jalapeno cornbread.

There were no formal toasts. There were no formal first dances. There was no bouquet toss. But there was lots and lots of love. Emily and Justin were free to spend the night visiting with their loved ones, spending time doing exactly what they wanted to do. Of course, just because dinner ended it didn't mean that the party ended. Keeping with that same sense of friendship and love, the party continued over the the Ahwahnee Bar and out onto the back patio under the stars. It was there that I left Emily and Justin for the night; with their friends gathered around them, the moon shinning through the trees, and smiles all around.

Ahwahnee Hotel Wedding in Yosemite.jpg


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Emily says: Monday, August 22, 2011

I love these! Thank you Patrick for making our day better than we could imagine.

Dan says: Monday, August 22, 2011

Very cool photos
Beckie says: Monday, August 22, 2011

Great pictures!!! It was a very special day for all!! Congratulations you two!!!

mike (dad) says: Monday, August 22, 2011

very cool pictures. it was a wonderful day and it is captured here. it still doesn't look real.
Tammi TerAvest says: Monday, August 22, 2011

Love, love, love them all!
Adrian says: Monday, August 22, 2011

oh myyyyy
what a beautiful place to have a wedding!
you look great, emily!!!!
congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Amber A says: Monday, August 22, 2011

Awesome photos Emily! They are very you! I love your dress. It is not what I imagined from the vague bits of info you dropped during planning. So cute! I wish you and Justin much happiness in life!

tia Bonnie says: Monday, August 22, 2011

Beautiful wedding, beautiful pictures
Amber says: Monday, August 22, 2011

Your pictures look awesome. What a perfect day!
Brian says: Monday, August 22, 2011

The ones in the outdoors like like something from a magazine.
Ari Berman says: Tuesday, August 23, 2011

I think you must have taken the shot of the beers just for me. :) Seriously, Emily, you look beautiful, and you both look really happy. Everything looks perfect for you two. Huge congratulations!
Lindsay says: Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Love them all! Was such a great day and the pictures do an amazing job of capturing so much of it! So happy for you both!
Suzi Stoall says: Tuesday, August 23, 2011

This is a very original and magical wedding.

Jeremiah Carlin says: Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Great shots of a beautiful wedding. My compliments (and congrats?) all around.
Michaela says: Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Wow!! Even more beautiful than real life! ;)
Michaela says: Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Wow!! Even more beautiful than real life! ;)
Nancy says: Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Absolutely awesome photos! It was a wonderful day and the pictures bring it back to life. Congratulations, you two! Love you!
Bob (Emily's dad) says: Tuesday, August 23, 2011

These are great pictures that capture the magic of the day. This is going to cost me a bundle and I will be glad to pay. I hope these pictures document the start of a long and happy marriage.
Dakota says: Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Wow Auntie Emily you sure look purdy in that dress!!! Great pictures of you & uncle Justin
Ben says: Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Looks like a great wedding! Sorry we couldn't make it. Especially like the pic of you two on the rocks and the sky in the background. Nice shoes, where'd you get them???
ted says: Thursday, August 25, 2011

Microbrews at the wedding?! Love!!!
Sandy says: Thursday, August 25, 2011

These pictures are AMAZING. I love the ones of you two in sunglasses especially!
Leah Halpert says: Thursday, August 25, 2011

Beautiful! Not only was the day captured perfectly, but so was Emily & Justin's love for each other. Gorgeous pics!
Matt (the coal miner in WY) says: Friday, August 26, 2011

Congrats Emily and Justin!!! Looks like you had a great time in a wonderful place. The pictures are amazing. Now comes the real work, and the real joy! Godspeed in your new life together!!
spi says: Monday, August 29, 2011

Congratulations Emily and Justin! Looks like it was an amazing day and a wonderful location! Yosemite is so beautiful.
Terri says: Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Beautiful pictures
Stephanie says: Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Beautiful Pictures!

Jonas Seaan says: Thursday, September 8, 2011

Amazing! Those mountain portraits are epic!!
Mike "Tooch" Tuciarone says: Monday, September 12, 2011

While speaking at the ceremony, I noticed this guy skulking around the trees in the background. I wondered who the secret agent was. I didn't realize he was creating some of the most beautiful and personal photos I've seen in any setting, not to mention a wedding. They capture Emily and Justin's spirit perfectly. Bravo, well done, and congratulations to the couple. Thanks for sharing all of this with you two, and Patrick, thanks for sharing the pictures.

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Yosemite Wedding Photographer
Visiting Tenaya Lake
August 16, 2011
| Previews

I'm sure that you remember Emily and Justin from their engagement photography in Yosemite or even their rock climbing expeditions. Back then I learned quickly that this is one adventurous couple, so I guess I shouldn't be too surprised that on their wedding day we left Yosemite Valley and traveled all the way up to Tenaya Lake searching for that perfect photograph. Only one photograph from their wedding for now, but many more and the whole story of their wedding (including Emily actually getting in Tenaya Lake) coming very soon.

wedding_at_tenaya_lake_emily_justin.jpg

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Kristine says: Thursday, August 18, 2011

I love how this photo captures the bliss on Emily's face and the magnificant landscape in perfect harmony!!!
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Yosemite Wedding Photographer
Use your phone
August 15, 2011
| Planning
In the midst of preparing on the actual wedding, one area that I have seen many brides struggle with is explaining to their bridesmaids exactly how to lace up the wedding dress. This button goes where? How tight does this need to be? Sure the bride was there when she tried it on at the bridal boutique and everything seemed so easy there, but rarely does everyone else have the chance to join her.

Then one of my recent clients Sarah had a brilliant idea that I have to share. When she was having her dress fitted she simply recorded the process of lacing the dress up on her iPad. Then on the day of the wedding, with emotion running high, she pulled out her iPad and showed the video to her bridesmaids giving them perfectly detailed instructions on how to make the wedding dress look the best.

As quickly as that her bridesmaids knew exactly how to make Sarah's dress fit perfectly. Certainly you don't have to carry around you iPad in your pocket to make this happen. These days just about every video camera has a cell phone built it, just sitting in your pocket. Put it to use and make your wedding day easier!

film_your_dress.jpg

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Sarah says: Thursday, August 25, 2011

We might still be there trying to figure out how to lace it up correctly if not for the video ;-)
Jane says: Monday, September 5, 2011

Hi Patrick,
I love this photo. That was a great morning and I loved watching the girls lace up Sarah's dress.I had to do it myself for the reception back in Indiana. How can I get a file of this picture?
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