On the day of their wedding, Nick did not see Elizabeth until she walked out from behind a tree with her family, walked down an imaginary aisle, and across a meadow towards her husband. It was an absolutely gorgeous afternoon, with the sun peaking out from behind the clouds, casting Yosemite Valley in a magical light. But the real magic was with Elizabeth and Nick. It was in the way they held each others hands and looked into each others eyes and wiped away each others tears. If you were there you could have felt it in the air.

Officially husband and wife, they walked through the meadows of Yosemite Valley for a few minutes enjoying the breath taking views. The weather so far this winter has been very dry in Yosemite, leaving the meadows without snow and bathed in golden grasses. This weather also has left the high country completely accessible as Tioga Pass remains open, giving us an incredibly unique opportunity that I was hoping to take advantage of.

I think it was right around the time that I mentioned that they could have "the most unique wedding photographs in Yosemite" that Elizabeth and Nick decided to come up to Tenaya Lake with me. The idea of walking across a frozen Tenaya Lake on their wedding day was too much to pass up, so we quickly headed up to the high country arriving just in time to catch the final rays of light skating on the granite domes.

The few tourists that were there stood in amazement as a bride and groom jumped out of my car and walked out into the middle of the lake hand in hand. The whole thing was an incredibly surreal experience. All I remember is moving as fast as I possibly could to make the most of the sliver of light we had to work with and constantly asking myself if this was real. The alpenglow lighting up the granite and reflecting on the ice was stunning. I can only imagine what Elizabeth and Nick were thinking, standing on the frozen ice of Tenaya Lake and taking this all in on their wedding day.

We were not at Tenaya Lake long before heading back down to the Ahwahnee were they were once again joining their family for a celebration dinner. We made one final stop in the valley, a photograph that stands in stark contrast to the valley just a few hours before, a photograph showing the majesty of the sky above.

For me their wedding day was an incredible experience. To be able to share Tenaya Lake with a couple on their wedding day was magical. But really all of that is just the icing on the cake. Elizabeth and Nick are the true stars of the day and getting to know them was the real treasure for me. The are both such wonderful and warm people; honest and true with emotion and deeply in love. Isn't it all about the love?

On Tuesday my family and I headed up to Tenaya Lake in Yosemite to take advantage of this winters conditions. It's been very cold, but without snow, leaving the high country of Yosemite easily accessible by car. Our destination that day was Tenaya Lake for an afternoon of ice skating. Standing in the middle of this frozen lake, I was blown away by the beauty. It was a magical day that I will never forget. It was also a day that gave me an idea that I couldn't get out of my head.

Yesterday, on the afternoon of December 30th, three years after they met, Elizabeth and Nick were married in Yosemite Valley. It was a cold day, but the weather was still clear and without snow; meaning that Tioga Pass is still open and we could drive to Tenaya Lake. When I asked them if they had any ideas for locations for photographs they told me they trusted me entirely. When I suggested to them that they could have one of the most unique wedding photographs ever, they got excited.

Together we hurried up and out of the valley racing the sunshine to Tenaya Lake. When we arrived, the sun had already left the lake and skating up the granite walls that frame the lake. I knew we had to hurry to make the photograph in my head real. I found the perfect place to work and quickly made this frame, the first of the series we created on the lake.

What I love about this photograph is the delicate balance between the glowing granite and the frozen ice. It's a balance that seems unreal, creating this place of perfect beauty. The texture of the ice and the lines of the mountains. The abstract refection of the world above in the ice. All of this comes together to hold Elizabeth, standing strong on the ice, a woman of true beauty.

This photograph is for Elizabeth and Nick; congratulations once again and thank you for your amazing trust and making this photograph happen! This is a truly unique photograph that I doubt will ever be duplicated by another bride.

In the next couple of days I'll be showing and telling the entire story of their wedding day, including many more from a frozen Tenaya Lake.

Each image triggers a memory for me of of the people in front of the lens. From couples keeping each other warm on cold day, to seeing a smile plastered on of someone that doesn't normally show emotion, to capturing love in the midst of nature. Every single photograph here is not only important to the people in them, but also to me. That's why this collection is the perfect proof of the wonderful year we've had.

These are twenty five of my favorite photographs from 2011; they were all chosen for different reasons. The one thing they have in common is that they are all about the couple. I had to start somewhere, or else there would have been close to 3000 photographs. Editing this collection down into something sizable was difficult to say the least. I really wish I could have included each and every of my favorite photographs.

Some photographs are here because they captured a wonderfully unplanned moment. Some are here because we worked the composition out perfectly. Some are here because we stumbled into amazing weather. Some are here because we hiked uphill in the snow on your wedding day. But all of these are here because you trusted me, and to that I can't say thank you enough.

Which photograph is your favorite?

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On a brisk fall day in Yosemite, Patti and Curt were married at the Ahwahnee Hotel. Much of the fall color was stripped away the day before in an early snow storm and replaced with a  light coat of snow across the valley. Things were changing in the valley and it was a blessing to see the first hints of winter.

If there is one thing I love about my clients, it's their love. Patti and Curt seem made for each other. When they are together you can see the world around them slow down and relax because they have each other. Even through they were both surrounded by friends and family while they prepared in the early morning, the moment that they held each other for the first time on the old stone bridge the cold air around them seemed to disappear.

With the threat of rain, their wedding ceremony was move from the wedding lawn to under the East Portico of the Ahwahnee. It worked out to be the perfect place for the elegant and intimate wedding that they planned. Patti and Curt even planned to give each of their guests a fleece blanket to keep warm with in the cool air. The strength of stone pillars surrounded them while a clear view of the expanse of Yosemite kept life in perspective. This was their perfect place.

As soon as the ceremony was over, we headed inside the warmth of the Ahwahnee. This day perhaps more than others, its rustic and elegant beauty fit perfectly. Patti and Curt visited with their loved ones while enjoying cocktails and hors d'oeuvres by the fire.

Eventually everyone made their way to the Solarium to enjoy dinner. No one was in any rush and it was a very relaxed meal. Everyone took their time to enjoy the delicious food and each other's company. Sounds of laughter and good cheer filled the high ceiling and bounced off of every wall leaving everyone feeling warm.

With toasts shared, everyone gathered in the Winter Room to watch Patti and Curt share their first dance as husband and wife. Slowly and tenderly they revolved around the floor together holding onto each other and the very moment. Then the room broke out in a party of celebration as everyone danced the night away. Even though it was not a large wedding, when all of their guests packed the dance floor to be with Patti and Curt, it suddenly seemed like everyone was there with them.

Congratulations to Patti and Curt on the wedding of their dreams. The both looked stunning, with intricate details and designs throughout the day that were uniquely theirs. Set in a beautiful location like no other, the wedding was instantly elegant and timeless. But most importantly, they had each other.

When I was a child I was bitten by our family dog, a Chow. Twice. Both were very serious bites and required a fair amount of stitches, but no permanent damage. It was the kind of thing that made me think twice about approaching unknown dogs. At that time, to me any dog was unpredictable and I did not want to be around one that was stronger than me and unpredictable. For years this was the way I operated, I still loved dogs, just not big scary dogs.

Then just about ten years ago I had moved away for a job after college. Nothing seemed to be going right for me; the job was a bust, I didn't like where I lived, and I had a roommate that didn't believe in paying rent. But the roommate did believe in trashing our apartment, eating my food, inviting strangers in to live with us and all sorts of other tragic behavior.

One morning I woke up early on my half of the apartment, walked out my bedroom door and right out side I saw a huge dog growling at me. About ninety pounds of muscle wrapped in fur and punctuated by sharp teeth. No explanation. Just a big scary looking dog. Growling. At me.

After carefully sliding by the dog I went to my roommate to find out what the heck was going on. The story, as he told me then, was that it was his cousins dog Rocky, a huge boxer. The cousin was moving across the country but could not take the dog with him. My roommate had been asked to take Rocky to the pound to drop it off because no one wanted the dog. But of course my roommate being the flake that he was couldn't even do that.

Looking back on it, I think it happened in about one day. I was taking care of Rocky over the weekend (my roommate split town and abandoned the dog) taking him on walks and sneaking him back into the apartment where we were not allowed to have dogs. I fell in love with Rocky.

Over the past ten years he has been an amazing friend to first Katie and I, and now our family. Incredibly playful and loving, Rocky became a part of our family. He boxed with me using that famous growl, shared countless hikes and trips with Katie and I, loved and licked our children, and loved us all. It may sound weird to say this, but I think we all learned from Rocky.

Here is one picture of Rocky from around 2001. Katie's father had this beautiful Harley in his garage that some friends and I wheeled into the street to take pictures on. I'm not sure who it was, but one of us suggested putting Rocky up on the bike and that's exactly what we did. I love this photograph because it reminds of such great times in life, so much promise (even if it is absurd) and for some reason I have never been able to look at this photograph without smiling. Of course, at the time, I don't think Katie's father was so happy that we did this to his Harley.

Today Rocky has died. All of us are overwhelmed with emotion and tears, but it is good. His heath had been sharply declining over the past week and it was time. We were thankful and blessed to have him in our lives and create so many great memories. I could go on and on, but the simple truth is this: you will be missed. Rest easy good boy.

They planned an intimate wedding outdoors in Yosemite Valley for just their close friends and family. Everyone gathered just across from Bridalveil Fall (which was still flowing this late in the season) on a cool autumn day for the ceremony. As Elle walked down the aisle to her groom, everyone followed her lead and gathered close to hear the ceremony. It was a small and incredibly intimate ceremony. Standing outside in the clearing of the meadow, everyone's attention was clearly focused on Elle and Anthony as they shared their love in a beautiful place.

When the ceremony was over, both Elle and Anthony were immediately surrounded by their friends and family. It seemed that everyone needed to share a hug.

After photographing the new families together, we traveled around Yosemite Valley stopping in a handful of locations as we went. The weather was not perfect (very cold and raining), the light was not perfect (dark and overcast), but none of that really mattered. Elle and Anthony were starting something new together - affirming and sharing the love that they have in each other.

And that is exactly what I love about these photographs from their wedding. They are close but not perfectly posed in some dramatic fashion. Instead they are caught up in the love and emotion of the moment because they can't contain themselves. The laughs, the giggles, the sweet tender touches make these photographs perfect. Nothing but love in it's most pure form.

On the day of their wedding, Nicole and her family were tucked away in a cabin at the hotel. When we arrived at the Ahwahnee Carol from Bellissimo was already there working her magic on Nicole. With such a peaceful state about her, I could tell even at this early hour that Nicole was relaxed and soaking in every moment of her wedding day.

I've got to stop here for a bit and tell you about Nicole and Jason, because they really are the ones that made the entire day happen. It's too easy to look around at the beautiful scenery and the decorations and think that is why the wedding was as good as it was, but that would be wrong. Sure they are outdoor adventurers through and through, but it's more than that.

Everything about the wedding was because of Nicole and Jason. The wedding was a celebration of their love. They would hold each other and talk to each other with the utmost respect, each knowing how lucky they were to find the other in this lifetime. They are two of the most gentle souls I have met, the kind of people that can make anytime a good time just because they are there. 

That is why when they first saw each other on their wedding day,hidden away in a grove all alone, Jason cried tears of joy at the sight of his bride. And in love, Nicole laughs at him encouraging him through good humor to simply relax and enjoy every moment of the day. Only a few hours later, as they exchanged their vows in front of their loved ones, Jason once again became overwhelmed with love and emotion for this bride as Nicole smiles his tears away. Is it any wonder they fell in love?

This love is what set the mood for the entire evening. It put a smile on everyones face because Nicole and Jason's smiles made the world a little brighter. This is why the dinner conversation was as good as it was. I'll even bet that it made the food taste better.

Given the chance to honor the couple, their loved ones captured this same spirit in a round of heartfelt toasts before everyone took to the dance floor. Out on the dance floor the energy building all throughout the day cut loose as everyone partied like a rockstar. It was amazing to see so much life in motion in such a small area. And right in the middle of it were Nicole and Jason, all night long.

Made it this far and you still want more? Click here to see a slideshow from Nicole and Jason's wedding.

Brenda and Timothy decided to marry and knew a small wedding was in the works. When Timothy whisked Brenda away to an undisclosed location for a few days the wheels were set in motion. They traveled from Southern California to the Yosemite area staying in Tenaya Lodge for one night. It was the next day when they came to the Mariposa Courthouse for their wedding that Brenda and Timothy first saw the place where they would be married.

Their ceremony was in a small courtyard just next to the Mariposa County Courthouse. Over time the courtyard walls have become covered with vines, which seemed to glow in the afternoon fall light. It was there, in a very simple ceremony that Brenda and Timothy pledged their lives together.

We spent only a few minutes together after the ceremony, walking around the Courthouse grounds and taking advantage of the fall colors in the trees. In that short time I got to know Brenda and Timothy well enough to know that I would love to spend even more time with them. Timothy seemed wholly transfixed on his wife, holding her with tenderness in his hands. Likewise you could see that Brenda was wrapped up in love for her husband. It was in their eyes.

Before too long we said our goodbyes, as they were off to Yosemite to stay in at the Ahwahnee. For me it was the shortest amount of time the I have ever spent with a couple in such an important point in their lives, but at the same time it seemed so fitting. Brenda and Timothy were off jumping headfirst into life together.

Lisa and Roger traveled half-way across the country to elope in Yosemite. It was just the two of them, standing together on the banks of the Merced River as they exchanged their vows in a peaceful moment of bliss. It was their perfect wedding. She was gorgeous and Roger knew it. The whisper of their vows was wrapped in between the wind pulling through the tree and the flow of the river's water. But in nearly the same moment that they shared their first kiss, tourists and bystanders on the other bank of the river and the nearby bridge erupted in cheers.

Now man and wife, then joined me on a quick trip through Yosemite Valley stopping at a few of my favorite spots. Somehow wherever we went we found this gorgeous light bathing the valley, lighting up trees and rocks in amazing colors. Of course, as excited as I was about the lighting and excellent photographic conditions, this was all meaningless to Lisa and Roger; they had each other. And that is all that they need.

The shoot was really like three mini sessions in one, with each section of the family taking a turn in front of the camera. Everyone has such a unique personality, but there would be no doubt that they are all family. Their little ones are amazingly cute and were so much fun to work with, reminding me perfectly of my own.

Thank you all again, it was a pleasure to create these for you!

Just downstairs on a grass field overlooking Bass Lake Sarah and Clayton saw each other for the first time. It was also the perfect site for their ceremony. It was there, under the sun and clouds, near the waters edge that they shared their love for each other in front of their loved ones. Everyone was there not just to witness Sarah and Clayton marry, but to lift them up in love.

Just after the ceremony, we walked along the lakes edge and back to The Pines. Their reception started off as a quiet dinner overlooking Bass Lake. Everyone enjoyed the delicious dinner and each others company as as the sun slowly slipped behind the hills. In that same spirit, Sarah and Clayton's friends and family took turns offering up toasts and words of advice for the newlyweds. The entire room had this beautiful feeling of happiness for today and hope for the future.

Before too long that quiet reception turned into a raging party once the dance floor was opened. DJ Kirk Moulin from Yosemite Entertainment kept everyone moving all night long. In the name of good fun and celebration everyone was shaking what they had.

Perhaps more than any couple in recent memory, Sarah and Clayton just melted into each others arms. It's easy to see why they are so perfect for each other - they complete each other in a way that makes them each necessary for the other. Sarah's eyes opened up in love when Clayton was near.

Huge thanks to both James and Katie for your assistance on this day - I could not have done this with out you both. Thank you to Clayton for standing in service of us all. Congratulations again to Sarah and Clayton, we wish you both the best in your new life together!

Photographer: Patrick Pike Studios

Hair and Makeup: Bellissimo

Flowers: Coarsegold Flower Shop

Ceremony and Reception: The Pines Resort

Officiant: Rev. Autrey Nassar

DJ: Yosemite Entertainment

Also if you were there that night and you our looking for photos from our photo booth, you can find them here.