FAQ
Have you worked in Yosemite before?
Yes! I have lived just outside of the small town of Mariposa since 2005, just a few miles from the park boundary. On average I photograph around 40 weddings a year in Yosemite. This has given me an intimate knowledge of the park, weather and lighting conditions for your wedding, as well as local resources and contacts.
How many photographs will we receive?
I place no limit on the number of photographs taken. Usually my clients receive at least 50 photographs per hour of photography.
Are all photographs edited?
Yes, all photographs are edited to the same standards as you see on this site and in our proofs. If you require more work to be done, we will be happy to do this on a per photograph basis when ordering prints and albums.
How long will it be until our photographs are finished?
While we do our best to get your photographs finished as soon as possible, this will depend on the time of year and our current schedule (we really do take time to edit each and every photograph). Your photographs will be ready within six weeks of the date of your event. If you are in a unique situation where you need the photographs sooner than that (maybe you are planning a reception back home when you return from your elopement) just let us know and we will do our best to make it happen.
Is a deposit required?
Yes we require a 25% retainer to secure your wedding date. The balance will be due one week before your wedding.
How long does it take to obtain a wedding permit?
While it should not take longer than 21 days, it often does. Unfortunately the Special Use Permit Office , which is responsible for issuing wedding permits in Yosemite, is overworked and understaffed. This often leads to long delays in communication with the office. I strongly recommend calling the office directly once you have a date and location in mind for your wedding to verbally confirm your plans. The Special Use Permit Office should be able to tell you if your proposed date and location is available - if it is, you should inform them that you will be sending in the permit application and check immediately. I have found it is best to follow up with the Special Use Permit Office on the phone if you do not receive your permit on time.
Do you offer videography?
No, at this time I do not and unfortunately there are no local videographers either.
What is the best place for my wedding ceremony?
That’s a big question and the answer is almost like a choose your own adventure story.
If you have under ten people total… You can basically go any place in the park. Want to get married at the top of Half Dome (or even the side)? No problem. How about the Wedding Lawn at the Ahwahnee? No problem either. So long as you’re not damaging the land it’s open to you. Just make sure you get your wedding permit from the park.
If you have between ten and fifty people total… Now you start having some limits. The entire park is not available to you, but still some of its most beautiful locations (with adequate parking too) can be reserved for your wedding. You’ll have options that include waterfalls, lakes and breathtaking views. It’s up to you.
If you have more than fifty people total… Your options are becoming limited, but the good news is that they are limited to excellent locations. Inside of the park, you can use some of the nicest locations in the park, the Ahwahnee Wedding Lawn or the Yosemite Valley Chapel. One great thing about the Ahwahnee Wedding Lawn is that if the weather turns on your wedding day, you will have the option of moving your ceremony under the shelter of the Ahwahnee. After these two options, you’ll be looking at moving your ceremony outside of the park.
What is the best time of day for my wedding?
While every area of the park has a different "best" time of day for photographs, generally I’d say either at just before dawn or two hours before sunset (we love the alpenglow). Both of these time put us right in the sweet spot for photographs. Of course no one really likes getting up in the middle of the night to get ready for their wedding, so the later afternoon is more common. Just make sure you leave enough time to get dinner!
Are there any travel fees?
No, there are never any travel fees for Yosemite wedding because I live here.
Can we go to Taft Point?
Yes we can always go to Taft Point, however, Taft Point is no longer the place to experience wilderness that it once was. Due to extreme popularity on the internet, Taft Point is now incredibly crowded, especially close to sunse twhen everyone is attempting to capture the same portrait. It is quite common to see multiple weddings occurring there at the same time, and multiple newlyweds posing for a portrait along the now famous point. In my opinion, there are many equally beautiful places throughout Yosemite that we can visit, most without the crowds.