Should You Hire a Local Wedding Photographer in Yosemite?

Why Hiring a Local Wedding and Elopement Photographer is Important in Yosemite National Park.

Are you planning a wedding, elopement, or proposal in Yosemite and are overwhelmed with the choices of photographers? Wedding and Elopement photographers travel from all around the world to photograph in Yosemite. If you ask for a photographer on Facebook for Yosemite, you’ll get hundreds of responses of photographers begging you to pick them. I get it, it is an amazing place to photograph couples in love. With the sweeping landscapes of Yosemite Valley, the mighty El Capitan, the beauty of Upper Yosemite Falls, and the unique shape of Half Dome; Yosemite National Park is the dream place for photographers to book clients.

Although, Yosemite is not the easiest park to navigate. With Yosemite being one of the most visited National Parks, there is a lot to think about photographing weddings in Yosemite. Over the last few years, Yosemite has been receiving a heightened visitation all year around. There is not much of a shoulder season anymore. Due to the overcrowded nature of the park, it makes planning a wedding more difficult. That is where local vendors come in and their knowledge of the park might save you from experiencing stress on your big day.

The traffic can be brutal in Yosemite especially in the height of the Summer season and or during winter storms where accidents are prevalent. Local photographers can help guide you to take the best roads for these situations and give you advice on how much time needed to get into the park. Parking can also be an issue in the Valley, Taft Point, and Glacier Point area. This could cause delays on your big day. Having that insider knowledge can go a long way in these situations. Local photographers know all the parking lots and pull outs that are available to the public. They will guide you and help create an itinerary of your wedding or elopement with these factors in mind.

Lodging has also become a huge concern when planning a wedding in Yosemite. With Yosemite being so popular, it is hard to find rooms in Yosemite Valley for you and all your guests. There are plenty of options to choose from outside the park, but a lot of the hotels and lodges take a good hour to even get into the Valley. While looking at a map is helpful, it does not give you an idea of the timing it takes to drive into the park. This is crucial because no one wants to be late to their own wedding due to traffic issues or road conditions. Us local photographers can suggest the best hotel, lodges, or airbnbs that will accommodate you and your wedding party. Getting lodging as near to the park as possible is crucial to making your wedding day go as smoothly as possible.

Not only do local photographers have the best insight on lodging, roads, and traffic; we also know some of the best locations to get married and to be photographed. If you’re looking for a quiet location for an elopement or intimate wedding; we know the best locations to get you away from the crowds and noise so that you can fully immerse yourself in your special day. We get a lot of requests for Taft Point and Glacier Point as they are stunning locations. But if you are wanting a more secluded location to say your vows or a location that is more unique to you; we are happy to help you find the perfect spot. Yosemite and the Eastern Sierra have more to offer than the places that we see throughout social media that are absolutely stunning.

The light in the Yosemite changes quite dramatically throughout the year. Some parts of the Valley only receive an hour of light in the winter months. Light is crucial to make those magical, ethereal photographs come to life. A lot of us local photographers have either lived and worked in the park for years so we are quite familiar with the light throughout the whole year. If I personally haven’t worked and lived in the park, I would be at loss with how the sun and shadows change throughout the year.

Yosemite National Park has a lot of unspoken rules that an out of town photographer might not know about. These rules are very important to be aware of during your wedding and elopement. No one wants to be approached by Park Service during their intimate moments in the park. The local photographers in Yosemite are very aware of all the park politics and take them into great consideration when photographing a wedding or elopement.

We can also help you find other local vendors in the area. It can be overwhelming who to choose for an officiant or florists. The options are endless. We have worked with quite a few vendors over the years and definitely have some great recommendations.

Natural disasters do happen in Yosemite. Whether it’s fires, flooding, or road closures due to landslides; these disasters can affect your day dramatically. Mother Earth truly knows how to keep us on our toes in planning outdoor weddings and elopements. Since a lot of us locals have ties to the park one way or another, we have established relationships with park service and concessionaire employees that help keep us in the know if a natural disaster hits. Also, a local photographer might be more willing to reschedule you just in case an unforeseen circumstance occurs. Trust me it definitely happens and we have seen it happen more often in these modern times in the park.

Affordability is an important factor when hiring a photographer. You might be paying more for an out of town photographer because of all their travel fees. When hiring locals, you might be presented with a price that better suits your budget.

All in all, we hope that you have the best experience possible if your planning on getting married or eloped in Yosemite. It is a very special place to start your next chapter of your life. We are grateful to be able to offer our services in one of the most beautiful places on earth and absolutely love being apart of a wedding couples love story.

We also offer an unforgettable offering through The Flying Dress Experience, so if you’re looking for something unique be sure to check it out.