Yosemite Elopement Photographer

SMALL WEDDINGS, ELOPEMENTS & ADVENTURE SESSIONS IN Yosemite

LET'S ADVENTURE

The best elopement locations are the ones that make you feel small. Yosemite is really good at that.

Yosemite is the kind of place that is almost impossible to understand the grandeur and true scale of it all, until you experience it in person. When you stand in the meadows, at the base of the valley, you have to physically crane your neck to see the tops of the massive granite walls stretching into the sky. And when you stand at the top of Taft Point, you'll carefully wobble to the cliff's edge, and peer down at the valley, 3,000 ft. below you, as the wind whips around. It's a humbling, breathtaking and wild place. The kind of place that makes for the perfect elopement location.

I want to Feel small

Hey, I'm Carissa! Yosemite Elopement Photographer

I’m so excited that you are dreaming up an elopement in Yosemite. I've been lucky enough to explore Yosemite countless times, and it never ceases to make my jaw drop. There is no where like it in the world.

With spectacular scenery, endless adventure and unique accommodation options, I firmly believe that Yosemite is one of the best places in the world to elope. Saying your vows in such a wild, grand landscape truly allows you to give perspective to the commitment you are making. Weddings here are just special.

Reach Out Now

I work with couples that want something a little deeper than the traditional.

Couples who would rather follow hiking trails than trends, and would rather have a wedding day full of adventure, than a wedding day full of “stuff.” I’m guessing you probably feel the same way, that’s why you’re here.

You want to do things differently.

I’m here to help make that happen. Every couple that reaches out to me is at the very beginning of the planning process, just like you. I take them from feeling overwhelmed and unsure where to begin, to a fully planned, unique elopement day.

I provide customized assistance tailored to your unique elopement vision, from scouting the most incredible secret spot where you will say your vows, to helping you book the private Jeeping tour that will get you there.

I want that

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I'll help you find the perfect location

I have lists on lists of incredible spots that I have scouted over the years, that would be perfect for an elopement. Whether you want to stand at the base of the valley, or at the top of the highest cliff you could ever imagine, I've got a spot in mind. My standards are high, so rest assured you'll get some incredible recommendations from me.

02

Plan out all of the details + logistics

Beyond location scouting, I'm here to help with every step of the planning process. I love hopping on Zoom with my couples to drink beers and plan together. I'll also send you amazing local vendor recommendations, help you find unique accommodations, and work with you to plan a timeline for the day. My goal is always to help you plan an intentional experience that reflects YOU.

03

I'll help you find the perfect location

My work is timeless, emotional and inspired by adventure. I take a unique approach to every wedding day, and while you might even forget the camera is there, you can rest assured I'll be creating art out of your adventure. My goal is to craft a gallery of images that tells your story, so you can look back on these photos 20 years from now, and feel all of the emotions of your adventure all over again.

Contact me

"Her raw talent is unreal, and we would choose her a million times over without hesitation."

"After seeing only one certain picture Carissa had taken, we instantly knew she was the one. 

From the moment we inquired to the moment we had to say goodbye, Carissa made this process an actual dream. Wedding planning can be overwhelming, but Carissa was on board every step going out of her way answering questions, providing advice and recommendations, and meeting with us to ensure all our of our needs and wants were met.

The time spent with Carissa were truly life changing, and not only will that day and the astonishing pictures be forever ingrained in our hearts, but the intentionality and charisma Carissa adds was the cherry on top."

Sadie + Dani

"The minute I discovered Carissa on Instagram I knew right then and there I wanted to elope and have her as my photographer. I fell in love with her pictures and the way she captured everyone's special day.

I felt something every time I saw her post.

She was so detailed and professional along the way but felt like a friend at the same time. She was more than accommodating to even changing the planned out locations at the very last minute for me. That I will forever be grateful for. She made me feel so comfortable and the process was just so perfect. When we got the pictures we couldn't stop staring. I finally had what I dreamed of and more all because of her."

Tara + Cody

"The minute I discovered Carissa on Instagram I knew right then and there I wanted to elope and have her as my photographer."

"We searched the internet for weeks and came across Carissa’s page and knew instantly we wanted her as our wedding photographer. 

From the entire planning process, to zoom calls, to our actual wedding day was a breeze and it wouldn’t have been without her. Carissa had so much expertise on so many different locations that helped us make our decision, including everything we wanted in our day.

We will forever cherish our wedding photos because of her and we wouldn’t change a single detail if we had to do it all over again! Almost 6 months later and we are still in awe of our photos and I tear up every-time I go through them. We could never thank you enough Carissa."

Hailey + Cameron

"My husband and I had already decided we wanted to elope in Kauai before finding Carissa, but we had no idea how we really wanted our elopement day to go.

From our first conversation with Carissa, she immediately helped ease our nerves about the whole planning process and helped us plan the most magical day. She listened to the things that were most important to us and made sure the day went exactly as we hoped.

The photos from our day are stunning! We have gotten so many compliments and are truly blown away with the photos she was able to capture for us. We feel so lucky to have gotten to work with her and be able to have these photos to look back on and show our kids one day!"

Allie + andrew

"Carissa's magical work both inspired our wedding dreams, and brought those dreams to reality on our elopement adventure together."

"I came across Carissa on Instagram, and I am so unbelievably happy & grateful that she was the first one to catch my eye!

Her photos are absolutely breathtakingly beautiful, you don’t need a review to tell you that. What I will tell you is that her friendly personality, professionalism, and undeniable passion for what she does is the absolute game changer and is what sets her apart from others in this industry.

You’re choosing a partner in the planning process, a passionate photographer that will help bring out the wedding day image that lives in your head, & as a major bonus, you’ll walk away from your wedding day with a new amazingly talented friend."

Jamie + Blake

"Early on in our engagement, my wife introduced me to Carissa's photography through one of her friend's elopement photos. Those photos took me to another world, through her surreal capture of environments and intimate moments which called to my soul.

I knew Carissa's photography abilities would bring forth the best of any landscape, but what I didn't expect was how much her support and presence would enhance our wedding day. Carissa's expertise, commitment and genuine kindness guided my wife and I to the perfect sites to celebrate our union." 

Carissa took what was a fun adventure and turned it into a fairy-tail, which we have the privilege of reliving through her work, every day."

Hannah + Max

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Planning your Yosemite elopement

Where to elope in Yosemite

Yosemite has some pretty iconic spots to elope. It may seem impossible to choose between the options, but the great thing about Yosemite is that everything is in pretty close proximity, so you can spend the entire day exploring multiple amazing spots.

Yosemite Valley

The valley of Yosemite is one of the best places to truly experience the grandeur of the landscape. When you stand in the valley, you feel small, surrounded by giant walls of granite, and ancient sequoias that tower above you.

Tunnel View

Tunnel View is another favorite spot of mine. The iconic viewpoint is one of the best places to see El Capitan, Half Dome and Bridalveil Falls.

Check out this fall elopement in the Yosemite Valley here for some inspiration!

Glacier Point

Glacier Point is arguably the best location to watch the sunrise in the entire world. The sun slowly rises above the horizon, and the light pours around Half Dome, casting the most magical light rays across the landscape. There are multiple waterfalls that cascade down the granite rocks across the valley, and you could probably spend hours staring in awe at this place.

Taft Point

Similarly to Glacier Point, Taft Point is probably one of the best places to watch the sunset in the entire world. Taft Point requires a mild 2 mile round trip hike, but is well worth it for the spectacular scenery. Taft Point has a sheer 3,000 ft. drop off, and overlooks El Capitan, and the valley below. The sky is almost always hazy here, so the sunsets are unbelievably vibrant. As the sun slowly fades into the horizon, the sky changes from orange, to pink to blue. It is important to be properly prepared, since you will likely be hiking out in the dark, so make sure you bring along headlamps!

Frances and Esmond chose to explore both Glacier Point and Taft Point for their day. Check out their Sunrise + Sunset Elopement in Yosemite here for some inspiration.

Best time of year to elope in Yosemite

As a Yosemite Elopement Photographer, I have a lot of experience with the different seasons out here, and what works best for an elopement! One of the biggest factors to consider when it comes to eloping in Yosemite is the crowds. Yosemite is one of the most visited national parks in the US, so for that reason I almost always recommend eloping in the shoulder seasons to avoid the peak tourism months!

Early May - Mid June is the best time to elope in Yosemite if you want a warm summer elopement! At this point in the summer Glacier Point Road is typically open (although not always), meaning that Glacier Point and Taft Point are accessible! At this time of year, everything will be lush and green, and the waterfalls will be flowing!

If you want to elope in the fall, then I recommend planning your elopement in mid October - mid November. This is the best time of year to catch the fall colors, while still avoiding the peak fall crowds! Typically Glacier Point Road still remains open through these months as well.

Yosemite Elopement Stories

I believe wedding photography is an art form, and when documenting an elopement experience, I aim to capture the full story of the day in an honest, yet artistic way. To get an idea of the kind of gallery and experience you'll walk away with when you hire me as your Yosemite elopement photographer, check out some recent Yosemite elopement stories on the blog.

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Yosemite Elopement Packages

My packages are structured to accommodate the spontaneous, relaxed nature of elopement days, and to document the full story of the day, so packages start at 8 hours of coverage, and range up to immersive, multi day experiences. All packages include my custom planning services, and photography documentation. My pricing is all inclusive, so there are no hidden fees or additional travel costs.

Sunset Package

 Custom location scouting
+ Timeline creation
+ Permit assistance
+ Vendor recommendations
+ Online gallery of high resolution images
+ Travel included

Up to 8 hours of photography coverage - a day full of adventure and exploring multiple locations. This package gives you the chance to have your full wedding day documented from start to finish.

$9500

Sunrise + Sunset Package

 Custom location scouting
+ Timeline creation
+ Permit assistance
+ Vendor recommendations
+ Online gallery of high resolution images
+ Travel included

Up to 10 hours of photography coverage - everything that's included with the Sunset Package, plus an additional morning session - this allows for even more imagery, more of your story told, and more flexibility in your schedule

$10,800

 Get in touch for my full pricing guides + to schedule a free elopement consultation with me, so we can start dreaming up some ideas together.

Ready to start planning your Yosemite elopement?

Just fill out the form below, and I'll get back to you within 48 hours. I’ll send you a detailed guide that includes all of my elopement packages, then we can set up a time to chat over the phone to discuss all the possibilities for your day.