When I first met J&J in Yosemite, Jocelyn told me she wasn't a huge fan of having her photos taken, and it was Jon's idea to have the session documented. Often, I am the first professional photographer my couples have ever worked with and hired. It can be a fun challenge warming up to someone new who has a camera in your face. Here is my approach to these moments. I'm a pretty funny person and have no problem getting a little weird to break the ice.
One of the most important things I do is work closely with my couples on any session to ensure the day goes as smoothly as possible. I am a truly candid photographer, and none of my couples are models. I like to make the sessions as enjoyable as possible by prompting you both to do certain things while also saving plenty of time to be yourselves. I find these are the moments that tell who you are together, and I capture those details and share them back with you in photo form! I'm positive I can still make the experience enjoyable and, of course, keep y'all smiling.
It is about being authentic and being raw in the moments when you first start to the moment the sun sets on a successful day. When I set up Jon for their first look, the tears were immediately streaming when he saw Jocelyn for the first time. When we walked into the meadow, he picked her up and yelled, "THIS IS MY WIFE!" We could all hear other people in the area clapping and screaming in excitement!
We ran around at Swinging Bridge and then moved to El Cap meadow for a short time before making the trek up to Taft point. The session was three hours but let me tell you, this time goes by so fast! We typically spend about an hour in the valley and another hour at Taft Point, where these two exchanged vows in the most immaculate lighting there ever was!
If you are planning an elopement in Yosemite and Taft Point or even Glacier Point are locations on your bucket list, THIS IS THE YEAR TO MAKE IT HAPPEN! Unfortunately, all of 2022 Glacier Point road will be closed for road work. The road connects you to Taft and Glacier and will be entirely inaccessible all of next year except by extraneous hikes (Which I am so down for 😉).
Although this day was only three hours, it was the perfect amount of time to have a simple but elegant session in a magical place. If you are currently planning your wedding or elopement in Yosemite National Park, it is my specialty and my second home. I hope J&J's elopement gives you the inspiration you are looking for to have a session like this. Yosemite offers the most incredible views and leaves me speechless each time I visit.
I hope you enjoy their love story as much as I did, and I hope you get to see this view in real life (with me, of course) and pop all the champagne!
Enjoy Jocelyn and Jonathan's intimate elopement at Taft Point in Yosemite National park.