Romantic Sunrise Engagement Photos in Stunning Yosemite Valley
A soft & romantic morning at Tunnel View for engagement photos!
As a wedding photographer specializing in Yosemite National Park, there’s nothing I love more than capturing the excitement of my newly engaged couples for a photo session right here in California's national treasure!
Yodnam & Shinya were visiting from Thailand! What blows my mind every time is how many couples travel from all over the world just to experience this place with me!
Being your Yosemite Photographer (and a full-time adventurer), I spend more time in the park than anywhere else! Seriously, it’s basically my backyard. If you are traveling and want to get the most out of passing through, check out my Yosemite itinerary blog post for help planning your trip! You can also download it to make sure you’re ready to go!
Here is the behind-the-lens look at how we captured those unforgettable moments!
6:45 AM: The Tunnel View Soft Glow
The plan was perfect: meet before the world wakes up, catch that soft morning light filtering through the clouds, and document the couple's love story against one of the world's most iconic backdrops! I still can’t get over it, I get to capture these moments for a living!
We kicked things off at the legendary Tunnel View. Oh, my gosh, this spot is famous for a reason! It’s one of the most photographed viewpoints in the entire park, and we totally get the hype. As you exit the historic Wawona Tunnel, the landscape just explodes into view, offering that perfect, breathtaking panorama of the whole Yosemite Valley and the lush forest surrounding it! It’s seriously a dream!
We had a soft, cloudy sky this morning, which was actually a blessing! Instead of harsh, direct sunlight, we had diffused light that was incredibly dreamy and flattering. The cool, crisp air of early fall made the morning feel fresh and alive! Yosemite isn’t just a location; it’s a backdrop that helps share your story! It’s timeless, grand, and totally unforgettable! THE VIEWS!!
Exploring Our Way Down to the Valley
These photos make me so happy, a perfect place to create such a romantic vibe for my in-love couple who was traveling throughout California. The scenes feel like they belong on a movie poster! They are so stunning that if I received their wedding invite with one of these photos on it, I would want to fly myself all the way to Yosemite just to capture this too! It's just so awe-inspiring! 😭 🤍
The air was cool, the sweeping view was incredible, and the silence of the park at that hour made the session incredibly intimate. Trust me, your photographer knows the drill here. It’s pure magic for the photos we want to create!
capturing love in El Capitan meadow
Next up, we wandered down to the iconic El Capitan Meadow. If Tunnel View is the grand entrance, this meadow is where we stop to smell the roses or, in this case, soak in all that gorgeous fall color! 🍂
It was the very beginning of fall, which is my absolute favorite time of year in the valley. The mix of greenery, the hints of orange and yellow! The autumn fairies had my back for our visitors! ✨
The glowing lighting here was just everything and all that vibrant foliage made the cutest, colorful frame around our sweet couple. The colors made the whole scene just pop with love!
Looking for a Yosemite ENGAGEMENT Photographer Who Loves hiking?
If you’re dreaming of an engagement, elopement, or wedding in Yosemite, and you want a photographer who will hike, climb, or even backpack to capture your love story in the most epic way - you’ve found the right person. Let’s plan your perfect Yosemite adventure together!
Ready to start? Let’s do this! A Sunrise photo session might just be calling your name! 😉
Click here to get in touch, and let’s start planning your greatest adventure yet!