Yosemite Engagement Photos

Photos, Locations & Packages

Ultimate Yosemite Engagement Guide

Updated for 2025

Your ultimate guide for Yosemite engagement photos, updated for 2025. This guide will show you the best locations for your Yosemite engagement session, what to wear, when to visit and more.

Yosemite National Park is a popular location in the US for adventurous engagement photos. Whether you want to bike around Yosemite Valley, swim in the Merced River, admire the mountain views at Tunnel View or climb Half Dome- Yosemite has something for everyone.

WHERE TO TAKE YOSEMITE ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS

Looking for the best places to take photos in Yosemite National Park? As Yosemite photographers we’ve spent countless days exploring the park and finding the absolute best locations for engagement photos and elopements. We save some hidden gems exclusively for our couples to keep the locations private and crowd-free, but here are some of the most popular locations!

Glacier Point

One of the most popular places in Yosemite for photos is Glacier Point. This location features an iconic view of Half Dome and is very accessible from the parking lot, requiring little to no hiking.

For this location, you’ll want to start your photo shoot at sunrise for the best lighting as the sun rises over Half Dome. Having your Yosemite engagement photos taken at sunrise at Glacier Point will also allow you to avoid the crowds of tourists that visit later in the day.

Location – Glacier Point Rd, Yosemite Valley, CA 95389
Hike – None
Timing – Sunrise

Taft Point

Taft Point is one of the best spots for Yosemite engagement photos due to its massive cliffs and epic views. It’s an accessible location with only a flat 2.5 mile roundtrip hike to the summit. The lighting here is best at sunset, although this is also the busiest time of day. This location has gotten very popular over the years, so expect to have tons of other couples and photographers around you if you choose this spot!

Please be cautious at this location and do not go too close to the edge. Also, if you’re scared of heights this is not the location for you!

Location – Taft Point, California 95389
Hike – 2.5 Miles Roundtrip
Timing – Sunset

Yosemite Valley

Shooting in Yosemite Valley is the perfect way to get a lot of variety in your Yosemite engagement photos! There’s a pretty short driving time between locations in the Valley, meaning you can hit lots of scenic spots such as Tunnel View, Swinging Bridge, Lower Yosemite Falls and more.

Location – 7943 Willow St, Wawona, CA 95389
Hike – None
Timing – Sunrise or Sunset

Tioga Road

Tioga Road is the road less traveled by tourists in Yosemite National Park, but offers stunning views all the same. We recommend Tenaya Lake at sunrise, Olmsted Point at sunset or Tuolumne Meadows! If you’re looking for an adventure session, you could consider hiking to Clouds Rest which is over 13 miles and 3,000ft elevation gain.

Location – Tioga Road, California 93541
Hike – Varies
Timing – Sunrise or Sunset

The best time of year for Yosemite engagement photos

all year!

To be honest, there’s not a bad time of year to have your engagement photos done in Yosemite. However, our personal favorite time of year is early to mid June for rushing waterfalls, lush greenery and mild temperatures. The water levels can be higher in June making some of the beaches inaccessible. July through August are beautiful as well, though the waterfalls can dry up in late summer.

We recommend avoiding May as this is when spiders hatch and literally fall from the sky. Also, Glacier Point Road (which provides access to Glacier Point, Taft Point and other popular hikes) as well as Tioga Road are closed until usually late May or June. Fall is beautiful for Yosemite engagement photos providing gorgeous colors and mild weather. Winter is cold and often snowy, but can make for gorgeous images with less crowds.

Engagement Photos in Yosemite National Park

Permit requirements

Before you can take Yosemite engagement photos, you have to ensure you have the proper special use permits in order to legally be allowed to shoot inside the park. In the past a $150 photo permit was required, but ever since 2022 there is no permit needed for photos unless you’re planning a ceremony within the park. For full, up to date information we recommend reaching out to Cat at Yosemite NPS via email.

What To Wear

Yosemite Engagement Photo Outfit Guide

So, what do you wear for your Yosemite engagement photos? We recommend reading through our resource on engagement photo outfits.

FEATURED GALLERIES

multi-day yosemite elopement

Kaylie & Mitch

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bride and groom eloping in Yosemite National Park at Glacier Point

Multi-day yosemite elopement

Sarah & Billy

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Yosemite Micro Wedding

Jennah & Hunter

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Authentic Collective

Yosemite Engagement Photographers

We’re a husband and wife team specializing in elopement photography and videography in Yosemite. We believe eloping is the best way to get married, so much so that we did it ourselves! We know it can feel overwhelming not knowing where to start, which is why we help couples set a date, pick a location, make a timeline, etc!

LEARN MORE ABOUT US

Yosemite Engagement Photo Packages

The next step is to hire a Yosemite engagement photographer to document your session! Hiring a photographer that’s familiar with the park is important for insider knowledge on locations, permit, lighting, weather and more.

Two Photographers

Professional photography and optional videography services from an experienced husband/wife team who’ve photographed over 150 weddings and countless engagement sessions together. Posing guidance and direction to make you feel and look great in front of the camera, no experience necessary!

Exclusive Location Guide

A list of all the most beautiful locations in the area based on scenery, accessibility, permits and logistics. Easily find the best hidden gem places for your engagement photos in Yosemite!

Outfit Inspiration

Get access to our engagement photo outfit guide to ensure your clothing choices look great in photos and compliment each other.

Timeline Creation

We’ll provide timing recommendations based on your chosen location, date and sunrise/sunset times to get the best lighting for your session.

Online Photo Gallery

Online gallery of high resolution, edited photos delivered to you within 4 weeks! Including unlimited downloads, print release and connected to a professional print shop.

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