Dennis and Nicole traveled all the way from Brooklyn, New York, for a summer trip through California’s national parks. They wanted their Yosemite engagement session to feel epic, but they also trusted me to take the lead when it came to planning the locations and timeline. We had just three hours together, so we built the morning around the best light and a few of my favorite spots in the park.

It ended up being a fun and flirty Yosemite engagement session that gave them a little bit of everything! We started with sunrise at Glacier Point, explored Yosemite Valley, and even made time for an outfit change along the way.

Sunrise at Glacier Point

We met before sunrise and headed straight to Glacier Point. I wanted to start the morning at one of my favorite spots before the sun came up because the light there is especially beautiful at that time.

We actually started at my secret “scary spot.” It has a dramatic view that looks completely different once the sun rises, so I always recommend visiting it first when I’m planning a sunrise session here. Dennis and Nicole were completely down for the adventure.

They started the morning in more formal outfits, which gave us a polished look against the mountains and early morning light. We explored the area for about an hour, moving around to find different angles and backgrounds rather than staying in one place.

This is one of the reasons I love having couples trust me with the location planning. Yosemite has so many beautiful viewpoints, but the best spot isn’t always the most obvious one. Timing also makes a huge difference. By starting at Glacier Point before sunrise, we were able to take advantage of the early morning light and then move on before the day got too busy.

From Glacier Point to Yosemite Valley

After spending about an hour at Glacier Point, we made our way down into Yosemite Valley.

This gave Dennis and Nicole a completely different backdrop for the second half of their session. Instead of mountain overlooks, we were surrounded by granite cliffs, meadows, and trees. They also changed into more casual outfits for this part of the morning, which completely shifted the feel of the photos.

The second half felt playful and relaxed. We walked through Cook’s Meadow, found pockets of shade, and spent time capturing the little interactions that happened naturally between locations.

I love when couples bring two outfits to an engagement session because it gives the gallery some variety without making the session feel like a fashion shoot! Dennis and Nicole’s outfit change worked especially well because the scenery changed with it, too.

A Secret Spot to End the Yosemite engagement session

We finished the session at one of my favorite quieter locations in Yosemite. By this point, we had already spent the morning moving through several completely different landscapes, so ending somewhere more tucked away gave us a chance to slow down and focus on the two of them.

Dennis and Nicole were so easy to photograph! They were willing to try whatever I suggested, which meant we could move quickly when we needed to and spend more time in the spots that were really working. That trust makes such a difference during a shorter session.

Three hours might sound like a lot until you start driving between locations in Yosemite. With the right plan, though, you can cover quite a bit without spending the entire morning rushing from one place to another.

What Makes a 3-Hour Yosemite Engagement Session Work?

A shorter session doesn’t have to mean choosing between the locations you love. The key is knowing where you want to go before the session starts and building the timeline around the light. That’s especially important in Yosemite, where different areas can look completely different depending on the time of day.

For Dennis and Nicole, starting at Glacier Point gave us the dramatic sunrise scenery they wanted. From there, we had enough time to head into Yosemite Valley and create a completely different set of photos.

I also love having couples bring an outfit change when we’re covering multiple areas. It adds variety without needing a longer session.

Most importantly, you don’t have to know where to go. That’s part of what I’m there for!

Client Love from Dennis & Nicole

“My fiancé and I came across Alyssa’s photography when we were planning our summer trip to the CA national parks. It was her photos that sparked our interest in doing an engagement photoshoot in Yosemite and I’m so glad we did. Alyssa was the sweetest person from our first conversation. She pieced together our 3 hour shoot based on visions/inspiration shots we had and made it come to life.

We met at the crack of dawn for our sunrise pictures and honestly the time flew by because Alyssa is just so charismatic and fun. When she wasn’t giving us prompts to photograph, she was suggesting places to visit and hikes to try. It was like spending a morning with a good friend rather than someone we were meeting for the first time.

We felt so comfortable taking pictures and haven’t stopped telling people about how great she was. I cannot say enough for how much we enjoyed our engagement photoshoot with Alyssa and would absolutely do another photoshoot with her in the future. Highly, highly recommend!” — Nicole & Dennis

Planning Your Own Yosemite Engagement Session?

A Yosemite engagement session can be as simple as meeting for sunrise at one location or as varied as Dennis and Nicole’s morning, with multiple locations and outfit changes built into the timeline.

As a Yosemite photographer, I help couples figure out where to go, when to arrive, and how to make the most of the time we have together. You don’t need to show up with a perfect itinerary. Bring your ideas and the kind of photos you love, and I’ll help turn them into a session that makes sense for the park! 

If you’re planning a trip to Yosemite and want engagement photos that feel fun, natural, and a little adventurous, I’d love to help you plan your morning. Get in touch today!