Yosemite Engagement Photoshoot Inspiration

My dream engagement session location will always and forever be Yosemite National Park. It’s one of my favorite places in the world to shoot my couples, and its natural beauty is truly unrivaled. Plus, it’s stunning at any time of the year and there are endless locations in the park we can take advantage of for engagement, elopement and wedding photos. In this post, I’ll be featuring my favorite fall engagement photoshoot in Yosemite and will give you all the details on the best locations, tips and inspiration for your session. Be sure to check out the full gallery at the end of this post!

The Best Yosemite Engagement Photo Locations

There are truly no bad spots in Yosemite to capture engagement photos. Every inch of the park is full of natural beauty and stunning wildlife. But if you’re planning outdoor fall engagement photos, you most likely want to take advantage of some of Yosemite’s most jaw-dropping views. So here are my favorite spots for unbelievable photos…

• Taft Point: this is one of the most iconic spots in the park and is popular for elopements and photos. You truly feel like you’re on top of the world at Taft Point with spectacular views of the valley below. This one takes a bit of work to get to though with about a 2 mile hike to the view. 
• Tunnel View: this is one of the most photographed viewpoints in the park, and for good reason. You have unobstructed views of the Yosemite Valley and the lush forests below. Plus, you can take advantage of the views of some of the most beautiful spots in the park- from El Capitan to Bridalveil Falls. And the light is always so dreamy! 
• El Capitan Meadow: speaking of El Capitan, the meadow below is the perfect place for an adventurous and playful fall engagement photoshoot. Not only does this spot give us tons of room for you to explore, but the views of the falls and surrounding mountains are breathtaking.

Yosemite Session Tips 

Autumn is one of the most beautiful times of the year in Yosemite, but there are definitely some things to keep in mind for an outdoor fall engagement photoshoot at this time of year. During this season, temperatures have started to cool off somewhere between 55 and 45 degrees on average and even cooler in the evenings. So be sure to plan your outfits accordingly and pack plenty of layers! Increased rainfall will also make for softer ground and muddier areas throughout the park, so wear those hiking boots and pack the shoes you want to wear for your photos. Especially if you plan to hike to one of the more scenic points! 

Another great part about a fall engagement photoshoot at Yosemite is that by this point, the massive summer crowds will have died down quite a bit. But don’t plan to have trails and viewpoints all to ourselves. This is still a popular tourist destination year-round, so make sure you’re comfortable with potentially posing in front of people, especially if you want those iconic views. But don’t worry, if you’re a little camera shy, there are still plenty of beautiful places we can take advantage of that are a bit quieter. If you’re brave, a sunrise shoot is not only a lot more mellow, but debatably has the best light!

Fall Engagement Photo Ideas

If you’re dreaming of a fall engagement photoshoot in Yosemite National Park, Heather and Zack’s timeless session is all the inspiration you need. We shot at three different locations featuring three different vibes from classic and timeless to playful and casual. We truly had the most perfect day with warm temperatures and gorgeous golden light. These two were so much fun to capture and they were just in the moment with each other the entire time. Just further proof that when you relax, open up, and focus on each other, your fall engagement photoshoot will be absolutely magical.

Ready to book your fall engagement photoshoot in Yosemite? I travel to the park multiple times a year and would love to work with you on my next trip. Plus, if you’re looking for more engagement or elopement session inspiration, outfit ideas, or location recommendations, I’d love to help make your session absolutely perfect! Contact me here and find more Yosemite photo inspiration on the blog here. I can’t wait to connect with you and help bring your vision to life.