The Best California Photo Locations
The top California locations for Elopements and Engagement Photos
Eloping in California invites couples to weave their love story into the diverse landscapes of Yosemite, Big Sur, and Joshua Tree. Yosemite's towering granite cliffs and cascading waterfalls offer a majestic stage for vows, surrounded by the Sierra Nevada's grandeur. Big Sur's rugged coastline, with its dramatic cliffs and Pacific vistas, creates a cinematic setting for an intimate celebration. Meanwhile, Joshua Tree's surreal desert landscape, dotted with iconic Joshua trees, provides a serene and otherworldly backdrop. California's kaleidoscope of environments ensures a personalized and awe-inspiring elopement, offering couples the chance to embrace the Golden State's natural beauty in their unique journey of love.
Dreamy California Photo Locations
1: REACH OUT BY FILLING OUT MY CONTACT FORM
Have you looked over my website and you're liking what you see? Fill out my contact sheet to get in touch!
The form is a little long, but it's how I get to know you and be able to start some research on your ideal day! I'll make sure to get back to you within 24 hours.
2: I'LL SET UP A PHONE CALL TO TALK DETAILS
Once you submit an inquiry, I'll be in touch about times to get together and talk! This is usually done through zoom, but if you're local to Salt Lake, I would love to take you out to coffee!
I'll make sure I do some research and come in with some ideas based off the questions you answered in your contact form, but this is also the time to ask me all the questions you may have, tell me about all the ideas you have about how you want your day to go, and really just get to know me a bit as well! We spend a lot of time together on this day, so I want to make sure we feel like great friends!
3: WE START PLANNING YOUR DREAM DAY
Once you're in my books, I'll be sending over all my location guides, hotel reccomendations, hikes I love, my favorite things to do in the area, and more! I'll be mailing you a 60 plus page guide that covers how to elope A to Z!
I'll also start making a Pinterest board that you can collaborate on! There may be categories about poses, locations, detail shots, etc that you can add to.
I'll also make a timeline and a "must have shots" list that you can edit and view so we are on the same page for your day. I'm always avalibile by text or email if you want to talk more about your elopement!
4: CELEBRATE YOU AND YOUR LOVE
It's here!!! Your elopement! We're going to celebrate and party wether it's just the three of us, or your closest family and friends. All the prep work is done, and now you just get to enjoy the time with the love of your life.
I'm here to capture all the little details, fix your hair, hike with y'all, pass out some tissues, and be there to witness the love you share.
Your elopement is going to be such a fun, stress free time, and I'm so stoked to be there!
5: YOU RECEIVE ALL YOUR PHOTOS!
I love sending a sneak gallery within 72 hours so you have 50-100 highlight photos you can share with friends and family almost instantly! Once the highlight gallery is sent, you will get every picture back in 6-10 weeks along with a slideshow set to music and instagram carosuels to share your wedding photos beautifully on social media.
You can purchase prints through the online gallery and together we can design your album. Your wedding photos are so special and should be printed for loved ones to be able to see and look back on!
Yosemite National Park
Eloping in Yosemite National Park is an ode to love amidst awe-inspiring natural wonders. Towering granite cliffs, majestic waterfalls like Yosemite Falls, and ancient sequoia groves provide a majestic backdrop for vows. The iconic Half Dome and El Capitan create a dramatic and timeless setting for intimate ceremonies. With its meandering rivers and lush meadows, Yosemite offers varied landscapes for personalized celebrations. As the sun sets, casting a warm glow on the granite peaks, the park becomes an enchanting canvas for romance. Yosemite's unrivaled beauty ensures an elopement immersed in the grandeur of the Sierra Nevada, promising couples an unforgettable celebration in nature's embrace.
Mountains, Glaciers, Lakes, meadows
permits required
2 hours from Fresno
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Big Sur
Eloping in Big Sur, California, promises couples an ethereal union amidst nature's grandeur. The rugged coastline along the Pacific Highway unveils dramatic cliffs, redwood groves, and expansive ocean vistas, creating a cinematic backdrop for vows. Each intimate ceremony can unfold against the rhythmic crashing of waves, while the iconic Bixby Creek Bridge or McWay Falls adds a touch of enchantment. Big Sur's raw, untamed beauty, with its winding coastal trails and panoramic viewpoints, ensures an elopement immersed in the timeless allure of the Central California coast—a breathtaking canvas for love that captures the essence of the wild Pacific landscape in every heartfelt moment.
Forest, ocean, cliffs
no permit required
2 hours from San Jose
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Joshua Tree
Eloping in Joshua Tree National Park unfolds a mesmerizing celebration amidst the stark beauty of the California desert. Iconic Joshua trees and colossal rock formations create an otherworldly backdrop for vows, capturing the essence of untamed romance. As the sun sets, painting the landscape in warm hues, the park transforms into a surreal canvas of serenity. Intimate ceremonies amidst twisted Joshua tree groves or beneath star-studded desert skies offer a unique and tranquil escape. Joshua Tree's raw, mystical ambiance ensures an elopement immersed in the quiet majesty of the high desert—a timeless and unforgettable communion of love against a backdrop of arid, natural elegance.
desert, rocks, joshua trees
45min from Palm Springs
Wedding permits required
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Ready to book your Date?
California Elopements
starting at $3800
California Engagement Sessions
starting at $2000
for full pricing, click here
What's Included in Packages?
Elopements
Engagements
- 60 page elopement guide
- Customized location guide with my favorite airbnbs, activities, specific locations, and vendors
- Polaroid album at the end of your day
- Sneak gallery in 72 hours
- and more!
- Session prep guide
- Location guide with specific locations, and cool features
- Instant polaroids at the end of your session
- Sneak gallery in 72 hours
- and more!
Audrianna and Sam
"Meghan is soo so amazing she really does capture the authentic love you have with your partner. I love that she gives you a lot of freedom to do what you’re comfortable with and just be yourself while also incorporating amazing fun poses and prompts!
I had such an amazing experience I can’t wait to book with her again!"
Hi! I'm Meghan
I'm an elopement, wedding, and couples photographer based in Salt Lake City, Utah, but I travel all over the western US to photograph love stories!
After growing up in Oregon, I moved to Utah for school and graduated with my BFA in theater in 2023. I now use my art and lighting background to craft photos that last lifetimes.
As your photographer, I love helping you plan your elopement or session! Together, we create a Pinterest board so our. ideas are on the same page! I send a 60 page elopement guide to help you plan your day and spark some ideas. I also love sending you on a coffee date to fill out my longish questionnaire! This really helps me craft a session that reflects you.
During your session, I'll be there to provide umbrellas, and warmers, pick up a bottle of champagne, sew a button back on your dress, or anything else you need! Acts of service is my love language and it totally shows in my job!
After your day, I'll hand you a mini album of all the polaroids I took during your elopement day so you have photos before you even leave the location! You can expect a full sneak gallery within 72 hours so you can share your day or session with your friends and families almost instantly.
I'm so excited to meet you in California!
How many people can we bring?
This really depends on the place you choose! I define elopements as 10 guests or under, and micro weddings as 40 guests and under. Some locations have designated spots for ceremonies that have a cap on the amount of people you can bring. While outside, we always want to make sure we keep the enviorment healthy!
