An Intimate Yosemite Wedding - Summer & Cj
Summer & Cj reached out to me over a year and a half ago to do their engagements. They were referred to me by Niya - my very first bride I ever photographed - and I was so stoked! She told me that she and Cj were really outdoorsy and spent a lot of time in National Parks, and they wanted their engagements to reflect that. We went out to the Wichita Mountains and had such a good time together. We all went to MSU together - but I hadn’t actually met them until that day, but it felt like we had been friends for a while. We bonded over swapping stories about teaching (Cj is a coach and teacher - and I used to teach as well) and then we shared stories about trips and vacations we wanted to take.
They told me that in June of 2021 they were going to elope in Yosemite National Park - and I remember thinking, wow it would be so cool if I could do their wedding. But I was stoked enough just for their engagements and they turned out so beautifully - you can check them out here. They were both so natural in front of the camera and made my job so easy.
We went home, and a few weeks later I went on a trip to Alaska. About a week after I got home, Summer texted me and told me that she and Cj had been talking about it for a while - and they knew they wanted me to be their wedding photographer. I was SO dang stoked.
I had been looking forward to their wedding and it didn’t disappoint. They were so intentional with everything they did and the people they invited. Their friends and family were SO welcoming - I’ve never felt so at home. And they trusted me - the night before the wedding I drove over to their Airbnb with a crazy plan to do their first look at 5:30 in the morning, up at Glacier Point. Which meant a 3 AM wake up call for Summer - because it would take about 45 minutes to drive up there. But the light was so worth it - between about 5:30 and 6 there is a window where the sun is up, but still behind half-dome and the light is incredible. I knew it would be the perfect spot and time - and they trusted me enough to say yes.
We woke up crazy early, Cj and I drove up to Glacier Point and Summer met us there. They had the most incredible, moving first look and we all agreed it was worth the early wake up call. We explored the area for a while, and then drove back to their Airbnb where their family was getting ready. Around 11 we headed down to the Cathedral Beach in the valley where they had their ceremony and finally tied the knot. We headed over to another spot in the valley, in front of Yosemite Falls - the first hike Summer & Cj did years earlier when they visited the park together.
We headed back to the Airbnb for an intimate reception. There were speeches and food and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house when Summer and her father had their first dance. It was so relaxed, chill, and intentional. The ideal way to spend a wedding. I would relive this day a million times and I am so grateful for these two and the trust they put in me.
Photography - Mark & Jenna
Videography - Tim McGee
Floral Design - Sweet Dreams Cake & Flowers
Dress - Bridal Boutique
Mark & Jenna are two friends who have been running their wedding photography and videography business together for the past four years. We are based in Dallas, Texas - but serve our couples worldwide as well as locally. Mark is the videographer here, and focuses his art on storytelling and creativity. Jenna is the photographer, bringing your wedding to life with true-to-color edits and documentary-style storytelling.
We have been friends since 2013, and there is nothing more important to us than our community. We have built our business around the idea that fostering good relationships is the most important thing in life, and weddings are a beautiful way to celebrate those relationships.
You can always find us laughing with our couples - we will be there cracking jokes with you all day long. If you’re looking for a team that will capture beautiful photos and video of your day, as well as get down with you on the dance floor - then reach out and let’s get this thing booked!
