Eastern Sierra Elopement Photographer
Film + Digital · Alabama Hills · Lone Pine · Owens Valley
If you've ever seen a photograph and thought it looked too cinematic to be real — chances are it was taken in the Eastern Sierra.
The Alabama Hills sit at the base of the Sierra Nevada just outside Lone Pine, California, and they are unlike anywhere else in the state. Ancient rounded boulders, wide desert flats, the snow-capped peaks of Mount Whitney rising behind everything. The light here is something filmmakers have been chasing for a hundred years. It's where old Westerns were shot. Where the earth feels both prehistoric and alive.
Couples who find their way to the Eastern Sierra for their elopement tend to be the ones who looked at Big Sur and Yosemite and wanted something more surprising. Something fewer people have seen. I love photographing here for exactly that reason.
Why The Eastern Sierra for your Elopement
However you define adventure — a long hike, a short walk, or simply showing up fully present — this is a place that can hold it.
The landscape is genuinely unlike anything else in California. The Alabama Hills look like a different planet — jumbled orange boulders against snowcapped granite peaks, with nothing but high desert between them. It's dramatic without being loud.
It's uncrowded. Even in peak season, the Eastern Sierra draws a fraction of the visitors that Yosemite or Joshua Tree does. Your ceremony won't have spectators.
The light is extraordinary. Golden hour in the Owens Valley, with the Sierra crest catching the last sun behind you — it photographs unlike anything else I've seen.
It rewards adventurous couples. If you want your elopement images to look genuinely different from what you've seen everywhere else, this is the location.
What an Eastern Sierra Elopement Looks Like
Alabama Hills is the anchor location — the boulders, the arches, the iconic frames.
The Owens Valley offers wide open flats with the full Sierra range as a backdrop — completely different mood from the boulders, stunning for portraits in low golden light.
Lone Pine and the Whitney Portal are options for couples who want elevation — the road up to the portal puts you in the mountains themselves, with dramatic views back across the valley.
Eastern Sierra’s Elopement Prices
The Eastern Sierra is about three and a half to four hours from home base — so this collection includes a one-night hotel stay, built directly into your price. That means your day can move at its own pace: get ready in the morning, spend your afternoon at the alpine lakes, the hot springs, or beneath the granite peaks, and have real flexibility on start and end times — chasing the best light for a sunrise ceremony, a sunset ceremony, or whichever feels right once you're there.
Every Easter Sierra’s collection includes:
➡ A 2, 3, 4+ hour elopement session at your choice of locations across the Eastern Sierra’s
➡ Hybrid film and digital photography - film moments are captured throughout your time with me
➡ A custom timeline and location plan built around your vision
➡ A complete digital gallery delivered with full printing rights
Pricing
The Love Letter - $2,100
2 hour coverage
Online gallery, full print release
A handful of mini polaroid prints
35mm film
Sneak Peek within 5 days
The long way Home - $3,100
3 hour coverage
Online gallery, full print release
A handful of mini polaroid prints
120mm Film ( Medium Format)
Sneak peek within 5 days
Timeline & Planning Guidance
All Inclusive: starts at $4,200
Includes everything in the “Long way home”
Plus: Additional 2 hours, Additional 1-2 locations, Bouquet & Boutonniere, Officiant, timeline assistance and additional film rolls
For Destination + International Couples
The Eastern Sierra is a hidden gem for couples traveling from abroad — genuinely off the typical California itinerary, which means your images will stand apart from every other California elopement you've ever seen. The closest major airports are Reno-Tahoe (2.5 hours north) and LAX (4 hours south). California has no residency or citizenship requirement for a marriage license..
→Full planning guide for international and destination couples
Frequently Asked Questions
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Weddings and ceremonies in the Alabama Hills Recreation Area (managed by the BLM) require a Special Recreation Permit. The process is simpler and less competitive than NPS permits. I'll handle the guidance.
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Spring (April–June) and fall (September–November) are ideal — mild temperatures and incredible light. Winter brings snow to the peaks and a dramatic, moody quality to the landscape. Summer can be very hot in the valley; I recommend early morning or sunset timing.
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About 3.5–4 hours north of LA via US-395. It's a stunning drive — the Eastern Sierra road trip is worth doing as part of your elopement experience.
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Yes! For the Eastern Sierra, I have go-to officiants and florists built right into my packages — vendors I know and trust who consistently deliver for couples out there. If you book one of those packages, they're already included.
If you choose a package without vendors built in, no problem — I'm happy to share my personal recommendations for officiants and florists in the Eastern Sierra so you can book directly.
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I keep Fridays and Saturdays for full weddings, so elopements are available Sunday–Thursday.
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limit overnight destination elopements to 1–2 per month. This is one of my favorite regions to shoot — I want every couple who comes here to get the full preparation it deserves. Don't wait to reach out.
Ready to elope somewhere unexpected?
Tell me your dates and vision — I'll come back with location ideas, timing recommendations, and availability within 24 hours..
Start your inquiry below ↓