I'm a photographer, dress fluffer, dog person, 90's music enthusiast, amateur tie-dyer, vanlifer & California Elopement Specialist.
My passion is planning and photographing elopements for outdoorsy introverts (often with their dogs).
Hello fellow weirdos!
I'm Joleen
I've been working in Yosemite before Instagram was cool.
My first Yosemite wedding was in 2012. I've been back more times than I can count. If you need to know where the cleanest pit toilets are, I'm your girl.
I'm a Sierra Nevada mountain local.
My favorite place to shoot is the place that I grew up in! As soon as I had my drivers license (in true small town spirit) my friends and I were camping and hiking off of forest service roads.
I've helped 500+ couples make it official.
Since 2009, I have witnessed and played a role in so many wedding days that I have a weird sixth sense about what to expect. But what delights me most is discovering what makes your wedding unique.
"Honestly, if we could give Joleen from Love Wildly 10 stars, we would. There truly are no words to describe how much we love her! My husband and I wanted to do a microwedding elopement in the Sierras and came across Joleen’s website/instagram and we knew we had to chat with her.
She brought our vision to life and gave us so many ideas we didn’t even know were possible. She was so quick to help us with changes and went along with the flow. She absolutely made a difference to us and made our day complete. Not the mention, the pictures she took were out of this world! You need her!"
She is the kindest, most adaptable, and down to earth person there is.
-S&D, June Lake
It all started when a friend asked me to photograph her Icelandic elopement.
Over the course of 10 days we drove around the country. My couple experienced so many slow, quiet mornings.
They cabin hopped across story book landscapes.
There was so much joyful anticipation that lasted days as they visited waterfalls, hot springs, and caves.
When they officially got married a few days in, their excitement had only grown.
And the best part was, the adventure wasn't even over yet.
Time and space to react without an audience, while being in a beautiful location intentionally chosen for themselves.
This experience showed my photographer's heart what had been missing:
I knew I could serve my fellow outdoorsy introverts in a much better way.
Iceland was my aha moment:
...who value presence over performance, feel most alive surrounded by mountains- not crowds—and bring a little weirdness, a lot of heart, and maybe a dog in a bow tie.
I’ve spent all my life in the Sierra Nevadas—on foot, behind the wheel, and everywhere in between. I use that backroads knowledge to guide my couples to the places that feel just right.
When the day is over, my hope is this:
That you have a cup full, overflowing joy… and you're completely confident you chose the right way to celebrate your love.
I photograph elopements for outdoorsy introverts
You’re not looking for someone to just show up with a camera.
You want someone who understands that your dogs are part of the family, that your adventure rig has a name, and that your love story didn’t begin on your wedding day—it’s been building for years.
Someone who will know when to sit back and let the moment unfold… and when to gently step in so you feel held and not lost.
About me (but it's really about you).
• Experience first, photos second:
How you feel you will shape how you remember this day. My priority is to keep you grounded, present, and connected.
• Guide, not pose:
No stiff poses—just gentle prompts, movement, and space for real emotion. The best photos come from feeling, not performing.
• A time to direct, and a time to let emotions lead:
If you're having a moment, I wont interrupt. Even if your dress is dusty or his ties crooked.
• The little things matter:
I’ll pay attention to your inside jokes, or how you communicate in movie quotes. Or maybe how he found your favorite snack at the middle-of-nowhere gas station. I'll shoot the heck out of that.
Philosophy
• I’ve lived in the Sierra Nevada all my life.
• I love making GIFs almost as much as I love making brownies.
• The fridge in my camper van has chilled everything from fancy florals to trail beers.
• Most of my couples have dogs. Coincidence? I don’t think so.
• There’s nothing like Bron-Y-Aur Stomp with the windows down and the mountains in view.
• I was a band nerd, not a cheerleader- which honestly explains a lot.
Fun Facts
You work a high-stress job in your real life.
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You carry a lot. Many of my couple's work demanding, high responsibility jobs. You are used to staying composed for others. You serve your community. Now on your wedding day, you don't want to worry about everyone else- you want to stay fully present for yourself.
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You plan adventures, not parties.
You’d rather map out a weekend escape than a seating chart. The best memories come from trying something new together. For you, connection happens on the trail, around the fire, and in the quiet in-between moments. Your wedding day should be no different—just you and your person (and probably your dog).
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You drive a Subaru or a Toyota truck.
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And there's a good chance the first "thing" you bought for your wedding was a Patagonia puffer jacket.
You spend your weekends chasing pins on a map and sleeping under the stars. You’ve got a favorite snack for the trail, a go-to post-hike beer, and a playlist that’s basically your love story in songs.
probably
You work a high-stress job in your real life.
01
You carry a lot. Many of my couple's work demanding, high responsibility jobs. You are used to staying composed for others. You serve your community. Now on your wedding day, you don't want to worry about everyone else- you want to stay fully present for yourself.
You plan adventures, not parties.
You’d rather map out a weekend escape than a seating chart. The best memories come from trying something new together. For you, connection happens on the trail, around the fire, and in the quiet in-between moments. Your wedding day should be no different—just you and your person (and probably your dog).
02
You drive a Subaru or a Toyota truck.
And there's a good chance the first "thing" you bought for your wedding was a Patagonia puffer jacket.
You spend your weekends chasing pins on a map and sleeping under the stars. You’ve got a favorite snack for the trail, a go-to post-hike beer, and a playlist that’s basically your love story in songs.
probably
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We wouldn’t have wanted anyone but her to third wheel along side us on our wedding day to capture all the fun moments. She trucked down dirt roads and hiked up granite to capture the most beautiful photos. Oh, and she loves dogs - she was perfectly happy sharing the backseat with our fluffy and dirt covered dogs. We just adore Joleen, and we will treasure these special photos forever!
Joleen is up for anything, and has such a vision for making your perfect day come to fruition.
-C&M, Sonora Pass & Mamomth Lakes
