Taft point in Yosemite National Park is popular, and for good reason...

It’s an incredibly easy walk with a huge pay off! The view, combined with the jutting granite platform is seemingly designed for epic photos.

We’re gonna get into the tips, but first here’s a little pep talk: Taft point is absolutely worth it. The view, combined with the jutting granite platform is seemingly designed for epic photos. I’m an elopement photographer who really cares about how your wedding day feels, so your experience is top priority. Knowing what to expect ahead of time will help you know how to plan your day or shoot. Ok, go be adventurers!

1. EVERYONE’S FAVE SPOT I’ll state the obvious, it’s popular, and may not be the place you want to plan any meaningful moments where tourists or an audience will be a distraction. If having a private place to react without an audience is important to you, you may want to plan your first look, private vows, or surprise proposal somewhere secluded BEFORE venturing to Taft. You will still have beautiful photos that show tons of emotion, and then after you can have an amazingly gorgeous view that is a celebration of what just happened! It is so important you have the privacy you need to react without feeling inhibited. 🙌 (There are lots of lovely wooded places close by on Glacier Point Road).

2. YOU CAN HAVE YOUR CEREMONY AT TAFT If you have 11 people or fewer, you can actually have your small ceremony at Taft Point. I’ll include a link to permit information below.  If you do opt to have your ceremony here, you may want to go for sunrise over sunset. Although one of Taft’s best features is the beautiful sunsets painting the granite walls, at sunset you will be sharing your ceremony with several strangers, tourists and Instagram influencers. It is still totally possible to get the best of both worlds, time and space to react, and incredibly beautiful photos.

3. Be ready to share and ready to meet some other couples. We’ll all be working shoulder to shoulder in some instances (photographers and subjects alike). 🙋‍♀️

If you’re shy like me, give yourself a pep talk (I’ll give you one) and warm up with your photographer BEFORE you get there. This is definitely not the place to get to know each other for the first time, especially if you’re nervous about being in front of the camera.

4. HOW MUCH TIME I plan 1 hour for the walk in, but then buffer in additional 45 minutes to stop along the trail (before I even count shoot time at Taft) There’s a very fairytale-like dark, wooded path, as well as a lush patch of ferns. Stopping along the way is such a good way to tell your story. As they say….it’s not about the destination (except for in this case it absolutely is and the journey is rad too)

5. Remember SHOES to walk in👌 But it’s do-able to walk in your dress or suit. Don’t forget headlamps for the walk back. And also bring water, no matter how short or easy a hike is.

6. IN BETWEEN MOMENTS ARE THE BEST FOR PHOTOS I hike ready to shoot at all times, meaning my cameras are attached to me and I can snap a shot at a moment's notice, so, let’s make your backpacks a part of your story. We know you may need to carry some essentials, but just know you’ll be photographed in all the in-between moments on the trail too, so style accordingly. 

7.BE ON TIME. Every time, there is a couple and photographer rushing down the trail to catch the sunset. But Taft is so popular you’ll need to wait in line to take your turn at the best spots. This includes other photographers and couples, as well as families with selfie sticks. Besides, once the path opens up to the grandest granite view of your life, you’ll want to take it in. I like to arrive, let my couples soak it in without me interrupting. After that, I give them some instructions for the distance shots. I tell them where I will be standing so they know what to expect.

8. PLAN YOUR DISTANCE POSES Speaking of this view, the iconic far away cliff edge one, your photographer will be some distance away, so I coach my couples on how I want them to stand ahead of time. I also ask them if there’s anything they want to do since it will be hard to communicate when they’re on a cliff, and I’m on another cliff 100 yards away.

9. NEVER RISK IT FOR THE BISCUIT, not at Taft Point. You can literally stand on the edge of a sloping cliff without any guardrails. It is a photography dream, but NEVER, ever worth risking a fall for a shot. On that note, there are fissures in the rocks as you approach the most popular view. Be extra mindful of them after the sun goes down.

10. Try your hardest to avoid weekends and holidays. But regardless, just remember, this is a group experience, not a private one. There will be lots of other photographers, families, and couples. So be ready to have a good time! It’s actually really fun if everyone is sharing, you can meet other couples in similar seasons of life. Everyone is all dressed up and it’s like walking onto the set of a movie. And you’re in the movie. And a leading role. 

11. I always encourage my couples to wear clothing that can catch a breeze and show movement. If there were ever a place for this, it’s Taft Point. Nothing is more romantic than those golden rays coming through a wind swept veil or dress. 

12. Photographer tip: keep in mind that where the sun meets the horizon changes throughout the year. In early season (June) the sun will set in view. In late season (October) it will already be below the horizon. Here’s something that changed my life as a photographer and I can’t believe I don’t hear more people talking about it: The desktop version of google earth pro has a sun slider. You can go to ground level and see exactly where the sun hits the horizon. I like to know what to expect so this tool is my favorite. 

13.You’re gonna want to eat after this big adventure, so have something extra yummy waiting in the car! 🍕(You’ll need to use the bear boxes to store it at the trailhead). The closest warm food is at least an hour and a half away, likely longer since we’ll be coming back into the valley after everything has closed. 

If you need help planning the perfect mix of time alone to say your vows, and still want to have bucket list popular locations, I would love to help you plan a multi location Yosemite day where you can enjoy the park at a slow pace, while getting lots of time without an audience, and still get all the best views.

Here’s some helpful links for planning a Yosemite elopement or small wedding: 



Ceremony locations (including Taft Point)

Permit Information

Most importantly, always practice leave no trace principles, or we will lose access to gems like Taft!