FAQ

Many of my favorite images of all time were created during big storm cycles and I think those clients would agree that it was worth challenging Mother Nature. On the other hand, extreme wind can be an issue and we may want to postpone if it's too windy, though that very rarely happens.

No, and here's why: Engagement photos, for us, are an essential part of the wedding process so we offer them as a complimentary addition to the package. Some couples are very comfortable in front of the camera and can handle posing and direction very naturally. Most couples, on the other hand, are not accustomed to being photographed and look more natural with a hands-off approach. Everybody falls into that spectrum, and engagement photos enable us to find that sweet spot so that there isn't any hesitation on the wedding day. We've got strategies for every type and, trust me (especially guys!), this is going to be fun. Bring some beers, we'll go for a hike in the mountains, catch a rad sunset, and you'll have a new ski/mountain bike buddy at the end of the day. It became clear to me early on with this whole process that the final product was so much better if we'd done engagement photos, so that's why I do it like this.

We try to shoot for about two hours, ending just after the sun goes down. That late-day light is essential to our style and ensures that we'll be good and warmed up by the time time magic hour rolls around.

We primarily shoot in Mammoth, so most of our work happens between May and October. Because the season is so condensed, and because we're incredibly technical with our editing, our turn around time for the primary, highlight gallery is about 100 days. Not to worry though, because you'll receive a preview gallery of some of our favorite images from the day shortly after the wedding. After the initial wedding gallery is completed, the rest of the unedited images are sent to UK-based lab Freedom Edits where the colors and style are matched and sent back a few weeks later. We typically edit the engagement session all in house, so the entire gallery is sent out when it's completed here. We understand the editing process takes a long time, but we promise it'll be worth the wait.

This is particularly important for the wedding date, which I'd recommend booking at least one year in advance. Booking priority should be on your photographer, your venue, and your DJ/MC since they can only be in one place at a time. We typically have many of the most popular summer dates booked out 10-14 months in advance. Midweek days and off season (December-April) are often more flexible and may not need as much advance notice. Fall in the Eastern Sierra is super popular for engagement photos and often books up by the preceding spring. October 1-15 is typically the best window to catch the changing foliage and weekends are for weddings so those dates are important to dial in early. 

Many of my favorite images of all time were created during big storm cycles and I think those clients would agree that it was worth challenging Mother Nature. On the other hand, extreme wind can be an issue and we may want to postpone if it's too windy, though that very rarely happens.

Most people have a vision for how they'd like these photos to look but I'll share here what I think works best, depending on the season.  Check our Instagram (@minaretphoto) for ideas and start there. First, go ahead and bring a change of clothes and we can do a change half way through. Plan on ending with the warmer selection. Style: The idea is to go classy but not formal. Fancy may look at home on the beach or in an urban setting, but it doesn't really look congruous with the rural mountain setting. This often means sweaters, flannels, jeans, and lighter dresses when it's warm. Also, nothing looks more natural here than the Patagonia look, which you'll see a lot of in our work. Shoes: Cute shoes are always important, but bring footwear that you can move through variable terrain with. We're very likely to be climbing rocks and scrambling down loose dirt. In mid-winter in Mammoth, boots are essential. Weather: Also, when it's cold, bring gloves, beanies, and warm outerwear. We can shed it for the shot but it'll pay off having it handy. I always wear baselayers for these shoots and they do a great job and you can't tell when somebody is wearing them. Colors: The idea is to avoid blending in to the environment. Black, dark green and dark blue are hard to shoot, especially in Mammoth. White looks great, even in winter, and red is a staple that always photographs well. Avoid clothing with patterns or logos.

First, I never do two identical shoots and I always try to go somewhere new. If we're shooting in Mammoth (and there are infinite spots here that I haven't yet discovered in 30+ years), we'll base our location on the weather, light, and conditions. In Mammoth, in the winter, we tend to start in the snow around the base of Mammoth Mountain, the scenic loop, or Shady Rest Park before moving out to the desert to catch the sun setting on the distant snow-capped peaks. In the summer, we often start up in the higher Lakes Basin area, Minaret Vista, or other similar spots that aren't easily accesible in winter. We'll usually end down in the valley or up on a high ridgeline where we can take advantage of that golden light while the temps are still comfortable. If you've got somewhere you'd love to shoot, let me know and we'll make it work, weather & light permitting.

The booking process is all online and super easy. Once we've established this was meant to be, I'll send over a deposit form and contract which, once filled out and submitted, will lock in the date. The deposit is $1000 and the remainder invoice will come six weeks before the wedding and is due two weeks before the big day.