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Weddings

About

An effortlessly joyful experience, built around meaningful moments.

I want you to walk away from your wedding day feeling totally content and fulfilled.

Hi, I'm Joleen! I'm a wedding and elopement photographer based out of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California. I live near the border of Yosemite National Park, and I'm frequently shooting outdoors along hwy 395, the Eastern Sierras and the Mammoth and June Lakes region.

I've been photographing weddings for a long time, and those experiences have shaped my priorities. While I do love beautiful bouquets, light and airy scenes, and publication worthy events, these things are less important to me than real moments. Those little pretty little details should just be frosting on our bigger purpose: you becoming a married couple.

My photography style is a mix of both gentle direction in posed photographs combined with beautifully imperfect candid moments. Often when couples reach out to me one of the first things they say is they're nervous to be in front of the camera. As an introvert myself, I get it. I pride myself oh holding space for you to slow down, be present, and have privacy when needed.

I've grown up in California, in the Sierra Nevada mountains, and my favorite thing to do is drive around in my old van, with my dog, Lunchbox, and find new places to explore and photograph. I love drawing on my list of saved locations for couples, and finding new ones. Nothing is more inspiring to me than getting outside and witnessing your vows in a gorgeous and private landscape.

  • Woman-owned
illustration popular

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Frequently asked questions

Which of the following are included in the starting price?

High-Res Images
Multi. Locations
One Event / Day
Digital Files

Which of the following are included in the price of your most popular wedding package?

Add'l Hours
Engagement Shoot
High-Res Images
Multi. Locations
One Event / Day
Digital Files

What primary photographic style do you identify with?

Contemporary
Natural
Photojournalism
Traditional

What photography services do you offer?

Additional Hours
Destination / Travel
Engagement Shoot
High-Res Images
One Event / Day
Wedding Portraits

What photography items do you offer?

Digital Files
Prints

Reviews of Joleen Willis Photography

K
Katie Sent on 03/01/2026
5 out of 5 rating

Perfection!

Joleen was absolute perfection. I truly cannot say enough wonderful things about her or recommend her highly enough to other couples. From start to finish, working with her was an incredible experience.

One thing that was really important to us was taking pre-wedding portraits to cut down on photo time on the actual wedding day. Joleen came up with the idea of doing a “first look adventure day,” and it was one of the best decisions we made. Not only were we able to capture our bride and groom portraits ahead of time, but we also got to incorporate snowboarding — a unique and meaningful part of our wedding venue that we never would have been able to capture on the wedding day itself. We even took sunset photos, which meant we didn’t have to step away from our reception to chase the light. Because of her thoughtful planning, we were fully present on our wedding day instead of spending hours away taking photos.

The entire adventure day was so much fun and is now such a special memory for us. We absolutely love the photos from that day and are so grateful she encouraged us to do something so unique and personal.

On the wedding day, Joleen was absolutely incredible. She was fun, friendly, professional, and made everyone feel completely comfortable in front of the camera. The photos she captured are pure perfection and tell the story of our day so beautifully. She truly has a gift.

Hiring Joleen was one of the best wedding decisions we made. We are beyond grateful for her talent, creativity, and the care she put into capturing our love story.
Erika
Erika Sent on 01/02/2023
5 out of 5 rating

The kindest, sweetest, and most amazing photographer you could hope for!

From the very first email inquiry, I knew Joleen was someone extremely special with whom I wanted to work to capture my wedding day. For someone like me who doesn't like being the center of attention at all (even on my wedding day!), Joleen made me feel comfortable and heard from day one. She made every step of the process smooth and fun, and by our wedding day she felt more like a friend. Joleen is adventurous (she waded into a stream to capture photos), encouraging (she was all for it when I wanted to walk across a fallen tree in my wedding dress), creative (she encouraged a crazy first-look idea I dreamed up), and just the sweetest person ever (she made everyone feel welcome and special). Our photos are absolutely stunning, and I cannot recommend Joleen enough. Count yourself lucky if you're able to book her for your wedding. She is an absolute gem!
Alyssa
Alyssa Sent on 04/26/2022
5 out of 5 rating

Wonderful in every way!

I'm a photographer myself so I spent a LOT of time searching for the right photographer for our wedding. Joleen was perfect - She is so sweet and fun and felt more like a friend than a vendor I'd hired throughout the entire process, but was still professional and always communicative. She went above and beyond to find us the perfect, smoke-free location to take our engagement photos when the weekend we'd planned for them turned into a wildfire hell, and then spent a lot of time brainstorming with me over locations to take our wedding day photos amid concerns of both fires and rain (luckily, we got neither). The photos are beautiful and we'll cherish them forever. Thank you SO much, Joleen!
Elizabeth
Elizabeth Sent on 11/16/2021
5 out of 5 rating

Joleen is awesome!

Hiring Joleen for our engagement photos and wedding was one of the best decisions we made. She is a phenomenal photographer and also the nicest human. She met us for a sunrise engagement shoot at glacier point (where we witness another couple get married!) and she was at our wedding ALL DAY. No joke, she works insanely hard and is very talented. Looking back at our photos makes me smile every time :)
N
Natasha Sent on 10/08/2021
5 out of 5 rating

Stunning photographs from the kindest human :)

Joleen was an ever present source of positivity throughout the day. I felt so lucky to have found her since photographers are so integrated in the wedding throughout the day. I was especially impressed with how she was able to give our family an intimate and special family day among ourselves, while also being a source of laughter and smiles for everyone. This seems like an under appreciated and difficult skill to master -- being present and commanding when needed, but also able to slip away and let families have their day with loved ones. When I was having a moment with someone, Joleen all but disappeared into thin air--in the best way possible. In other cases, she was the source of beautiful moments-- like asking questions to spur reactions between people. On the other hand, she was able to calmly smile and direct stubborn (and drunk) people amidst chaos. In general, she went above and beyond to make sure every moment was captured — beyond what I could have ever imagined!!!

Joleen’s pictures were absolutely artistic and stunning. She captured many candids, which is what we were after. She made sure to get to know us before hand so she could know what was important to us and that REALLY came across in what she captured.

Lastly a few logistical things about her services: 1) in preparation for the wedding she was amazing with providing scheduling — she basically planned our entire day, 2) she surveyed the property twice to make sure she knew where she was going to capture all the pictures, 3) she made sure we were somewhat on time throughout the day and was extremely flexible when we had to make some game day changes to the wedding, 4) she provided a sneak peak in LESS THAN A WEEK with hundreds of pics, 5) her communication/tech services were all A+.
Ally
Ally Sent on 08/04/2021
5 out of 5 rating

Feel the most Beautiful You!!

Joleen is not only the sweetest and most fun person but an AMAZING photographer! From the first phone call with her, we knew she was a great match. I, the bride, was super nervous about looking fake or dorky with all the posing but Joleen has a way about her that makes you feel so comfortable in front of the camera! I was twirling my dress and laughing and thoroughly enjoying myself which I usually shy away from cameras. Then her editing skills are amazing! I looked FLAWLESS and this is only the "sneak peak" pictures as she is still working on the rest. She truly is talented and makes you feel so beautiful in your own skin! Thank you Joleen for truly making our wedding magical!!!

Oh.. and she is very organized which I loved! She was all over making the schedule work perfectly with my wedding planner. If you are OCD like me, she is a must!!
Kassie
Kassie Sent on 02/12/2021
5 out of 5 rating

Best decision you will make

Choosing a photographer for our wedding day was the single most important decision to me. Fortunately, I had had someone on my mind before I even had a ring on my finger. I knew many brides from my hometown that used Joleen as their photographer and not only were their photos AMAZING but they all had such great things to say about her and their experience. So she was the first vender I chose without hesitation. What I didn't know was everything else that would come with that faithful decision. Not only is her work exemplary, but she is the most kind wonderful soul you will meet. She will make you feel completely comfortable in every situation and get you to loosen up for the best shots. She will pour her heart and soul into you, and the whole process leading up to your special day. She gave so much more time and energy than I believe anyone would have during the challenges of planning a wedding during Covid. As our plans and expectations of the day started to crumble around us she stepped in to lift us and make it better. She made it her personal goal to make sure we still had the best day of our lives. After the wedding I experienced a let down, all I knew is what I had planned had not come to fruition...until I got the photos back. She and her camera lens single handedly changed my mind and perception of that special day. Once I laid eyes on those beautiful photos and the memories she captured I knew she had given us so much more. It was at that moment I knew how truly beautiful our wedding day was and how special our love is. Joleen was priceless in this whole experience and I know she will go above and beyond for you and your Fiancé too...because that is just who she is.
R
Renata Sent on 01/24/2021
5 out of 5 rating

Joleen is the best!

Hiring Joleen to photograph our 10-person wedding was the best decision we could've made.
We were afraid it might be uncomfortable with such a small group, but Joleen fit right in to help direct everyone on the day's activities without interfering in the private nature of our gathering.
The pictures came out beautiful! The quality of her work and her knowledge of lighting definitely showed throughout the day and in the final product.
Besides all that, she's just a sweetheart and a pleasure to be around! Definitely recommend!
Sabrina
Sabrina Sent on 11/11/2020
5 out of 5 rating

Incredible talent with a heart to serve

Joleen has been my photographer for a decade now. When I got married I made sure to plan my wedding within her availability because having anyone else was not an option in my mind. Joleen is far more than a mere wedding vendor. She completely sets you up for success well before the big day. She makes sure to know your venue ahead of time and even suggested a better ceremony spot than we did and to this day Im so thankful to have my ceremony photos in the best light at the best time of day. She is incredible with communication, creates a timeline so you can enjoy your day and not a moment gets missed. I was so blessed by the precious moments and details she captured of my special day. I especially treasure the candid moments of my sweet son and ringbearer as well as the priceless photos of my Opa whom we lost shortly after the wedding. She truly honors all the effort put into your day with her images. She gives helpful tips on styling so the whole day flows together in an album. She is professional yet leads with a kind humble spirit that only adds to the joy of the day. She is the one photographer who always makes me look way better than I thought I did. Her talent and vision cannot be surpassed. Anytime I hear someone is going with her for their wedding I am so excited for them and tell them there truly isn't anyone better than her. She is a complete gem.
Natalie
Natalie Sent on 03/28/2020
5 out of 5 rating

Joleen is great!

Joleen was the perfect choice for us! From the engagement photos to the wedding day she was so involved in the planning process that I didn't have a worry in the world. She provided us with a sample timeline of the wedding day when we first met and we were quite impressed with her attention to detail. With so many decisions to make regarding wedding planning, seeing the care and organization she puts into her business gave us every bit of confidence we needed. She has an eye for the shots that blow you away. We just received our wedding photos and we can hardly believe we look this good!! She made us feel so comfortable (even in the cold rain on our wedding day!) and did such a great job capturing those special moments. Not only did we have a wonderful experience with her, but our other vendors spoke highly of her as well! It's great to see such a great team of people support each other in this business. Thank you for everything Joleen!
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.

Awards

23
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2022 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2011 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2010 Winner

Professional Network & Endorsements

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Map

Addresses map

Joleen Willis Photography frequently asked questions

Joleen Willis Photography includes the following photography services in the starting price:
  • High-Res Images
  • Multi. Locations
  • One Event / Day
  • Digital Files
Joleen Willis Photography includes the following photography services in their most popular wedding package:
  • Add'l Hours
  • Engagement Shoot
  • High-Res Images
  • Multi. Locations
  • One Event / Day
  • Digital Files
Joleen Willis Photography offers the following photography styles:
  • Contemporary
  • Natural
  • Photojournalism
  • Traditional
Joleen Willis Photography offers the following photography services for weddings:
  • Additional Hours
  • Destination / Travel
  • Engagement Shoot
  • High-Res Images
  • One Event / Day
  • Wedding Portraits
Joleen Willis Photography offers the following photography materials for weddings:
  • Digital Files
  • Prints
Joleen Willis Photography is recommended by 100% of couples who have used their services. Their overall rating is 5.0, with the same score awarded for quality of service, flexibility, value, professionalism and average response time.

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