Sam and Navid met and fell in love during the pandemic which means they spent a lot of time outdoors in the early days of their relationship. A backpacking trip in the Eastern Sierra held particular significance to them, so they decided to return to the same mountains for their honeymoon.

They were married in San Diego in June with family and friends by their side. It was everything they wanted it to be! But they knew they wanted some wedding photos in Mammoth Lakes too, so they hired me for a portrait session.

This past winter the mountains received an insane amount of snow, so we waited to see what Inyo National Forest conditions would be like in early July. Unfortunately, Sam and Navid had to change their hiking plans because of the stubborn snowpack, but we were still able to meet at Rock Creek Lake at sunrise for pictures.

Before the sun came up we used lanterns for some additional light and they created a fun, almost eerie vibe. Perfect for these fairytale forests and mountains! Keep scrolling for more details and photos.

They also brought their absolute sweetheart of a dog: Mosby!

He was truly so well-behaved and calm. I'm so glad Sam and Navid could incorporate their bestie into these super special photographs. Rock Creek Lake is a dog friendly location, but it's also an active bear area so exercise caution.

Once the sun's rays started to hit the mountains we moved to a new location with awesome views of the whole lake and surrounding peaks. And since we were there so early in the morning we had the entire place to ourselves. So special!

As the sun continued to rise we were treated to some beautiful alpenglow (the first light that makes everything glow orange).

They popped champagne and we had a blast enjoying our beautiful surroundings.

And who wants a closer look at the rings? They are stunning! Navid made Sam's engagement ring... excellent job, Navid.

Eventually they changed out of their wedding clothes and into casual outfits. We moved to another location to capture some more laid back images exploring the lakeshore.

This session was a dream. Sam and Navid are such genuine, sweet humans. Wishing them (and Mosby) a lifetime of happiness!