Best places to take engagement photos

You’ve just gotten engaged and you can’t wait to tell the family. Of course this will mean they all want to see engagement photos, photos of the ring and everything else. Picking the best engagement photo location can seem overwhelming with all the beautiful places we have around the valley. This is the spot where photos and memories will be made, so choosing a photo shoot location that fits the dream and inspiration for the couple is extremely important. We have been lucky to do photo shoots at many of the best places around the valley. We want to spotlight some of favorites today. There is no doubt that each one possesses something special that makes the engagement photo shoot of your dreams become a reality. 

So take a look and see if the perfect photo shoot location for you is just waiting to be discovered!

Coon's Bluff Campground Tonto National Forest

A short drive away from Phoenix lays a little magical spot just waiting to be discovered in the Tonto National Forest. At first glance, Coons Bluff may not seem like a lot. But it is an excellent spot for those couples who enjoy the simple pleasures in life such as a bike ride together or a picnic at twilight. Decorated with intricately shaped trees and whispering grasses, Coons Bluff is gorgeous in perfect lighting. It offers a desert element for photos, with just a touch of greenery and water features to make things pop. This location has an ever changing river which gives each shoot its own unique look and feel. Thanks to this location’s close proximity to Phoenix, it makes the perfect quick get away for a magical, memory-making photo shoot. Sometimes we get lucky and see the wild horses grazing at the river side, or moving through the trees. We will meet you at a near-by Starbucks to have you follow us to the parking lot as cell service tends to be unreliable. There is a small fee for the parking lot.

Japanese Friendship Garden

Full of culture and breathtaking architecture, this Phoenix photo shoot location is a perfect fit for those who adore the Japanese aesthetic. With beautiful bridges, lush greenery, lanterns, water features and more, this Japanese Garden in the heart of Arizona is like a little escape to paradise! This location is ideal for the couple looking for something less desert. Additionally, for those who love birds, this particular location has many of them, such as hawks, doves, hummingbirds, and herons (to name a few). The garden is closed from August-September, but any other month is up for grabs. If you’d like to make this beautiful location your primary photography spot, they do require an appointment with a fee.

Watson Lake Prescott Arizona

The Ashley Castle

Like something straight out of a fairytale, the Ashley Castle in Chandler, AZ is an elegant and simply magical venue location. It is perfect for those couples who are looking for a medieval or fantasy fairy-tale themed ambiance. The Ashley Castle is a great choice due to their gorgeous banquet halls, luscious fountains, and breathtaking architecture. Fountains, gardens, elaborately made wooden doors, and more awaits you at this amazing location. Whether you want to take advantage of the castle’s fantastic exterior elements, or marvel at the elegant interior for photos, there is no doubt that any spot in this venue will be a dream come true in the making. This location is also a wedding venue so if you decide you love the gardens for a shoot; you also have the option of sharing the location with the entire family. We have had the pleasure of photographing both wedding and engagement sessions. It means we’re extremely familiar with The Ashley Castle.
 

Boyce Thompson Arboretum

Located in Superior, AZ and nestled in the beauty of Picketpost Mountain, the Boyce Thompson Arboretum is a plant lover’s heaven. Featuring all kinds of desert and dry land plants, the Arboretum offers a unique element for an engagement shoot. For those who are looking to mix things up and bring a natural, almost mysterious, feel to their photo shoot location, this is definitely a spot to consider. With varied landscapes that showcase mesas, cacti, awe-inspiring colors, and forested areas containing green accents, photos taken at this venue will be perfect for the Boho couples of the world - and anyone who dreams of adventure filled with freedom, love and laughter. This location experiences all the seasons and is beautiful year round. Only the entry fee is required to have a wedding photographer shoot here.

Cathedral Rock in Sedona

For those couples who are hiking enthusiasts, this gorgeous trailhead is an optimal location to capture a photo shoot. With towering rock peaks and red hues weaving across the landscape, even the simplest of photos can be a showstopper! The hike offers multiple locations for stopping to admire the beauty of Sedona. And if the rocky landscape isn’t your scene, you can still capture the essence of Sedona’s beautiful red rock with just a short walk down to the Red Rock States Park. It also offers various opportunities, such as a swimming hole and lush green foliage to capture the elements of this beautiful location. Just be sure to wear sturdy hiking shoes to the shoot as the rocks can be a bit slippery here! We have hiked this location often. The bride and groom carry their clothing in a backpack. We carry all the gear. The couple changes once we reach the top so do not worry if you don’t want hiking shoes to be in the photos! (haha). No fees or scheduling is required.

Tlaquepaque, Sedona AZ

This is another absolutely stunning location in Sedona full of amazing features that make for a breathtaking photo shoot. Thanks to the beautifully placed foliage and towering Sycamore trees, nature alone is enough to enchant anyone. Pair it with the intricate fountain features and interesting architecture and you end up with a gorgeous location where any angle is picture worthy. Their art galleries, unique shops, gorgeous courtyards, cobblestone paths, and vibrant flowers make the Talaque Parque a magical place. It’s fantastic for capturing beautiful and memorable engagement or post wedding photos. As an Indian wedding photographer I am always looking for epic locations to have beautiful shoots. The proximity of this location to Cathedral Rock makes it a great location to contrast the ornately stunning outfits seen at many of the multicultural weddings we shoot. No fees, hiking, or scheduling is necessary. However, weekends can be a challenge with the amount of people also enjoying the area. No fees or scheduling required.

Freestone Park

Similar to Encanto Park, Freestone is an excellent location for those couples who absolutely love tapping into their inner child together! Featuring elements like softball fields, a skate park, a large wooden bridge walk, 3 playground areas (with colorful swings and slides), and a beautiful lake area (with ducks!), there is no doubt that multiple unique photo opportunities are available at this location. Nestled in the town of Gilbert, Freestone Park is definitely a place of warm sunshine, summer themed fun that offers an excellent atmosphere of love and laughter. It is absolutely perfect for showcasing the happiness and hope that is created through an engagement. As an engagement photographer, my absolute favorite spot is along the hill at sunset that creates the perfect conditions for beautiful silhouette shots. No fees or scheduling required.

Lost Dutchman Statepark

Located 40 miles east of Phoenix, one can find the Lost Dutchman State Park nestled in the warmth and beauty of the Sonoran Desert. Here, a couple can be surrounded by some of nature’s best, with cacti, desert wildflowers in the spring, and native wildlife. For those who love adventure and unique scenery, there is no doubt that the Lost Dutchman State Park is the place to be. With beautiful, towering red rock pillars and a carpet of greenery that can be found during certain times of the year, there are countless locations here that make for amazing photo opportunities. Thanks to the Superstition Mountains that surround this area, Lost Dutchman is full of lore and legend; making it a memorable location for any shoot. Hiking it not required to enjoy amazing views of the mountains as the trails are mostly flat. There is an entrance fee and they do require a permit for photoshoots, weddings and elopements. The Photoshoot park fee is $50.00.

Scottsdale Civic Center

Perhaps one of the most interesting elements of this photo shoot is the large LOVE sign located on the premises. Bold and red, this impressive structure is perfect for capturing the overall theme of wedding and engagement shoots - love! For those couples that enjoy classic photos with fun poses, such as piggy-back rides and holding hands with balloons, this sign is an excellent addition to add an extra touch of whimsy. Additionally, thanks to the fact that this location is in the middle of downtown Scottsdale with a free parking garage, it is a breeze to walk to the sign, capture some photos, and easily grab a quick dinner after the shoot. There are no fees or scheduling required.

South Mountain & Scorpion Gulch

Consisting of three mountain ranges, South Mountain is a mountain lover’s dream. With more than 51 trails for hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking, the list of photo opportunities is almost endless. Whether a couple wants to use nature as their background, or include their passions (such as a horseback or biking) South Mountain is an excellent location to do so. Dobbins Lookout is the highest peak of this location and perfect for viewing beautiful sunsets and cloudy artwork. But if there is no desire to hike that far up, there are plenty of other gorgeous locations along some of the lower trails. You can also choose locations that can be driven to with no scheduling or fees required.

Phoenix Botanical Garden

Destination engagement and wedding photo-shoots

We also love to travel!

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