The Best Engagement Photo Locations in Phoenix, Arizona

Where should we take our engagement photos?

An ever important questions most newly engaged couples will ask. As a native of Phoenix, I might be biased when I say we have some of the absolute best options around for your engagement session. The desert is truly just something else. What I love about the greater Phoenix area is that you really don’t have to travel far to find some gorgeous spots that show off the beauty of the local landscape, and absolutely glow at sunrise, sunset, and blue hour.

One * very * important consideration to make when taking engagement photos in Phoenix is the time of year you choose. It’s pretty common knowledge that the Valley boasts some of the hottest temperatures on earth in the summer, and I would highly suggest avoiding being photographed during this season if you can! And if you can’t? Sunrise sessions are almost imperative! Many of the following locations are best photographed at sunrise! We have our best weather in Phoenix from late September through early May, and these are the best months for engagement sessions as well!

In this article, I will take you through some of my favorite spots I’ve discovered as a result of being a wedding photographer in Phoenix. I will also detail any specific permits or passes required for the locations, and what time of day is best at each of these locations! After you read through and decide on your favorite location, be sure to head over to this guide’s sister article, What Should We Wear for Our Engagement Photos? Enjoy!

Lost Dutchman State Park

These striking cliffs at the east end of the Valley make for the most epic backdrop for photos, in my humble opinion! The Superstition Mountains are iconic, and with a foreground full of cacti and other native desert plants, this location just screams “Arizona.” There are so many gradual and steep trails in this state park that wind their way through the lush desert plant life and up to the base of the Superstitions (we can even climb to the top of them if you’re feeling super adventurous!). This location is perfect for classic portraits, but also offer the opportunity for more of an “adventure” engagement session, where we could document you and your partner hiking!

Best Time of Day: As this park is located on the west side of the Superstitions, this location is best photographed at sunrise and blue hour, but sunset here is magical as well!

Permits Required: There is an entrance fee into the park (currently $10 in 2024). This location requires a $50 personal photography permit, as well as your photographer’s submittal of their Certificate of Insurance.

Red Mountain

Also known as Mount McDowell, this is another iconic mountain at the east end of the Valley. Red Mountain really shows off at sunset, and the location we usually take our couples to capture this desert landmark offers us a few options too! Off the Bush Highway is a backroad so symmetrically aligned with Red Mountain, giving us the option of taking some super fun open road photos. There are also trails that begin on this very backroad that wind their way through cacti toward the base of the mountain, if a natural landscape is more the vibe you’re looking for! Here, you will need to look out for snakes and remember to leave no trace— stay on the marked trails!

Best Time of Day: Sunset is the best time to take engagement photos here.

Permits Required: This location is on Tonto National Forest land, so you will need a Tonto parking pass (currently $12 in 2024).

The Salt River

The Salt winds its way through the scenic east end of the Valley, all the way through it. At the east end, it is bordered by lush, green land, and is enjoyed by people and wild horses alike! At one of our favorite spots along the Salt, you’ll even find dramatic cliffs rising directly up from the river. This place is magic. This location is perfect for classic photos, or, if you’re wanting a more playful vibe to your engagement photos, to hop in the water together! We are up for anything and everything ;)

Best Time of Day: Our favorite location on the Salt River, the one with the dramatic cliffs, faces west, making this the perfect spot for a sunrise session. The Salt River is a popular spot for recreation and tubing, especially from April-September, so a sunrise session during this season is especially suggested to avoid rowdy crowds. In the winter, this spot is great at sunset too!

Permits Required: This location is on Tonto National Forest land, so you will need a Tonto parking pass (currently $12 in 2024).

Usery Mountain Regional Park

Off the Bush Highway in the east Valley is Usery Mountain, a large preserve full of hiking trails through rolling hills and full of classic desert vegetation. There is opportunity for road photos, as well as easier hikes on the trails to create more of an adventure session! This park is stunning and offers that classic desert look couples often look for when considering a Phoenix engagement session.

Best Time of Day: This park is lovely all times of day! Avoid crowds by considering a sunrise session, or go for a golden sunset.

Permits Required: The park costs $7 per vehicle to enter and does not require other permits.

Phoenix Mountains Preserve

Located right off Highway 51 in North Phoenix, and near Scottsdale and Paradise Valley, this park offers nature right in the middle of an otherwise urban area. Gradual hiking trails beginning at Dreamy Draw lead back toward the base of Piestawa Peak and are surrounded by lush desert life. Go for an adventure session here, or pair this location with an urban setting at a favorite bar or coffee shop in nearby Scottsdale for a variety of vibes in your engagement photos!

Best Time of Day: This park is lovely all times of day! Avoid crowds by considering a sunrise session, or go for a golden sunset.

Permits Required: There are no costs or permits associated with this location!

Saguaro Lake

This lake is part of the Salt River and features a trail that winds around the better majority of it. It is surrounded by dramatic canyon walls dotted with saguaro cacti, and makes for an incredible location if your engagement session vision includes water. Make your engagement photos a real adventure by jumping in the lake, or, even better, renting a boat from the Marina and having a day!

Best Time of Day: The lake is lovely all times of day! Avoid crowds by considering a sunrise session, or go for a golden sunset.

Permits Required: The lake requires a Tonto day pass ($12 in 2024), or a National Park Service America the Beautiful Pass is accepted if you park at one of the picnic areas.

South Mountain Park and Preserve

This preserve is home to the same desert landscape as most of the others listed in this guide, but this one offers something all the others do not— located just outside downtown Phoenix, you are easily able to climb a little, and have panoramic views of downtown glittering in the distance. You have the opportunity to hike any of the park’s trails, or simply drive up to one of the many overlooks for a more accessible view of the city.

Best Time of Day: This location is best at sunset and into blue hour, when the lights begin to come on downtown and create a magical glow. Please note, vehicle traffic is not allowed on the park’s main roadway on the fourth Sunday of every month.

Permits Required: There are no costs or permits associated with this location!

Papago Park

If you’ve been to Phoenix, you’ve certainly seen the iconic Papago Park and its rock formations. Rich red rocks are the focal point of this location, and miles of trails wind through them, most notably Hole in the Rock, a super short hike to just what it sounds like, a hole in the rock. This location is close to both downtown Phoenix and Old Town Scottsdale, so you can even pair this more natural setting with an urban one for a mix of engagement photo vibes!

Best Time of Day: The park is lovely all times of day! Avoid crowds by considering a sunrise session (this park does get super crowded!), or go for a golden sunset, overlooking downtown.

Permits Required: There are no costs or permits associated with this location!

Downtown Phoenix or Scottsdale

Urban engagement photos full of direct flash photography, casual strolls through city streets, and featuring fun and funky bars and coffee shops seem to be all the rage these days, and what better place to take photos than downtown Phoenix or Scottsdale! Hip hotels, bars, lounges, and coffee shops full of personality are popping up in droves in both of these areas, and would make for an incredibly fun and unique engagement photo setting. Maybe your favorite spot to visit together is on your list for your session! We recommend the Roosevelt Row Arts District area of Phoenix, or the Old Town area of Scottsdale. Either of these locations can have the ability to be paired with a more natural setting like Papago Park or Dreamy Draw, too!

Best Time of Day: Avoid crowds by opting for a sunrise session, or capture a magic golden sunset while cruising the streets.

Permits Required: The street parking in downtown is paid, while there is free public parking in Scottsdale. If you choose to take engagement photos in a hotel, bar, or restaurant, some may charge you to sit in or ask you to buy a drink!

Locations Outside Phoenix We Love—

Phoenix is incredible because it is so Central in the state of Arizona. If you’re looking for an even grander adventure for your engagement photos, consider one of these locations just a few hours from Phoenix:

Sedona- The red rock capital of Arizona! Just two hours from Phoenix, this area hosts a bunch of spas, state parks, nearby hiking trails, and all kinds of gorgeous views year round! There is good reason why this place is so dang popular.

The Grand Canyon- I mean, duh. This is often the first thing people associate with the state of Arizona. Grand Canyon National Park is a place that will literally take your breath away, and gives you the opportunity to really immerse yourself in nature. GCNP is four hours from Phoenix, and the drive will take you past Sedona, and through Flagstaff! Consider a sunrise adventure overlooking what I consider to be the coolest place in Arizona, and maybe on the planet.

Saguaro National Park- One of Arizona’s three national parks situated right in Tucson. There is so much opportunity for hiking here, and contains the largest concentration of Saguaro cacti I’ve ever seen. Tucson is also home to some beautiful resorts if you’re wanting to relax a bit before or after your engagement session! Located 2 hours south of Phoenix.

Payson- A little mountain town on the Southwest’s Mogollon Rim, only an hour and a half from Phoenix. A gorgeous drive up into the mountains leaves you at this little town with miles of trails and dirt roads to explore. The Rim offers striking views you can’t get anywhere in Phoenix.

Prescott- Another of Arizona’s towns at elevation, with tons of outdoor space, as well as nightlife with Whiskey Row’s bars and live music. Located 2 hours north of Phoenix.

Page/Lake Powell/Antelope Canyon/Horseshoe Bend- Northern Arizona’s gem along the Utah border, this region was made popular recently, and for good reason. Red rocks, the winding Colorado River, slot canyons, and so much more located just under 5 hours from Phoenix, or by a quick flight from Sky Harbor on Contour Airlines.

Hi there! We’re Katie & Joseph, a husband and wife team, and wedding photographers in Phoenix!

We are big fans of documenting wedding days in an unposed, raw, genuine, and honest way that allows our couples to maximize their experience on their day while also receiving a gallery full of stunning images that communicate how it felt to be there. All our Arizona wedding packages come with a complimentary engagement session, so you can take your photos in any of these locations (or other favorites of yours!) for ~ free ~!!!

Though we’re based in Phoenix, we’ll travel anywhere for a good love story (and dance party). We invite you to follow the links below to learn more about us and our services, and to get in contact with us!

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