When you’re thinking about a desert proposal or save the date announcements, there aren’t many locations in the Southwest that can match Sedona engagement photos.
Sedona, Arizona has become one of the best engagement, elopement, and wedding locations in the country. And if you want the best Sedona engagement photos, you need to pick the best Sedona picture spots. White Desert Photography tells its couples to pick locations based on the spot’s accessibility, distance to hike, how busy it gets, and whether it matches their style.
We believe choosing a location matters, whether you want a more adventurous spot or something easy. Because you should plan to cherish these photos forever.
Keep reading and we’ll explain our criteria for best locations, questions to ask your Arizona engagement photographer, and a list of the best spots for Sedona engagement photos.
See a photo you like? Inquire today and White Desert Photography can take you there.
How can we get good Sedona engagement photos?
When thinking about where to take engagement photos in the city of the red rocks, your sedona engagement photographer will play a big part in your choice.
Consider asking photographers how long they’ve been shooting couples, if they know how to balance the couple with the environment, and what colors they will look good during your shoot? While you’re at it, get to know them and their values. And ask yourself: Would you feel comfortable with the photographer during your shoot?
Building a level of comfort with your photographer before your engagement will make a difference on the day of your shoot. It’s important for you to feel comfortable in front of the lens.
Beyond your photographer-to-client relationship, it’s important to know what Sedona picture spot fits your needs best.
Our criteria for great Sedona engagement photos locations
No location will be a perfect spot for everyone. So think about your needs, style, and expectations compared to what the locations can offer.
For example, if you prefer flat and short walks then you probably shouldn’t pick an engagement location that requires an extensive hike. So we’ll explain our top spots based on this criteria:
- Trail quality — Do you need a Jeep to drive up the trail or is it a well-maintained walk?
- Elevation change — Similar to trail quality, we’ll dive into whether you can expect to get tired on this hike based on our experience with clients.
- Trail traffic — Certain trails get flooded with bikers, hikers, and other couples looking for engagement photos. We’ll tell you whether our pick is always secluded or requires some planning to hit right.
- Accessibility — How close is the Sedona engagement photo location to the town, a paved road or parking lot?
We haven’t talked about the red rock views yet, because we promise you that every one of our locations will have stunning views.
These locations are a short list straight from our Arizona engagement photographer playbook.
Courthouse Vista
You would think Courthouse Vista would be on Sedona’s Courthouse Butte, a staggeringly tall rock that makes up the Sedona skyline.
However, Courthouse Vista sits across the canyon and provides one of the best views of Courthouse Butte, which is how the vista got it’s name. With a well-maintained trail, the vista lacks elevation change so we love recommending it to beginning hikers.
Vistas tend to be long and flat, and Courthouse Vista is no exception. There’s plenty of spots for photos even in the busy summer months. Sedona’s main road, State Route 89A, takes you directly to the trailhead parking lot with its nearby bathroom, so it’s easily accessible.
We rate it a 4.5 out of 5 on the red rock views scale.
Munds Wagon
Munds Wagon Trail has incredible red rock views, desert foliage, and northern Arizona history.
As the former trail connecting Sedona to the northern Arizona city Flagstaff before the Interstate 17 was established, it’s got some incredible rugged views. For Sedona engagement photos, this one is not one to skip. Near the downtown roundabouts, the trail doesn’t have obvious signs and is difficult to find without the right guide or photographer.
Another flat and easy to maneuver trail, Munds Wagon is definitely one of my favorites for hikers with less experience!
We rate it a 4 out of 5 on the red rock views scale.
Doe Mountain
Doe Mountain is for the seclusion-loving adventurers out there.
Steep yet short, the hike up Doe Mountain can wind less experienced hikers. But luckily it shouldn’t take more than a 30-minute hike for experienced adventurers willing to do a bit of rock scrambling. Once you reach the top, Doe Mountain’s flat top provides a leisurely walk and incredible 360 degree view of the surrounding valleys. If you’re looking for seclusion, this is your hike.
This location has a parking lot and paved access, however it’s not close to central Sedona and can be considered farther away than many of the other locations on our list.
These red rock views get a 4.5 out of 5.
Cathedral Rock
A favorite among my clients, Cathedral Rock has got to be the top spot for lovers in the Southwest.
The photos tell a visual story of the rugged beauty of the Southwest contrasted with the elegance of a loving couple. What more can you want from Sedona engagement photos? But the steep elevation and trail difficulty, I don’t recommend this hike for everyone. Additionally, it’s a bit inaccessible during the weekend because of the high traffic and Sedona shuttle.
If you’re interested in Cathedral Rock for your engagement photos in Sedona, you may need to pick a weekday in order to get it all to yourself. In fact, we recommend it.
This location is one that put Sedona on the map, so we give it a 5 out of 5.
Merry Go Round Rock
A favorite for eloping couples, this location also makes the perfect engagement photo to place on your wedding announcements.
Merry Go Round Rock’s foliage and incredible view of the Sedona canyons will provide you unforgettable engagement photos. This location is less accessible because it requires a Jeep to overcome the boulder-strewn road, but it’s worth it! My couples always tell me how thrilled they were with the offroading and incredible sunsets at Merry Go Round Rock.
The red rock views are one of the best you can find, so we give it a 5 out of 5.
Reach out to book your own private jeep tour with White Desert Photography.
Victoria Nabours, a Northern Arizona local, founded White Desert Photography in 2018.
Since then, the company has bloomed into one of the most in-demand wedding, elopement, and engagement photography companies in Sedona. Additionally, her years of expertise have taken her to international wedding destinations and attracted the eye of local and bridal magazines.
Check out her photo galleries, elopement, and wedding packages, and inquire today!
