Arizona Desert Engagement Session | Sunset at the Preserve

Published January 2020 · Updated April 2026

Engagement Photos in the Arizona Desert

There is something about the Sonoran Desert at golden hour that makes everything feel like it is glowing from the inside out. The saguaros, the wildflowers when they are in season, the way the mountains turn from brown to amber to deep purple as the sun drops — it is a landscape that photographs beautifully and never quite looks the same twice.

I recommend the desert for engagement sessions because it creates an atmosphere that is impossible to replicate in a studio or city setting. Couples are relaxed here. There is space to move, to breathe, to settle into each other without feeling like they are performing for a camera.

Planning Your Engagement Session

An engagement session is a chance to get comfortable in front of the camera before your wedding day and to create images you can use for save-the-dates, your wedding website, or guest sign-in displays. I typically recommend scheduling your session about 4 to 6 months before the wedding. For Arizona desert sessions, the best months are November through March when temperatures are mild and the light is warm. Sessions in Scottsdale, Phoenix, and the surrounding desert typically start about 90 minutes before sunset to catch the golden hour. If you are planning a session, get in touch and we can talk about locations that work for you.

For Amanda and Adam, it was love at first sight. They met at the Lyndal Tap, a bar in Minneapolis. Adam walked into the bar, they made eye contact, and the rest is history Amanda says. The two are super adventurous and love to travel, it helps that Adam is a pilot!nnWhich is no surprise that they are doing a destination wedding here in Scottsdale, Arizona! The two are from Minnesota, but fell in love with the desert and Four Seasons Troon North wedding venue. Their wedding with Outstanding Occasions in February is going to be magical. Many of their friends have never been to our desert before, so they're excited for everyone to experience the magic of it.nnAmanda and Adam were such a joy to photograph. Their love for one another is infectious and Amanda's smile is stunning! I left their engagement session beyond excited for their wedding day! I just cant wait to shoot the two of them again!! See you in about a month you two!! Xoxo