A Playful Engagement Session in Joshua Tree National Park

I’ll start by saying this was one of the most fun I’ve had on a weekday in a long time and not only because it was photography related. I had only conversed with Julia via email and text for months, so meeting each other for the first time was rather surreal – since it was like seeing that penpal for the very first time. I was excited, nervous, and per that post it note on my photo fridge, I brought a few rolls of film for these two film lovers. Our Joshua Tree engagement was going to be Kodak colored, Joshua Tree scenic, with an endless amount of laughter. My kind of photography session, exactly.

An Engagement at Golden Hour because…

We started off at the entrance of the park and made a fast caravan down to our spot. Bearing the quintessential golden hour on mind as our permit limits us to a few spots in the park. (Photography friends, please dont skip out on the permit. Keeping the park in its natural state requires money honey, and that money comes from paying customers!)

Wild Child I Think I Love You

These two had a great mix of wildness and affection that made this session so incredibly fun. When Roger wasn’t making crazy faces at my camera, he was making wild looks at his future bride, making her part swoon, and part double over in laughter. My job was so easy; all I had to do was watch.

Desert Nights

We did not shoot far into the night (sometimes I do! to check one out with more dusk nights here) Golden hour was plenty magic for us and so we kept our session rather short and sweet. However, we were definitely not short on magical images.

If you are considering a Joshua Tree photography session: here are my tips. Shoot in the autumn or late winter or spring. Mid winter (December to February) can be really cold, so stuff some heat warmers in your pockets and lace up those books because you will need it! If you outfit is cold weather friendly, then do it! I suggest avoiding those months just for more clothing options. I like even more so the earlier sunsets because in the later spring/summer/early fall, the later sunsets run so late and we tend to wrap about 8pm. If you plan on making a date night out of it (which I whole heartedly recommend) the earlier sunset hours are perfect. As well, if you are making a long drive back to any city aside from Joshua Tree, you will be appreciative that you aren’t getting home after 11pm.

Thank you to PhotoVision in Oregon for the amazing film process and scans. Joshua Tree always looks so grand in film!!